One of our favorite trails (anywhere) is the Peekaboo Springs Trail in the Needles District of Canyonlands National Park.   The route from Squaw Flats to the springs in the Salt Creek Canyon and back is about 10.2 miles (16.4 km).

The first part of the trail follows the Lost Canyon Trail (another favorite).   There are a number of junctions, but they are all signed.   From Lost Canyon it is all on the slickrock to the end.

This is an inspired route for a trail, winding across ramps, up through pour-off bowls, along ledges, through an arch, through small canyons, up staircase-ledges, down steel ladders, and on top of ridges among fins.  Along the route are sandstone towers, fins, desert varnish cliffs, alcoves, gnomes, mushrooms, domes, pour-offs, potholes, and wide views of the Needles lands all around.

Click an image for a lightbox view:

At the end of the trail, the route descends steeply down a ladder into the Salt Creek drainage.   We backpacked down this corridor a few years ago, setting up camp near the springs (see more information below).  The Upper Salt Creek backpack is one of the best to be found in the Southwest.

At an arch at trails-end are a few rock art images.   There were also granaries on the cliffs above the creek.

The Needles District of Canyonlands National Park has very high quality hiking.   The trails tend to be long and can also be demanding, but the trails themselves are top-notch and the scenery is unbeatable.   Although we have done most of the trails here more than once, it is a prime hiker’s destination, so we will return.

More information:

• Peekaboo Trail (2015)
• Upper Salt Creek Canyon
• Upper Salt Creek Video
• Squaw Canyon Loop (inc. Lost Canyon)
• Big Springs Loop (inc.Lost Canyon)
• The Needles (NPS)