Canyonlands NP - The Needles
The Needles section of the park is located Southwest of Moab about 80 miles. It contains unique rock formations called spires. They were created about 20 million years ago by wind-blown sand (white rings) and periodic flooding from the present day Grand Junction area would inundate the sand with red sediment to create the red bands. Rain eats away at the sandstone, acting faster in weak areas. Earth movement over the years caused the an uplift and fractured the formations plus the salt thousands of feet down drags the structure toward the Colorado River. This action has sculpted these magnificent pillars and spires.
Driving the the Needles you pass "Newspaper Rock". Petroglyph art etched in sandstone covers some 2000 years of early human life, B.C. - 1300 AD. Nobody has determined the true meaning of the art.
Hike to Chesler Park Viewpoint from Elephant Hill Trailhead.
Pothole Point Trail - all the potholes were dry!
Slickrock Trail.
Cave Spring Trail - cowboys camped under the overhang of the rocks
Driving the the Needles you pass "Newspaper Rock". Petroglyph art etched in sandstone covers some 2000 years of early human life, B.C. - 1300 AD. Nobody has determined the true meaning of the art.
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| Approaching the Needles section of the park, rock formations just jet into the sky. |
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| Wooden Shoe Arch |
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| Mules Ear |
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| Beautiful rock formations and colors decorate the trail |
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| Along with some animals. |
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| View of the Needles |
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| Fishhook Cactus |
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| Pull it in!!! |
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| Different layers and colors! |
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| Can you find the "weak" area of the formations? |
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| Double Cheese burger!! |
Roadside Ruins
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Ancestral Puebloan Granary built 1270 - 1295 AD. Used to store corn, beans or squash seeds |
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| Prickly Pear Cactus |
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| It's amazing what rain, wind and sun can do to sandstone. |
Cave Spring Trail - cowboys camped under the overhang of the rocks
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| A campsite |
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| Water supply |
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