Needles District Canyonlands National Park Hike Guide

Needles District in Canyonlands National Park is one of two unique districts in the park. Canyonlands is one of 5 in the state of Utah and is known as one of the most quiet of Utah’s National Parks. The Needles District offers 30+ miles of hiking and is one of two unique districts in the park. Hiking consists of canyons, caves, dessert hiking and the ability to hike to the Druid Arch. Canyonlands is a beautiful place and one that is suitable for hikers of all skill levels as long as they bring enough water. 

Needles District Canyonlands Quick Facts

Virtual Trail Guide: Canyonlands National Park Needles District

Canyonlands National Park Needles District Rating: ★★★★★ (5/5 Stars)

Distance: Various – View the park map here 

Elevation Start: Various – 5,118 Elephant Hill TH

Highest Point: Various – 5,700ft on my hike

Total Elevation Gain: Various – Most loops will be between 1,000 and 2,500ft 

Estimated Time to Complete: Various – 2-6+ Hours

Difficulty: Moderate Difficulty System Explained

Class: Class 2+ (some trails have minor class 3)  What does this mean?

Season: Year Round – Late August – Late May is best time to visit due to cooler temps

Weather: Check the Weather Forecast

Directions to Needles District Canyonlands National Park

Trailhead: Elephant Hill TH

Getting Here: Navigate to the Needles District entrance point for Canyonlands National Park. Once past the toll point, continue for about 3 miles and take a left. Continue straight on this road for about 3 miles (it will turn to dirt immediately) until you reach the signed trailhead. Although the road is dirt it is passable for 99% of vehicles. 

Fees: View this page for the most updated fees for Canyonlands National Park. 

Parking: Elephant Hill trailhead has parking for about 20-25 cars so be sure to head there early on weekends and busy months of the year. There are non-plumbing restrooms at the trailhead. 

Summary

Camping: Your two best bets for camping for Canyonlands National Park Needles District is in the park itself. Backcountry or campgrounds are your two main options. You can read more about that here. 

Dogs: Canyonlands National Park Needles District is not dog friendly on any of the hiking trails. 

Make it a Loop: It is possible to create a number of loops throughout the park. The one I did hiked to Chesler Park over to the Druid Arch over to Big Spring Canyon and back to the TH. View the park map here to create your own. 

Trail X Factors: Heat

Without a doubt, the biggest x factor on your trip is going to be the weather. If you have a nice fall day in the 80s, you can spend hours of hiking and crush a 20+ mile day no problem. If you visit in the heart of the summer you are probably going to have a very bad time and want to keep your hikes short. Bring LOTS of water regardless of when you visit because there really are almost none along the way to refill. 

Hike Tip(s): The entire hike is beautiful and visiting the popular spots like the Druid Arch and Chesler Park are very cool. However, if you want to venture off the beaten path a bit, create your own loop. There are so many unique caves, canyons and trails only accessible by ladder throughout the park to explore. Regardless of where you go, don’t be an idiot like me and bring LOTS of water. Canyonlands National Park Needles District has very little shade and reprieve from the sun, stay hydrated and apply that sunscreen frequently. I would highly recommend a trip in the fall or early winter when temperatures have settled down a bit. 

Best Views: The entire park? I mean, my mind was blown around every corner during my hiking time in Canyonland National Park Needles District. I truly feel like there is beauty to be found in every nook and cranny of this place. 

Needles District Canyonlands Hike Route

Started at Elephant Hill TH to the Elephant Canyon to Chesler Park to the Druid Arch back to Elephant Canyon over to Big Spring Canyon back to the TH. 

Gear Needed

• Hiking Boots or Trail Runners
• Backpack
• Protection from Sun – almost entire hike is above tree line
• LOTS of water – At least 3+ liters
• Optional: Map of area or GPS – I use the Garmin inReach
• Optional: Hiking Poles
• Optional: Headlamp
• Optional: Camera
• *Links included in this description might be affiliate links. If you purchase a product or service with the links that I provide I may receive a small commission. There is no additional charge to you.

My Trip to Needles District Canyonlands National Park: October 2020

This place absolutely blew my mind and I had very low expectations or solid plan on what to hike coming into the visit. I had previously spent some time in Arizona hiking the Grand Canyon and Humphreys Peak. Since I was in the area, I decided to add Canyonlands on my way home to Colorado. I arrived to the park as the sun rose. It was stunning. I hiked throughout the Needles District, it was amazing. Countless caves, canyons, red rock, sandstone, desert vegetation and unique hiking around every corner.

Overall, I enjoyed the scrambling of Big Spring Canyon and found that the most enjoyable trails were up on the canyons and not in them. I would revisit this place in a heartbeat and highly recommend the loop I did if you are up for it. 

Needles District Canyonlands National Park Virtual Trail Guide

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