In the Needles District of Canyonlands National Park, we can follow the Park road north 6.6 miles from the Visitor’s Center to the end of the road.   There are 3 hiking trails off this road in the Needles North area – the Slickrock Foot Trail, Pothole Point, and the Confluence Overlook.   The Slickrock Foot Trail is a 2.4 mile (3.9 km) lollipop-shaped trail all on rock.   It can be hiked in combination with nearby Pothole Point Trail, a 0.6 mile (1 km) loop.

Drive north from the Visitor’s Center and watch for the sign 6.4 miles on the right.   The trail climbs up and over slickrock ledges, small hills, and terraces following cairns toward the head of Big Spring Canyon.

Sandstone “sculptures” are found along the route.

Ancient sand dune layers can be seen in the vertical layers of the slickrock.

The end of the trail looks down into Big spring Canyon and Island in the Sky stands across the Colorado River to the northwest.

It is easy to see why roads do not connect Island in the Sky to Needles to the Maze.   Two deep river canyons and extremely rugged terrain limit roads access.

Back up the road 1.3 miles is the Pothole Point Trail.  The nature winds across slickrock where a number of shallow potholes are passed.   Water fills the potholes and an enclosed ecosystem of small creatures flourishes after a rainfall.   The deeper potholes retain a desert pothole garden system that can be observed for much of the year, except in very hot, dry periods.

Along the route are some sandstone “sculptures”.

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Some more information can be found in these publications:

• Slickrock Foot Trail Guide
• Pothole Point Guide