elephant canyon 1 campsite
At the next intersection, reached in 0.2 miles, continue straight ahead. Temperatures dip into the teens at night. The nearest town is Monticello but the majority of people use Moab as a base for any adventures in all of southeastern Utah. For the lower, technical part of Elephant Canyon, start at the Big Spring Overlook Trailhead and follow the Confluence Overlook Trail as it descends a couple hundred feet to the Big Spring Canyon bottom, crosses it and continues west up a side drainage. Fees: Campsite (includes parking for one vehicle) $22/night. (5,138ft. Big Spring Canyon - Elephant Canyon Lollipop Loop, Lost Canyon - Elephant Canyon Lollipop Loop, Click here to access the online reservation system, +645' net elevation gain (+1,356' total roundtrip elevation gain), N38 08.492W109 49.641 0.0 miles: Elephant Hill Trailhead, N38 08.129W109 49.768 0.5 miles : Cross high flat, N38 07.790W109 49.732 1.0 miles : Intervals of dirt path and slickrock, N38 07.512W109 49.961 1.4 miles : Squaw Flat access split, N38 07.513W109 50.243 1.75 miles : Funnel into slot, then drop into canyon, N38 07.408W109 50.406 2.1 miles : EC1 backcountry campsite split, N38 07.122W109 50.355 2.5 miles : Travel moderates in sandy wash bottom, N38 06.979W109 50.282 2.75 miles : EC2 backcountry campsite split, N38 06.883W109 50.152 2.9 miles : Squaw Flat - Druid Arch split; keep right, N38 06.661W109 50.298 3.25 miles : Trail rises above wash to circumvent small dry fall, N38 06.495W109 50.307 3.48 miles : Enter wash, keep left at Joint Trail - Chesler Park split, N38 06.333W109 50.135 3.8 miles : Moderate travel in sandy wash, N38 05.896W109 49.977 4.5 miles : Variously narrow and more rugged travel up wash, N38 05.683W109 49.938 4.8 miles : Trail rises up steep, narrow ledges over wash, N38 05.505W109 49.913 5.1 miles : Base of dry fall below Druid Arch. Its SO important to know exactly which sites you want rather than scrambling during the online process. Its a short day of hiking so you dont need to rush (though it is good to get started before it gets hot). Leave camp to get back on the trail, and continue through the meadow. The trail drops into the sandy wash bottom of Elephant Canyon to a junction for EC1 backcountry campsite and the Druid Arch Trail (2.1 miles). Theres also a Backcountry Reservation Office in Moab that issues permits Monday through Friday from 8am 4pm. Follow cairns to the left for a direct, steep scramble to the base of Druid Arch (5.4 miles : 5,765'). 1. begin at vollers field. be sure to have fun while testing your skills. You can reserve individual campsites in Loop B of the Needles campground in spring and fall. Opt for recipes that dont use much water and bring a vessel like a dromedary that will shrink in size as you use it. Once everyone is down, descend the talus to the canon bottom and continue hiking north until the canyon begins to narrow and you come to the unavoidable 80 foot rappel. This canyon drains northward with its headwaters located at the famous Druid Arch and flows through much of the Needles District and entering the Colorado River 3 miles north of the confluence with the Green River. Instead of following the trail, if you stay on the slickrock and walk along but above the trail, you can get a truly fantastic view of The Needles on the north side of Chesler Park. Raccoon Ridge. 
Facilities: Primitive restroom and possibly a picnic table or two at the trailhead Fees: $30/vehicle, valid 7 days. the field was built by the _____ army engineers 2. Follow Utah Highway 211 west for 37.2 miles and turn left (west), on the road signed for the Squat Flat Campground. Pretty scenery, but not as epic as Elephant Canyon. Which States have 85 vs. 87 Octane Gasoline? 12 Best Day Hikes in Grand Teton National Park, 5 Best Hikes in Anza Borrego Desert State Park, 10 Best (and worst) Day Hikes in Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, The Best Day Hikes in Chiricahua National Monument, How to Replace the Zipper in a Sleeping Bag, 12 Hiking Hairstyles that are Pretty & Practical, DIY Adult Travel Neck Pillow (with washable cover). There's a $30 fee per partyto backcountry camp in CanyonlandsNational Park. You can reserve individual campsites in Loop B of the Needles campground in spring and fall. Just before reaching the Colorado River, there is one more drop you can bypass by hiking along the east rim to a talus slope which takes you down to the Tamarack bushes and green grass below. If for some reason, you cant rent or bring a vehicle, there are a couple of shuttle services like Coyote Shuttle and Moab Taxi Cab that offer [quite expensive] transport to Canyonlands. This climb heads up the rock just to the right of the waterfall. Here, youll cut left towards Elephant Hill trailhead and hike back to the parking lot. Bring plenty of sunscreen and wear a sun shirt when backpacking in Canyonlands. For Sale and Rent. Distance: 3.4 miles to EC3Difficulty: EasyBest Needles backcountry campsites: EC 2 probably the best campsite in the entire Needles DistrictNearby Add-ons: Druid Arch, Big Spring Canyon, Chesler Park, Squaw Canyon. Squirrels Nest. The best time of year for backpacking the Needles is April, May, September, and October. Also on this list is Chesler Park Ive now done it three times, and Id happily go hike it again. We found a good tree about 50 feet back from the lip and put a sling on it. Fortunately, you dont need to set the midnight alarm anymore (permits open at 8am MST). Thanks for stopping by! The search engine dedicated to campings. Wow! Carry your permit with you. Heres whats up: Pro Tip: Permits COMPLETELY book out MONTHS in advance for the busy season even on weekdays, so mark your calendars if you want to backpack in spring and fall. This is one of the most unique arches in the entire state and a real marvel to see. From your campsite, get back on the Chesler Park Trail. We got our tent setup at Just inform the ranger you will be in the Needles North Zone when you file for your permit. you don't have to rappel this 150 foot drop but instead hike on the west rim about 700 feet to a very small side drainage and drop into it. Lost Canyon: A three-site campground in Lost Canyon with more vegetation than the other resource areas. The trail to Druid Arch now follows a boot beaten path, supplemented with cairns, up scenic Elephant Canyon. For rainless nights, consider leaving your rainfly at home to save weight AND check out the stars. Web441 Route 9W Alpine, New Jersey 07620 Reservations: (212) 651-3077 The trailhead is located at the southwest end of the parking lot. Read more about the permits here.). For the lower part of the canyon which offers a moderate technical canyoneering adventure, use the Big Spring Canyon Overlook trailhead. Westfield RV Parks. Druid Arch is located 5.4 miles from the Elephant Hill Trailhead in the Needles District of Canyonlands National Park. A short distance beyond the junction the trail follows the contours of the canyon as it curves to the southeast and then back to the south. Youll get peek-a-boo views and 2 of the campsites are elevated off of the canyon bottom. Keep an eye out for where the trail turns right (south) and climbs to the bench beneath the arch. Permits are available in person at Panther Junction and Chisos Basin Visitor Centers, and online at www.recreation.gov. WebHead out on this 15.0-mile loop trail near Monticello, Utah. If youre planning to visit 3+ National Parks, you should consider buying the America the Beautiful National Parks Pass ($79) which includes access to all US National Parks and Federal Lands. Past the junction the trail travels between sandstone knobs and turns southwest. You do need a permit to ride a horse or a bicycle up the road. it is further suggested that you take: first aid kit, knife, snack, water good luck. Squirrels Nest. Hikers must campin designated sites where explicitly stated. Park here along the side of the road (there isn't an official parking lot). Print/PDF map. Theyll sometimes have different walk-up permits or upgraded campsites available. (If you come to the end of the road within the next mile, youll know you went the wrong way). Click here to access the online reservation system. Total distance from the Chisos Basin Trailhead is 5.3 miles (8.5 km) via the Pinnacles Trail or Webcamping, observation, etc. We use Sendinblue as our marketing platform. Its challenging, but only enough to turn back those who are just checking out the trail anyway. Be careful on the start of the rappel and if you have overnight packs, consider lowering them first. (2.04). Youll be pooping in bags. WebElephant Canyon is a scenic canyon in the Needles District of Canyonlands National Park in Utah. Cross the Elephant Canyon wash and arrive at a second junction where the path to Druid Arch turns left (south) and heads up Elephant Canyon. Backpacking permits for The Needles cost $30 per site with a maximum group size of 7. Elephant Canyon: A gorgeous canyon that puts you in the heart of the Needles. Now for the juicy stuff, the absolute best backpacking routes in Canyonlands! At 4.4 miles a set of rock cairns on the left (east) side of the wash mark the bypass trail circumventing a large pouroff. Owls Nest. Unfortunately, camping permits cost $30 in Canyonlands National Park which is on top of the $5 entrance fee and you must obtain them at the ranger station or call ahead. To make a reservation, visit Recreation.gov, or call 877-444-6777, 877-833-6777 (TDD), or +1 518-885-3639 (International). RVParkStore is the best place for RV park investors, owners and travelers to find RV resort, marina and campground sale listings, information and resources. The visitors center in town allows you to park in their lot if you are meeting other party members there. Once down, hike down boulders and scree back to the canyon floor and continue hiking down canyon. This turn is 40 miles south of Moab and 14 miles north of Monticello; it is very well-marked, but easy to miss after driving a very long way from Moab through some bland if pretty scenery. Watkins Glen RV Parks. Flash floods are common throughout the park, especially canyons. Pass through a narrow spot between a couple large rocks and continue west over a wide, flat bench. Campsite for Senior or Access pass holders $11/night. Once youve secured your reservation online, youll get an email with payment instructions. WebElephant Canyon: A three-site campground located in Elephant Canyon 3km from Druid Arch. There are countless routes for the intrepid backpacker and newbie backcountry sleeper alike to enjoy backpacking in the Needles. Distance: 5.3 miles to DP1Difficulty: moderate to difficult (lots of loose sand)Best Needles backcountry campsites: DP1Nearby Add-ons: Chesler Park, Joint Trail. Call the Backcountry Reservation Office for more information: 435.259.4351. Follow the rough, winding one-lane dirt road for 2.7 miles to the trailhead parking area. I hope you enjoy the trip as much as I did. The nearest town is Moab, Utah, and the Needles is the southern-most district. Heres everything you need to know for backpacking in Canyonlands Needles District like where to camp, how to get permits, and more. Hummingbird Cabin. For the Squaw Flats trailhead, simply drive about 1 mile to the end of the road where a large parking area is located. Elephant Canyon: A three-site campground located in Elephant Canyon 3km from Druid Arch. Nearest City: Moab, Utah, USA // Difficulty: Moderate // Duration: 3 days // Distance: ~24km. Advance reservations can be made up to 4 months out and are recommended during peak season. Warrensburg RV Parks. Druid Arch is accessible from the Elephant Hill Trailhead in the Needles District of Canyonlands National Park. Warrensburg RV Parks. Whitetail Hideaway. Rappel 30 feet down the short overhang from one of the juniper trees. The best way to return is to turn right and hike east for 0.5 mile up the river to the mouth of Salt Creek (Red line on map below). Trail Photo Gallery / Trail Map, Basecamp(s) Information:Canyonlands / Monticello. Cabins & Lodges; Camp Sites; Hotel Rooms & Dens; The final mile and a half gets rather bushy. For our three day trip, we carried 16L which was shy of what we really should have brought. be sure to have fun while testing your skills. 3 campsites available. At the first junction, youll keep right and continue 1km until the trail joins with Elephant Canyon. ), Facilities: Primitive restroom and possibly a picnic table or two at the trailhead, Fees: $30/vehicle, valid 7 days. The trails stay interesting as the hop up and over slickrock and wind through sand. You can do any of these sections in 1-2 days, but you can undertake most sections of the hike individually or combine them for a longer trip. Photos (3,216) Directions. Not to mention, you can check out Druid Arch at sunset and have the place to yourself. Uniquely-shaped Druid Arch is unlike other arches in the surrounding area. Try this 21.5-mile loop trail near Monticello, Utah. This is a spectacular portion of the trail, with huge rock spires and cliffs on the right (west) and views out to the La Sal Mountains and plenty of scenery in between on the left (north and east). WebWe continue straight ahead, following the route up Elephant Canyon. Extra vehicle $11/night. If youre planning on backpacking in the Needles, youll likely start at the Elephant Hill Trailhead. Its known for rugged cross-country backpacking and off-road driving. Elephant Canyon offers the most beautiful and secluded views in the park. The elevation gains arent that intense and trails are generally very well-marked. Accessible on an offshoot from the main trail, so youll get a mix of privacy and incredible scenery. 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Two days for Elephant Canyon difficulty experience out and are recommended during season.