Overview:  Utah has some of the most surreal landscape on the planet, and a visit to the Needles is unforgettable.  The 15 miles of trails we hiked over the red slick rock provided a new obstacle around each bend, including 1 ft wide slot canyons, up ladders, it is a continuous and exciting to continually weave your way through this landscape.  We planned to spend 2 nights in Chestler Park, but were forced out after one very cold front moved in.

Route:  Chesler Park is not an easy place to get to.  Our spring break began with a six hour drive from Salt Lake to Moab.  Then it is another hour to the trailhead to the center of Canyonlands National Park.   The trail began at Squaw flat and it was 6 miles to our backcountry campsite in Chestler Park.  Chestler Park itself is a 1000 acre open meadow in the mist of towering red spires.  We spent one night at backcountry site #5. To return we hiked out of Chestler on a different trail and returned via the big spring canyon trail.

We stayed with some friends up in Park City before the drive on down to Moab.  After the drive we got in some fantastic afternoon hiking in Arches N.P. Perfect weather and temp. But oh things would change... at the worst possible time- we would be heading into the backcountry the next morning.  So we woke up at the Adventure Inn to a wind advisory for the Moab area.  It was blasting outside and the weather station was calling for 60mph gusts.  And much colder conditions on the way.  I had a flashback to Arches a few years back when my father had on ski goggles to combat the wind blown sand while we hiked.  I thought the trip to Chestler might be off.

So we made the hour drive on to the Needles district of Canyonlands N.P.  Along the way we could not believe the blooming flowers amounst the surrounding stark red cliffs. 

We soon entered the needles area and got our permit from the ranger station.  I asked the ranger about wind protection at our campsite CP5, "No, you will most likely get blasted," was her response.  A bit discouraged we then pulled up to squaw flat.  At this point, I knew that the hike was on.  Yes, it was gusting quite a bit, but more importantly not a ton of sand was flying along with it.

 We then headed out into a truly unknown wilderness to us.  Inhospitable to some extent as I had to carry an extra gallon of water because we would not have access to any water until tomorrow.  We were soon following the trail of ducks along the slick rock.  In the near distance were the appropriately named needles jutting up.  The wind was not to bad- the good news of this area is it is mostly slick rock and not sand.

Much of the hike was up and down small ridges of rock.  At one point the needles looked like a small glacier circ made of red stone. very cool.  I was surprised how many people were on the trail especially the fact the wind was quickly bringing in a series of t-storms.  It did rain, but it was just a light shower now/then.  At one point the trail put us in a 2ft wide slot canyon for a short distance

We crossed Elephant Canyon and were really in the heart of needles country now.  It was only a short .2 mile hike from Elephant Canyon up a short ridge.  At the top was the opening to Chestler Park.  This picture is looking back at a landscape of red/white needles in all directions.  I told Sam the whole place reminded me of Disney Land's Thunder Mtn. 

We crossed into the field of Chestler Park and did get hit with a blast of sand or two.  Then in the middle of the park is a fin of rock a few hundred feet high that we followed past the other backcountry sites to ours #5.  Just before reaching our site there is an old cowboy camp. There is graffiti on the red stone from signed by some cowboys "Silver Dick 1924."  Our site was a good spot with some expansive view of canyonlands.  It felt good to roll in- My pack was another whopper with the gallon of water adding another 8 pounds.  I had planned on doing a water run up Elephant Canyon the following day to get more water but plans changed. Sam has also not been feeling well and plans on resting tomorrow instead of the dayhike that I had planned.

After setting up camp, we crashed in the tent for a bit.  Soon later hail started belting down.  It was getting chilly and knew that we might get some snow that night.  At this point I would take snow over the wind any day.

 Day 2

We have decided to pack it our a day early.  Besides the fact it must be 20 degrees outside, Sam is still not feeling well.  It really is too cold to be comfortable in any way while outside without moving.  We knew coming to Utah in the spring was hit or miss.  The extremes in temperature here are amazing. And if we were here a week earlier or a week later it would have been perfect, but that is out of our control and we came as prepared as could be. I have decided to still hike the Chestler loop in the morning and then return to break camp. 

  I headed out that morning wearing just about all I had.  It was comfortable to hike in and it felt really good to be out and moving.  Some sun finally peeked on through.  This picture is looking back at the fin of rock that cuts through the center of Chestler and the location of camp.

  I than hit the sign for the joint trail.  Stairs were stepping down into a crack in the rock.  It was very tight in spots and it ran for more than a quarter mi.  It reminded me much of wire pass - the beginning to the 12 mile buckskin gulch slot. he sound of my jacket would make a strange rushing/echo sound as I made my way through. Our the other side I eventually met up with a 4-wheel drive road that I followed as part of the loop.  I soon gained about 200 ft of altitude and through another short crack to arrive back in Chestler.  It was nice to be on the same part of the trail as yesterday- but the difference was that I did not have to close my eyes and shield my face from the intermittent sand blast.  I also passed campsite #2 which looks really nice.

 One advantage of leaving today was that I would not have to do a water run back and forth to Elephant Canyon.  We had enough for the 7 mi hike out.

We took a different route out of Chestler and into Big Spring Canyon.  It was one of the most spectacular/interesting hiking I have ever done.  Up over slick rock passes- over and down ladders- and through another tight rock feature.  We continued to hike along these amphitheaters of red/white slick rock hundreds of feet high.  Then I looked up - In the horizon was a menacing grey wall obviously moving straight at us.  With the wind now hitting us straight on we would be hit soon.  Soon enough, it began to snow.  I was a tad worried that we would find out why they call it slick rock as much of the trail is on uneven surfaces of rock and traverses some sections 100 ft or more high.  But surprisingly a little bit of snow/rain did not effect us and we continued on.

As the trail followed the wash of Big Spring Canyon we eventually arrived back at Squaw Flat. 

  From the drive back out of the needles area, it goes back through that blooming canyon and we again pulled over to take pictures.   We continued our tour through southern Utah staying in Monticello that night.  The next day driving through the snow to Natural Bridges and then to the ever so photographed Monument Valley. I only wish our conditions were ideal enough to explore and enjoy it more.  Next time I will error on the warm side and go later than March.  The Needles are quite simply world class, and easily makes the list as one of the worlds best hiking destinations.

Extras

1.   Movie

2.  Pictures from Arches, Natural Bridges, and Monument Valley

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