Elephant Hill to Chesler Park - Needles District - Part 1 of 4

The Needles District in eastern Utah’s Canyonlands National Park features a maze of towering pinnacles, winding canyons, and mushroom rocks-and the Chesler Park Loop winds through perhaps the best of it. The roughly 11-mile stem-and-loop circumnavigates a grassy plain flanked by Slickrock spires, while a short section of the “Joint Trail” edges through a narrow cut resembling a smooth slot canyon. The approach section-three miles one-way from the Elephant Hill Trailhead-is also no slouch: highlights include slickrock expanses, tight passages, and a beautiful descent into Elephant Canyon. The route is well maintained, but the considerable length and numerous ups and downs make Chesler Park a strenuous day hike-or, better yet, a multi-day adventure.