Canyonlands National Park | Friday – Sunday, March 6-8, 2026
Since I’ve already spent some time in both the Island in the Sky and The Maze districts of Canyonlands National Park this year, I figured this weekend would be the perfect opportunity for me to get back into The Needles so I could knock out all three districts by early March. It’s hard to believe that it’s already been an entire year since I was last in The Needles when Diane and I went backpacking into Chesler Park last March, so I was itching to get back! This time I didn’t really have any set destinations in mind when I left from work on Friday afternoon, I just knew that I wanted to wander off trail across some sandstone benches and through some canyons to see what I could find along the way. I was wanting to make it to the park before sunset since there had been winter storms across the Colorado Plateau all day and I was hoping to catch the storm clearing out at sunset.
It was snowing pretty heavily as I drove through Indian Creek Canyon which made the road a bit slick, but as soon as I exited the canyon the snow stopped, too.
The weather conditions were looking pretty nice as I entered the park, so I decided to hike the Slickrock Trail to enjoy the views this afternoon.
Following the Slickrock Trail to one of the four viewpoints found along the loop.
The views from the trail were expansive across Canyonlands to Junction Butte, Grand View Point and Hatch Point.
It’s amazing how much a little afternoon light on the sandstone with nice clouds in the sky above can improve my day!
I wandered off the main loop and visited an overlook above the confluence of Big Spring Canyon and Little Spring Canyon.
Spotlight on the opposite rim of the canyon.
I followed the rim above Big Spring Canyon back to the main trail.
There were nice views over to the Abajo Mountains, too.
After completing the loop I walked down to the end of the road a short distance away and then continued beyond to the rim of Big Spring Canyon.
Unfortunately, it got a bit too cloudy out for a colorful sunset this evening.
I left the park to find a campsite for the night, and then returned early on Saturday morning to watch the sunrise on The Needles.
Salt Flat Butte
I spent the remainder of the morning and early afternoon wandering sandstone benches above the canyons.
I took a little detour to revisit an old Cowboy Camp along the way.
Diamond Matches
Mason Jars
Oh This is the Life, Wheeee
A dead end in a colorful cove.
After finishing my wandering in the park I explored a few two-tracks outside the park and then ate dinner.
I returned to watch sunset from the connecting trail between the two campground loops.
I thought I remembered that the views from this short connecting trail were pretty spectacular, and I wasn’t wrong!
On Sunday morning I hiked a short loop connecting two forks of Big Spring Canyon that I had not been though before.
Sandstone Wandering
The Moon
Looking back to The Needles as I connected the two forks on a trail.
Big Spring Canyon Reflection
I hiked below this tower shortly before returning to my vehicle and started the drive back home. It was a great weekend wandering the wilderness of stone!
Traces of the Ancients
White Arc Pictographs
Cracked Sheep Panel
Concentric Figure
This used to be known as the Roadside Ruin- now it’s the Stone Storehouse.
High ruins on a ledge next to a large alcove that looks like it might have some ruins in it as well.
A very faded ‘face‘ found at the back of the Cowboy Camp.
I almost walked right past the mouth of this short side canyon since it didn’t look like a place worth exploring, but then I thought I better be thorough while I was there and hiked in. When I reached the end I didn’t see anything and was ready to turn around and hike out, but then I spotted what looked like a little mortar behind some fallen rocks. I went in for a closer look and found this tiny little granary that’s only about the size of a Break Box or Cookie Jar. I’ve never seen anything like this before! What a surprise find!
Cookie Jar Granary
Reverse Handprints
Rippled Roof Ruin
Nice moody weather for photographs! Looks like a good wander. As always, thanks for sharing.