Elephant Canyon and Druid Arch Trail, Needles District

Every hike needs a destination. By hiking to Druid Arch, you will experience much of the Needles and experience Elephant Canyon, one of the best canyon walks in the Needles District. Druid Arch is over 100 feet tall and resembles the rocks of Stonehenge. It is an impressive sight and is a very satisfying destination after the long hike getting there.

Canyonlands National Park - Needles District

The closest access is the Chesler Park Trail at the Elephant Hill Trailhead. Many also start at Squaw Flat Campground which adds another 1.3 miles but is a paved trailhead.

The trail starts with a short climb and rock squeeze before arriving at plateau with views of the Needles. At 1.5 miles is a junction. Go right which takes you 0.6 miles over a divide and drops you down into Elephant Canyon. Now in the wash of Elephant Canyon, another trail split. Turn left and you are going to be following Elephant Canyon all the way upstream to the Druid Arch. The trail is sometimes in the river wash, other times along the side or even on the hillside above, when it avoids some large pools of water. The last half mile has a few easy scrambles in the rocky wash, one spot even has a ladder. Once past the ladder, a steep trail climbs through rocks to a high perch which offers the best views of the arch.

Elephant Canyon - Druid Arch Trail

Canyonlands National Park - Needles District