Slickrock Foot Trail - Needles District of Canyonlands National Park - Utah

After our first visit to the Needles District of Canyonlands National Park about three weeks prior, we moved to just outside the park for the next few days. This was our second venture into Needles and it is certainly clear why they call it "Canyonlands". 

Slickrock Foot Trail - Needles District - Canyonlands National Park - Utah

Today we hiked a couple of short trails in the Needles District of Canyonlands National Park with our good friends Jack & Danielle. 

First, it was the 2.4 mile Slick Rock Foot Trail.

 

They have to say "foot trail" because most slickrock trails in this part of the country are for mountain bikers.

Here is a distant view of the collection of spires called the Needles from where this district of Canyonlands got its name.

 

 

 It's hard to see at first glance, but we walked by this nice arch on the trail.

 

 

Continuing on along the edge.

 

 

 

It was another beautiful little hike. Here's a view across the canyons to the La Sal Mountains poking up in the far background.

 

 

 Eventually, we stopped for lunch at the Upper Little Spring Canyon viewpoint.

 

 

I climbed up for a different perspective of our lunch spot.

 

 

As we moved on, Linda & Danielle posed for a photo in one of the many alcoves that have probably been used for shelter by man and beast for who knows how long.

 

 

As we proceeded, we got our first glimpse of Big Spring Canyon with Grand View Point in the background. Grand View Point is across the canyons in the Island In The Sky District of Canyonlands.

 

 

There were pockets of blooming Claret Cup Cactus along the trail.

 

 

But the star of this show was the canyon.

 

 

Linda is always willing to get a little closer to the edge for these shots.

 

 

One last fantastic look before heading back.

 

 

As we approached the trailhead, I took another shot of the Needles where we will be hiking in the next few days.

 

 

What a great little hike - and we had it all to ourselves.

After we completed the Slickrock Foot Trail, we did the Cave Spring Trail which Linda & I had done about three weeks earlier. You can check out our April 13, 2008 entry for details and photos on that one.

So, it was a nice leisurely day at Needles. More to come as we are camped right outside the park on BLM land, and we plan to do more exploring of this fabulous area.