Druid Arch, UT

This hike is one of the best hikes in Canyonlands National Park. It offers all the views and scenery the Needles District is known for, and it gives you a spectacular arch at the end.


The hike starts at the Elephant Hill Trailhead. There's ample parking with an additional overflow lot. There's a vault toilet at the trailhead. The trailhead is 6 miles past the Needles Visitor Center. The road turns into a well-groomed dirt road right before the Needles Campsites. The road continues past the trailhead, but it turns into a serious 4x4 road.From the trailhead, you start up immediately along the Chesler Park Trail. It gives you a good idea about what is in store. Ups and downs, views and canyons. After 2 miles you make it down to Elephant Canyon and the junction of the Chesler Park Trail and Druid Arch Trail. Follow the trail signs going south down the canyon. The arch is 3.5 miles from this point.

The rest of the hike to the arch is hiking in or along the wash in Elephant Canyon. The closer you get to the arch, the steeper the trail becomes. Eventually, you leave the canyon for good and hike along the edge. After making several turns and twists, the canyon ends at the chute area below the arch. The first view of the arch is deceiving. It appears to be just another part of the amazing scenery.

The chute area is 0.5 miles up. There are a couple of paths you can take up (and back down). It is more of a rock scramble than a hike until you make it up to the ledge the arch is on. The first real views of the size and scope of the arch are from the chute area.

Once you make it up to the ledge, the arch and the amazing canyon you just hiked up come into full view. The arch is 150 ft tall and consists of colorful Cedar Mesa Sandstone. It blew me away the first time I saw it back in the 1980's. It was no less spectacular seeing it 40 years later. Looking down at the canyon is also amazing. The scenery of the Needles District is truly unique and iconic Utah.

The hike back is all down until you make it to the Chesler Park Trail junction. There is a connector trail off the Druid Arch Trail 2 miles north of the arch that climbs up to Chesler Park which is equally amazing.

There are official campsites along the hike that require permits and must be reserved. A day hike doesn't require any additional permits.

If you can only do one hike in the Needles District, I would recommend this one. If you have multiple days to spend, Chesler Park, The Joint Trail, Squaw Canyon and Big Spring Canyon are all nearby.

2024-12-03 adilling