Day 49 - Canyonlands Needles

Chesler Park, a city-park like green space surrounded by thin, towering red and white spires is the star feature of the remote Needles district in Canyonlands. My planned, 15 mile hike, would take me around the Chesler Park loop, up a slot canyon-esque Joint trail, then up a side canyon to the Druid Arch and then back six miles to the starting point, the van.

I awoke at 6am so I could be gone from my suspect campsite before any off road vehicles pulled up. I had not slept well the night before but drove on anyway to Needles. I arrived at Needles at 730am but all the campsites were already taken during this popular time of year here. I settled for a campground just outside the park which was $5 more but included a luxury item, a shower.

The skies were filled with threatening-looking clouds but the forecast was for only 30% chance of afternoon showers. The beginning of the hike was a bit mundane, hiking up slick rock to good views of the red and white needles. I found myself being a bit bored with the scenery until the trail entered The Joint, a slot section, and then the Chesler Park area. The Joint was dark, narrow and fun and concluded with a climb up to big views. The Chesler Park area was fascinating because it reminded me of a city park-- vast green space with high spires on every perimeter. Pics.

After the Chesler park area, I hiked a side trail 2.5 miles to the well-named Druid Arch. This was a fun section, up a canyon bottom then up to a middle ridge and continuing to a ladder and final steep scramble to the vantage point of the arch. I loved this unique arch but loved the view down canyon even more.

Then I heard thunder and noticed the dangerous looking clouds above. I needed to get the hell off this high cliff and out of this canyon, so I climbed down from my high perch and started back the six miles to the van. Just as I got down from the final ladder section the rain began falling. More like sleet actually. I put on my rain shell, packed my camera and phone in plastic bags deep in my daypack and hiked on. It was late in the afternoon, I had a ways to go, and the rain could last all afternoon by the look of the sky, so I hiked on. Luckily the rain only lasted twenty minutes. I made it back to the van completely dry. Then the bottom dropped out and rain poured down for hours. But I was safely at my campsite, in my van, relaxed and dry. I fell asleep early to the sound of rain drops.

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