The Needles section of Canyonlands National Park is just 15 miles south of the Island in the Sky, but 137 miles distant by road. It is so named because of the massive red and white eroded sandstone pillars that extend southwards for many miles, forming a jumbled and hostile landscape, but the area also has many arches, domes, narrow canyons and signs of ancient Indian life such as ruins and rock-carvings. The district is a lot lower in elevation than the Island, and its river canyons are less steep but more branched, so there are greater opportunities for extended hiking and 4WD exploration.
Approach Road: The road to the Needles starts from US 191 14 miles north of Monticello, runs across open grassy land for a while then descends gradually along Indian Creek Canyon, which is at first narrow, twisting and overgrown but soon widens to be several miles across, accommodating flat meadows either side of the creek where many cattle graze. Cliffs along the upper part of this canyon are a renowned rock climbing location, and also of interest are the petroglyphs of Newspaper Rock State Historical Monument. The road crosses the creek just once, 6 miles before the park boundary, from where a rough track heads south, though an unlocked gate towards Davis and Lavender canyons. Just the far side of the gate is a good area for (free) camping, mostly out of sight of the road and high enough for nice views over the bushy valley of Indian Creek, the high red cliffs at either side, and the distinctive spires of North and South Sixshooter peaks. Three miles west, another track forks off the highway northwards to Lockhart Canyon and eventually all the way to Moab. A short distance along here is a more official primitive campsite, useful since the only campground within the park (at Squaw Flat) is often fully booked in summer.
The Scenic Drive: The Needles rocks are first glimpsed in the distance as the road crosses the park boundary, just after which is a turn off for the Needles Outpost, a private facility offering gas, groceries, books & maps, gifts, a restaurant and a campsite. The NPS visitor center is just beyond, next to the start of a 4WD track leading to the rim of the Colorado River canyon. There is no single major viewpoint in the Needles section, and many of the features of interest - arches, ancient ruins, river overlooks, rock formations - can only be reached by trails, either on foot or by 4WD vehicle, although there are numerous roadside viewpoints and four easy, self-guiding footpaths (Roadside Ruin, Cave Spring, Pothole Point and Slickrock Foot Trail - see hiking index). The main road ends amongst a jumble of small ravines and pinnacles at Big Spring Canyon Overlook from which a 5 mile trail leads to an overlook of the confluence of the Green and Colorado rivers. Apart from this, the park road offers extended views of distant cliffs and canyons, and of the Needles themselves, which look particularly foreboding in gloomy light during the frequent thunderstorms that affect this area in summer, rolling in from the Abajo and La Sal mountains.
Squaw Flat Campsite: Primitive camping is allowed in various places in the Needles section, although there is only one developed site, at Squaw Flat, reached by a paved side road. Drinking water is available here during peak season, something not usual for NPS campgrounds in the Southwest. The site has excellent views of the Needles formations just a mile away, and it is set amongst other large colorful rocks which are fun to climb. Places are limited to about 24 so it is best to arrive early during popular times, and/or book in advance.
The Backcountry: One famous 4WD route through the Needles is Elephant Hill Trail, one of the most testing roads in Utah, which leads to a collection of parallel, vertical-walled valleys formed by rock faulting, known as the Grabens, then eventually into Beef Basin and the Manti-La Sal National Forest, south of the park. The trail is reached by a good quality dirt road from Squaw Flat, and both this and the campsite are the starting point for the various trails into the Needles backcountry, centered around Chesler Park. The area has quite a complex network of interconnecting paths, mostly along canyons and/or across slickrock benches.
Canyon Rims: Another paved road outside the park boundary passes across flat terrain at the top of the cliffs to the north of the main access road, to the edge of Horsehead Rock. From here the Colorado River canyon and the Needles can be viewed in the distance. Both the approach roads pass through the Canyon Rims Recreation Area, which covers an area of wilderness even larger than Canyonlands National Park and includes many more inaccessible buttes and canyons, formed by tributaries of the Colorado.
Hotels: The nearest towns with hotels close to the Needles district of Canyonlands are Moab and Monticello.
Satellite Photo/Map: View above Squaw Flat Campground, The Needles:
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