8 Unbelievably Epic Hikes in the Needles District of Canyonlands National Park
This district is one of the most off-the-beaten-path spots in US National Parks, but it’s packed full of beauty…
If you are looking for a National Park that is under the radar, Canyonlands is absolutely one you should consider. And even within Canyonlands, the Needles District is a total hidden gem.
Canyonlands surrounds the joining of the mighty Colorado and Green Rivers, and these rivers serve as geographic barriers between the three districts of the park: Island in the Sky, the Needles, and the Maze. Each district has a separate entrance far away from the others.
While close to a million people visit Canyonlands National Park every year, the vast majority only visit the Island in the Sky District. Less than 200,000 visit the Needles, making it one of the least visited “parks” in the country.
This overlooked section of Canyonlands is truly a hidden gem, because the Needles takes many of the best features of the other Utah parks and dial them up to 11. The Needles is full of enormous rock formations that truly feel majestic and grandiose. It’s one of our favorite places in Utah.
These are 8 insanely epic hikes that make the Needles District of Canyonlands so special.
8 Unbelievable Hikes to Do in the Needles
1. Chesler Park
The Chesler Park trail takes you into a wide, grassy basin filled with — and surrounded by— the vibrant, striped spires that give the Needles district its name. They’re everywhere you look, rising from the basin floor and encircling you in every direction. It’s absolutely breathtaking.
The hike to get there is moderately strenuous, but the payoff is huge. You’ll hike into and among these multi-colored spires, with incredible views both up close and across the landscape.
Other highlights include the Joint, a narrow slot between sandstone walls, and the Chesler Viewpoint, which offers sweeping panoramic vistas of even more spires stretching into the distance.
It’s the most popular trail in the Needles, but it still feels peaceful and uncrowded.
- Distance: 10 miles
- Time: 5-6 hours
2. Druid Arch
If you can only do one trail in the Needles, make it the hike to Druid Arch. It’s a fairly strenuous hike (and shares the same trailhead as Chesler Park, so the truly ambitious can make it a combo), but the entire hike is exciting, and the payoff is incredible.
Druid Arch is one of the largest arches in the United States, standing about 150 feet tall (for comparison, Delicate Arch is 52 feet tall). It’s truly massive, and you feel the scale and weight of it as you stand below. The trail ends with a steep scramble up to the edge of a mesa, where the arch rises dramatically from the rock.
While Chesler Park is usually people’s favorite in the Needles, we’d give a slight edge to Druid —not only is the arch jaw-dropping, but the trail up to it offers some fantastic views of the Needles formations as well.
- Distance: 10 miles
- Time: 5-6 hours
3. Confluence Overlook
Canyonlands National Park was created to protect the incredible landscape surrounding the meeting point of the Green and Colorado Rivers, and this hike takes you right to it.
The trail isn’t quite as strenuous as Chesler Park or Druid Arch, though it’s also not quite as visually engaging along the way. That said, you’ll still pass through rugged canyon terrain and enjoy some sweeping desert views.
The real highlight is the Confluence itself. From the overlook, you’ll see both rivers carving their deep canyons and then merging into one. It’s especially striking to watch the distinct sediment levels in each river meet— they stay surprisingly separate for a stretch, creating a cool, two-toned effect in the water.
We were really impressed with this spot. It’s one of those places where the sheer scale of the cliffs hits you, and we ended up sitting there for a while just soaking it in. I will also say, it’s definitely more impressive in person than in photos.
- Distance: 10 miles
- Time: 4-5 hours
4. Slickrock Trail
This trail is aptly named, as indeed, it’s almost entirely on slickrock, those wide, flat sheets of sandstone that define so much of the desert Southwest. Despite the name, slickrock is actually pretty grippy when dry.
The hike itself is relatively flat and takes you to four different viewpoints of the Needles District. Each one offers something a little different, from panoramic views of surrounding mesas to dramatic overlooks of deep canyons and jagged Needles formations.
A couple of the viewpoints even have short spurs that invite you to explore a little farther along the ridges.
- Distance: 2.5 – 3.5 miles (depending on how many spurs you do)
- Time: 1 – 1.5 hours
- Difficulty: Easy
5. Pothole Point
This is a short, flat loop that takes you across slickrock dotted with natural depressions — the potholes. These fill with water after storms and briefly become tiny ecosystems. You’ll also find a few boulders to scramble on and a nice view of the Needles in the distance.
That said, this trail felt a little underwhelming. You’ll see better views elsewhere, and the pothole formations show up on other trails too, like Slickrock, Cave Spring, and even the nearby picnic area. It’s a fine option if you want something short and easy, but definitely skippable if you’re limited on time.
- Distance: 0.6 miles
- Time: 15 minutes
6. Cave Springs
This hike is a short but fun one, and a nice change of pace. It starts by leading you past a shallow cave and spring, once used by Native Americans and later by ranchers and cowboys. You’ll still see artifacts from the cowboy era inside, giving a glimpse into what life was like here.
From there, the trail takes you through what might be the lushest vegetation in the park, before a couple of ladders take you up to the top of the rock formation. You’ll walk across some pothole-filled slickrock before looping back down. For such a quick hike, there’s a ton of variety.
- Distance: 0.6 miles
- Time: 20 minutes
7. Stone Storehouse Trail
Another short and easy walk, this trail leads to a viewpoint looking up at a 700-year-old Native American stone structure tucked beneath a rocky ledge.
Thought to be either a ceremonial site or a storage unit, the exact purpose of the round structure is still unknown, but it offers an interesting look into the lives of the Ancestral Puebloans who once lived here.
- Distance: 0.3 miles
- Time: 10 minutes
8: Two Longer Hikes
If you’re ready to dive deeper into the Needles and have a bit of adventure, there are a few longer hikes that require backcountry camping, but the payoff is big. These trails take you into more remote corners of the park, where you’ll find towering arches, hidden canyons, and fascinating cultural sites few visitors ever see.
The first is Paul Bunyan’s Potty, a massive ring-style arch formed when a pothole eroded completely through the rock layer. It spans over 35 feet and sits high on a cliff. As you explore other parts of Horse Canyon, you’ll also come across petroglyphs and Native American ruins.
The second is Angel Arch. This striking 150-foot arch is paired with a nearby heart-shaped rock, and the trail to reach it winds through several scenic canyons with more Indigenous heritage sites along the way. Just be sure to treat any sites you come across with respect.
Both trails look amazing, but are still on our to-do list, as they require a couple of days to backpack in and out. We’re already planning our return to make them happen!
Bonus! Wooden Shoe Arch
Wooden Shoe Arch is visible from a pulloff on Canyonlands National Park Road (Highway 211), not far from the park campground (location here). This arch at the top of the ridge really does resemble a Dutch clog!
Safety
Canyonlands can get very hot in the summer, and the best hikes, Chesler Park and Druid Arch, are quite long. Please make sure you carry plenty of water (3-4 L/day) and snacks with you to prevent dehydration.
If you have flexibility in your schedule, spring and fall are excellent times to visit the Needles for milder weather.
The Wrap Up
The Needles is an absolutely amazing part of Canyonlands National Park filled with incredible formations, views, and even historical sites. We were very happily surprised at how much we enjoyed this area, and would recommend it to anyone looking to get off the beaten path in nature.
