The Needles Area - Hiking

I've never been impressed with the Canyonlands National Park, preferring the views from Dead Horse Point State Park better. When I mentioned this to a couple I met in Yosemite, they commented that I must have never hiked in the Needles area. Since this area is on the way to Mesa Verde, I decided to stop and do some hiking.

I have to admit. I now have a new appreciation for Canyonlands. First I got this spectacular camping site. A close second to the site I had in Arches National Park this last spring.

The next day I went on a 12 mile hike. All I can say is WOW. This goes as one of my all time favorite hikes. These pictures are just a sample of the scenery.

For part of the hike, you pass over this unusual rocky terrain. The trail then leads you through those formations ahead. This process repeats itself several times.

To get through some of the formations you squeeze through passages like this one.

At times your going down canyons with these huge rocks stacked on top of smaller rocks overhead.

Or you just are lead between rock formations down these miniature valleys

At the midpoint of the loop trail, you come to a trail called “The Joint”, as a joint in the earth's crust. Some of it seems like a cave. Much of this trail is over rocks and there are cairnes placed which lead the way. Notice this one on the shelf of the wall.

The trail just get narrower and narrower the further you go, with the walls getting higher.

When you climb out of The Joint, you on the edge of the large meadow. This picture was taken more than half way across.

Just another of the many views along the trail. Nothing special.

So, I'm taking back everything I said about Canyonlands National Park. I loved it. Just don't plan on spending much time in the Island In The Sky section.