Trailblazers in the Needles District of Canyonlands.

•  October 20, Monday – By Lin

From Phoenix to the Needles District (Dutch Oven Campground) is about 495 miles — roughly a nine-hour drive. I left home at 6 a.m. The traffic wasn’t too bad. I stopped at Flagstaff for gas and had lunch at Burger King in Kayenta. While I was eating, Scot and Robert showed up — what a nice surprise! After a quick chat, I continued straight to the campground.

Welcome to UT.

Although I’ve been to Canyonlands many times, this was my first time camping in the Needles District and at Dutch Oven. The drive was beautiful — I saw deer, wild turkeys, and patches of bright fall color along the way.

Wild Turkey.

Beautiful Scenery.

Newspaper Rock.

When I arrived, many people were already there. Robyn had set up her Teardrop pop-up trailer; Joyce and Terry were finishing their setup; Sonny and Kim had found their favorite spot; and Kevin, May, and Lin arrived around the same time. They also found a nice spot to call home for the next few nights.

Robert Tent.

Lin Tent.

Cindy's Tent.

Scot is working on his tent.

Robyn Trailer.

Terry and Joyce tent.

The campground was beautiful — spacious, peaceful, and conveniently close to the restroom. Felix arrived very late, and Yanie was the last to roll in, setting up his tent in the dark. Everyone was tired after a long day of driving. After a quick dinner, we all turned in early, ready to rest up for the adventures ahead.

Fall color.

Fall color.

•  October 21, Tuesday – By Lin

Today we hiked the Big Spring Canyon–Squaw Canyon Loop, a warm-up and classic 8-mile circuit in the Needles District that showcases the best of Canyonlands — sculpted red rocks, slickrock domes, and sweeping desert views. Starting right from our campground at 8:30 am, we walked to the Squaw Flat Trailhead. The trail climbed gradually through open juniper and pinyon terrain before dropping into the sandstone maze of Big Spring Canyon. It wound along slickrock benches and sandy washes, with cairns marking the way. The crossing between the two canyons involved a bit of scrambling — fun, scenic, and offering great vantage points of the Needles spires and distant mesas.

We stopped midway for lunch on a slickrock ledge overlooking the canyon. The return through Squaw Canyon felt quieter and greener, shaded by cottonwoods and lined with patches of grass along the dry streambed. The loop took about five hours at a moderate pace, including breaks and photo stops. The weather was perfect — a cool morning, light breeze, and deep blue skies. Overall, it was a spectacular and varied hike, full of solitude and classic Canyonlands beauty — truly a gem of the Needles District.

Watch your step.

Tonight, we enjoyed our traditional group potluck — as usual, far too much good food to share. Sonny beef patties, Robert sausage, Felix meatballs, and Lin chicken were all delicious. Kim caramel dessert and Scots huge apple pie were a hit, while Kevin and May potstickers might have been the best dish of the night. Cindy fresh vegetables rounded out the feast perfectly. A great hike, a great potluck — a perfect day in the Needles District.

Hold that stone up.

•  October 22, Wednesday – By Lin

Today we hiked the beautiful loop from Elephant Hill through Devil’s Kitchen, Chesler Park, and the Joint Trail, then back to Elephant Hill — truly one of the best scenic routes in the Needles District. Group A (Joyce, Terry, Felix, Robyn, Sonny, and Lin) completed 12.7 miles, while Group B (Robert, Cindy, Kevin, May, Kim, and Scot) added an extra stretch for a total of 13.6 miles.

Everyone to the starting line.

Starting from the Elephant Hill Trailhead, we set out under clear blue skies, following the rugged 4x4 road toward Devil Kitchen. The morning light painted the red rocks in warm hues, and every turn revealed another maze of sandstone towers and domes. After passing Devil’s Kitchen, we continued through the wide, open expanse of Chesler Park, one of the most stunning places in the Needles District. The trail wound through grassy meadows framed by colorful pinnacles and sculpted rock formations — a photographer’s dream.

Next came the Joint Trail, a narrow, twisting passage through tall sandstone walls. Walking through the cool, shaded slots was an unforgettable experience — fun, mysterious, and a refreshing break from the desert sun. We completed the counterclockwise loop back to Elephant Hill tired but thrilled. The route had everything — adventure, variety, and incredible views from start to finish. We all agreed it was one of the best hikes in the area, and we loved every step of it!

Can you see the three bears. [photo by Robert]

Time to get up the stairs.

Dinner: In the evening, we enjoyed a delicious leftover group potluck. Lin turned her chicken and rice into tasty chicken fried rice and cooked some homegrown okra. May and Kevin made more potstickers, we finished Felix’s meatballs, and Cindy shared fresh bell peppers. For dessert, we savored Scot’s apple pie and Kim’s “caramel” dessert — the perfect ending to a wonderful day!