Created 2-Dec-10
Modified 3-Dec-10
Druid Arch (Canyonlands National Park – The Needles District)
Canyonlands NP is split into three regions by the Colorado and Green Rivers. Island in the Sky is most accessible near Moab, The Maze is least accessible and requires 4x4 and route finding. The Needles is south of Moab and then west 48 miles at the end of a good paved road. This puts it enough off the beaten track to make it very remote feeling and quiet.
Up early I was cruising for a campsite at Squaw Flats by 8 a.m. and was lucky enough to nab a site as a group was leaving. Not very many sites turned over today and the alternative was back at the Needles Outpost which is a bit of a dustbowl (sites and roads are just slashed out of the desert). I set up my tent, made breakfast and waved to the scowling old couple who were competing with me for a site. (They eventually found one… it’s not like senior abuse or anything)
Druid Arch is at the end of a fairly rough trail over slick-rock and thru washes finally scrambling up over some boulders and up a ladder to arch. This was a very rewarding hike, I only saw two other people who arrived just after me (we exchanged pleasantries and cameras briefly). I ended the hike with a short detour to the Chesler Park overlook. I was instantly enamored with this place and hope to come back one day.
© Clayton Ditzler