Needles District Hiking Trails
| SHORT HIKING TRAILS | Distance (Round Trip) | Hiking Time (Approx.) |
Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roadside Ruin | .3 mi/.5 km |
30 min. | Hard surface, well maintained |
| Pothole Point | .6 mi/l km |
45 min. | Slickrock, uneven surface |
| Cave Spring | .6 mi/l km |
45 min. | Slickrock, two wood ladders, cowboy camp |
| Slickrock Foot Trail | 2.4 mi/4 km |
2-3 hr. | Slickrock, little
shade, mesa top,
uneven surface, canyon view |
| LONG HIKING TRAILS | Distance (Round Trip) | Hiking Time (Approx.) |
Features |
| Squaw Flat Trailhead | |||
| Big Spring Elephant Canyon | 10.8 mi/17 km | 4-6 hr. | Slickrock pass
with sheer drop
offs and ladders |
| Big Spring Squaw Canyon | 7.5 mi/12 km |
3-4 hr. | Washes, slickrock pass with sheer drop offs |
| Squaw-Lost Canyon | 8.7 mi/14 km |
4-6 hr. | Ladder, washes, slickrock pass, sheer drop-offs |
| Peekaboo | 10 mi/16.5 km |
5-6 hr. | Slickrock, sheer drop-offs, two ladders |
| Elephant Hill Trailhead | |||
| Elephant Canyon to Chesler Park (the Needles) | 6 mi/10 km | 3-4 hr. | Loose rock, slickrock |
| Elephant Canyon and Chesler Park Loop | 11 mi/18 km | 5-7 hr. | Varied terrain, narrow sections |
| Elephant Canyon
to the Joint
Trail |
10 mi/16.5 km | 5-6 hr. | Varied terrain, narrow sections |
| Elephant Canyon and Devils Kitchen Loop | 11 mi/18.5 km | 5-7 hr. | Varied terrain |
| Elephant Canyon to Druid Arch | 11 mi/18 km | 5-7 hr. | Sandy wash with steep slickrock in places, ladder |
| Lower Red Lake Canyon Trail | 19 mi/31 km | Overnight | 1,400 ft.
elevation
change, canyon
hiking |
| Big Spring Trailhead | |||
| Confluence Overlook | 11 mi/18 km | 4-6 hr. | Little shade, one
ladder, view of
Green and Colorado rivers |
| Trailheads Accessed by Four-wheel drive Roads | Distance (Round Trip) | Hiking Time (Approx.) |
Features |
| Chesler Park Loop | 4.9 mi/8 km | 3-4 hr. | Varied terrain, narrow section through Joint Trail |
| Joint Trail |
1 mi/l.5 km | 45 min. | Narrow crack |
| Devil's Kitchen Loop | 5.1 mi/8 km |
3-4 hr. | Varied terrain |
| Upper Salt Creek | 28 mi/46.5 km | Overnight | Sandy wash, occasional dense brush |
| Angel Arch | 1 mi/l.5 km | 30 min. | Hard surface, slickrock, view of arch |
| Castle Arch | .8 mi/l km | 30 min. | Primitive trail, view of arch |
| Fortress Arch | 1 mi/l.5 km | 45 min. | Primitive trail, view of arch |
| Confluence Overlook | 1 mi/l.5 km | 45 min. | Slickrock, view of Green and Colorado rivers |
Day Use Permits: Traveling on four wheel-drive roads into Salt Creek, Horse and Lavender canyons by vehicle, bicycle or horse requires a day use permit. (See other side for permit information.)
Backcountry Permits: All overnight stays, except those at Squaw Flat Campground, require a backcountry permit. Visitors are responsible for knowing and following backcountry regulations. (See other side for permit information.)
Pets: Pets are only permitted on paved and two- wheel-drive roads. Pets are not allowed on trails or four-wheel drive roads (either inside or outside of a vehicle). Pets are permitted in your campsite at Squaw Flat Campground. Pets must be leashed at all times.
Cryptobiotic Soil Crusts: An important feature of the Colorado Plateau is the black. knobby crust often seen growing on soil surfaces. Cryptobiotic soil holds moisture, prevents erosion and contributes nutrients to the desert environment. The crust is easily broken and crushed by tracks. Please do not step or drive on these living soils.
Safety Information: The high desert is a land of extremes. For a safe and enjoyable visit, please follow these guidelines:
- Drink a minimum of one gallon of water per day. Avoid overexposure to the intense sun.
- Spring, summer and fall temperatures may become extremely hot. Save strenuous activity for morning or evening hours.
- During winter, temperatures drop well below freezing. Wear warm wool or synthetic clothing. Carry storm gear and a flashlight.
- During lightning storms avoid lone trees, cliff edges and high ridges. Return to your vehicle if possible.
- Watch weather conditions. Slickrock lives up to its name when wet or icy!
- Remember that climbing up is easier than climbing down.
- Flash floods occur with amazing rapidity. When caught in flash flood conditions, go to high ground. Do not attempt to drive through washes in flood.D
- Group members should stay together to avoid becoming lost.
- If you become lost, stay where you are. Make your location obvious to searchers.
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