Day 50 - Canyonlands Needles Pt 2

Drive on the scenic road until it dead ends. Continue along the direction of the road on a trail that quickly drops and descends to the canyon floor in front of you. Go south along the canyon bottom and then ascend a side canyon coming in from the right or east. Go around the cliff ledge aways, going down a bit then back up, until you reach a ladder. Climb the ladder.

Follow the slick rock up to the peak of the canyon wall and look west. You then will descend a series of rock steps, weaving left and right, until you reach the bottom of the second canyon. Follow a well-tread path for a mile along this canyon floor. Once you reach a cliff wall, climb up the Kayenta ledges to the next cliff top. Enjoy the views all around. Continue over the ledge west and down to a safe grassy area. Intersect a Jeep road.

The path continues across the Jeep road once. Climb a shallow canyon wall and then descend to a beautiful sage grass valley with spires towering in every direction. Intersect the Jeep road again. This time follow it west or left for a spell until it dead ends. The foot path continues up a cliff straight ahead. Follow it. Once up continue for a half mile to a outcropping of boulders. You have reached the confluence of the mighty Colorado and Green Rivers. They meet a thousand feet below you, down a sheer cliff. Look for the line at the confluence where the currents meet. Take funny photos at scenic, rare site.

Backtrack, away from the boulders, down the cliff, along the Jeep road, taking the Jeep road an extra mile and a half this time around the grass valley, back on the trail east, ascend the canyon wall, down and along the long valley floor, up the next canyon ledge, enjoy views of white-capped mountains ahead, down the ladder, down the valley of the last canyon, up the final steep ascent and to your car.

Day 50, good job.

Tomorrow, Colorado.

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