Canyonlands National Park: Elephant Hill to Squaw Flat Camp
Miles from anywhere, this 5.3-mile dayhike slides over sandstone mounds, into a shallow canyon, and under orange spires in the Needles District.
Trail Facts
- Distance: 8.5
Waypoints
EHT001
Location: 38.14188, -109.827499
Head S from the Elephant Hill trailhead on dirt path. *Tip*: Pack at least 3 liters of water
EHT002
Location: 38.1367, -109.828697
Pass a shallow canyon punctuated with red and tan sandstone formations; snowcapped La Sal Mtns. line NE horizon
EHT003
Location: 38.12524, -109.832497
Turn L @ T; head NE on slickrock pitted with natural potholes; colorful spires ahead
EHT004
Location: 38.12809, -109.8246
Trail swings right and drops gently into wash.
EHT005
Location: 38.125629, -109.825401
Head SE on dirt and slickrock path. *Leave No Trace tip*: Step around black mounds of cryptobiotic soil
EHT006
Location: 38.1222, -109.820396
Trail curves NE
EHT007
Location: 38.133129, -109.813904
Follow switchback for descent into a wash with shady junipers
EHT008
Location: 38.135929, -109.810997
Continue straight; trail leading to Big Spring Canyon enters on R
EHT009
Location: 38.144371, -109.806801
Turn R @ Y
EHT010
Location: 38.145069, -109.8041
Bear L and head N. More campsites: Turn R and head S for sites in Campground A
EHT011
Location: 38.148651, -109.800797
Camp under trees in Squaw Flat Campground (26 sites; first-come basis). Hike or shuttle 3 mi. back to trailhead on dirt road
Red rock and hoodoo canyon
Location: 38.136677, -109.828659
Joe Monaco in front of a Big Spring Canyon feeder. © Steffan Fay.
Cryptobiotic soil
Location: 38.12571, -109.825264
Avoid stepping on cryptobiotic soil (consists of soil cyanobacteria, lichens and mosses). Doing so can damage this delicate and important ecological feature of the arid Southwest. © Steffan Fay.
Hoodoos
Location: 38.125198, -109.832222
Jacquelyn Fay ponders the erosive forces that left these striated, multi-hued hoodoos in the Needles District of Canyonlands. © Steffan Fay.
Lone juniper
Location: 38.144482, -109.80632
Steffan Fay poses next to a lone juniper. © Steffan Fay.
Needles District and the La Sals
Location: 38.125141, -109.832222
Jacquelyn Fay and Joe Monaco in the Needles District of Canyonlands. Pinyon pine and Utah juniper in the middle-ground, and the ubiquitous La Sals on the horizon. © 2005 Steffan Fay.
Rock formation and soil
Location: 38.122089, -109.820457
Joe Monaco and Jacquelyn Fay (in backpack) pose in front of interesting rock formation and cryptobiotic soil. © Steffan Fay.