Spent spring break backpacking through the Needles district of Canyonlands National Park. The rugged terrain offered a mix of challenging hikes and spectacular views as we navigated slot canyons, mesas, and distinctive rock formations over four days.
Day one started with an early morning drive from Moab. The rising sun painted the desert landscape in warm oranges and reds as we made our way to the trailhead. Our packs were heavy with four days of supplies and all of the water we needed ( mine a whopping 60lbs). Our first destination was Lost Canyon, where once close to camp we decided to drop our packs in an off-trail place and descend into the canyon. I did some yoga on slick rock which helped brush away some of the risidual stress I was feeling from school. After climbing into the canyon, we realized the exit would be as frustrating as the entry, with dense bushes surrounding us. We did get to see some grain silos at the base of the canyon.
On the second day, we planned 4 miles to Chesler Park, we actually trekked closer to 7 when myself and another member of our group got separated when we accidentally took the wrong path while the rest waited elsewhere. The mix-up cost us the chance to see Druid Arch — at least I have a concrete reason to return now . Despite the stress of getting lost, Chesler Park quickly became my favorite spot in the park. The panoramic views were absolutely breathtaking, with colorful spires stretching in every direction. What made it truly magical was the moon hanging just above the eyeline the entire time, casting an otherworldly glow that made me feel like I'd stepped onto a Star Wars planet.
Day three brought us to the Joint Trail, which proved particularly amusing as this was when everyone in our group had to start using their wag bags. The trail features narrow passages between towering rock walls—actual "joints" in the sandstone—where we squeezed through and climbed all over the fascinating rock formations. When we returned to our campsite we discovered the crows had an equal fascination with wag bags... We then hiked to Devil's Kitchen, a beautiful open field where we arrived early enough to simply relax and enjoy the surroundings. Those lazy hours playing rounds of 20 questions under the vast Utah sky became some of my favorite memories from the trip.
Our final day was a quick 9-mile hike back to the car, moving at a brisk pace with the promise of juicy burgers in Moab as motivation. The needles was a splendid way to spend my spring break.
