An Easy Hike in Canyonlands Needles.

Must you come during the busy, hot tourist season between May and September?  The answer is a most definite NO!!!  Canyonlands National Park is open year long, beautiful all year long and has unique sites not featured in any other park.  National Parks are not cloned!  Our visit to the Roadside Ruin was in February 2017 with a average day temperature of 75 F; there were campers at Squaw Flat campground; and yes, you can bring your dog, but it must be leashed and can only be on the paved road, or at the campground.

So now all of you who claim that winter is too cold to go adventuring into Canyonlands, let me show you how much fun we had in one day.  This is basically part one and only about the Roadside Ruin. Immediately past the Visitor Center within Canyonlands National Park - The Needles District, on the left hand side of the paved road, is a pull-in area for the Roadside Ruin.  This is a 3/10s of a mile loop walk featuring plant life, outstanding views and a Native American granary.




At the trailhead there is an informational board and a box containing a trifold pamphlet; also a sign indicating no pets on this natural trail (no, it's not paved or concreted!)  Take in the views of one of the desert towers called "The Six Shooters" and see as far as Island in the Sky and Junction Butte which is along the White Rim Trail.

Island in the Sky

Junction Butte - along the White Rim Trail

Six Shooter (right side)

Along the trail will be wooden posts with a number, the number corresponds to the description in the pamphlet.  Wondered what the Native Americans ate or processed for every day use; now you'll find out.




#1 - Indian Ricegrass - gathered, dried and ground into meal.

#2 - Peppergrass - the seeds were dried and ground; they have a hot peppery taste and were used as a spice.

















#3 - Big Sagebrush - the bark was pounded and twisted to make cordage (rope); depending on the variety of sage, it was also used for seasoning, tea and medicinal purposes.

















#4 - Fremont Barberry - yellow dye from the roots, the wood is hard enough for making tools and the pretty yellow flowers will ripen into edible berries.















#5 - Four Wing Saltbush - the seeds are edible; the ashes of the wood were used as a baking powder.


















Now here comes #6, The Granary, which is hidden inside a small alcove which offered excellent protection from the elements and hungry wild life.  Granaries were storage bins for grains, corn, seeds and nuts; occasionally food items have been found in granaries, but most are empty.

There is a wooden fence which should not be climbed over to get to the granary; the stonework is fragile and do you really want to be known as the one who destroyed it?  Nope; and, of course, we don't want to see your name or initials scratched into the rock.  Bubble busting time...no one cares about your name!!!  Want your name immortalized?  Write a blog!

Moss

View from the Granary.

#7 - Narrow Leaved Yucca - sharp spines of the yucca were used as needles; the fiber was made into cordage (rope), woven into sandals and mats; flowers and fruit are edible while the roots were used as a soap.













#8 - Utah Juniper - the bark is fibrous which provided diapers and cradleboard padding; the berries were brewed for a medicinal tea, or dried, strung into beads.


















*9 - Pinyon Pine - the seeds can be eaten raw or roasted, using in baking and cooking; they are quite similar to Italian pignoli (pine nuts).

















The trail is often marked with a cairn (small tower built of stones) to keep you from losing your way. Surprisingly, you can lose your way on trails within the park if you do not follow the cairns, or lose sight of the trail itself.  We did a bit of wandering over the slickrock, found potholes full of water with signs of living creatures that have come up from the dried soil within.  The views, however, are spectacular!

#10 - Prickly Pear Cactus - the cactus 'leaf" can be split open to use as a pad on a wound or cut; the fruit is sweet, juicy, can be eaten as is, or makes an incredible jelly!















...and then we were walking back to the pull-in and our vehicle.  We had a bit of a snack; oh, don't forget your water!  This was a short walk, but with all of Utah, you will dehydrate and not even know is occurring; always have water with you!

Now I need to work on the photos for part two of our winter day at Canyonlands - The Needles District.

Mary Cokenour

Canyonlands, the Needles District - Part Three.

In March of this year, we had the opportunity to go back into the Needles District of Canyonlands National Park. This time we concentrated solely on two trails, Elephant Hill Access Road and Colorado River Overlook; both are quite an adventure and we spent about six hours exploring them.

Here's a hint about this park, get there early in the morning, between 8 - 10am, for the best viewing of the Needles.  As the sun begins traveling over them, the haze makes them very difficult to see, and impossible to photograph, even with a lens hood.

One of first formations you come to as soon as you leave the Visitors Center is Wooden Shoe Arch; couldn't help myself and took several photos of it; then it was off to Elephant Hill Access Road.

Elephant Hill Access Road is a 3 mile, graded dirt/gravel road which is all wheel accessible; in other words, passenger cars can be driven along it, not just 4-wheel drive.  The formations are towering, very striking and often unusual; Mother Nature was very creative indeed! 

Spire

Turtle Rock

One mile along the Access Road, there is a pull-in area with an informational board about The Needles; this is also your best vantage point for viewing them if you don't want to do the 11 mile round trip hike.  From this area, you can also get a panoramic view of The Needles, The Maze and Island in the Sky - the three sections of Canyonlands National Park.



The Needles

The Needles, The Maze, Island in the Sky Panorama

At the end of the three miles is a parking area, restrooms, picnic area and the entrance to the Elephant Hill 4-Wheel Drive Road.  This trail is rated one of the most difficult trails in Utah!  It starts out easily for about a quarter of a mile; if you decide not to turn around at that point; consider yourself warned!

We headed back to the main road, headed down towards Big Spring Canyon and stopped at the picnic area near Pothole Point.  I'm always telling people to pack a picnic, so hopefully these photos will convince you on why you should.

From the Visitors Center is where the Colorado River Overlook road can be accessed.  This trail begins easily, but turns into a moderate to extreme trail at various points; 4-Wheel Drive is a must!  Even though we had 4-WD, high clearance and a skid plate, there came a point where we knew we would not be able to continue via vehicle, so hiked for a mile.  We saw the trail continue onward, but it wasn't meant for us on this day.



Condition of the trail

This is the point we finally stopped at and began hiking instead.

There was another vehicle nearby and the couple inside were considering doing this incline.  After watching us, they u-turned their vehicle and headed back.












The Landscape 

Island in the Sky can be seen.



Whale Rock can be seen from a side trail off of the Colorado River Overlook road.

Of course, I enjoy taking photos of the local plantlife; in other words, take time to look at your surroundings...up and down.

Newberry's Twinpod (Mustard family)

Woolly Locoweed (Pea family)

...and that concludes this more recent adventure into Canyonlands - Needles District.  Perhaps you've been inspired to do more than stick to the paved road?

Mary Cokenour