In the maze of trails within the Needles District in Canyonlands National Park is a 2 mile trail worth the effort to get out there (at least 9 miles, depending on your route).   We hiked over from the Chesler Loop Trail.   From a rugged trail on rock, we dropped down steps into a cleft between cliffs and followed the slot canyon down to the bottom.

Some sections of the trail are narrow with a level sandy floor and some sections require some scrambling to get past obstacles.

On a hot day, this section was cooler, hidden from the sun.  Part way along the is deep, narrow fracture is an amphitheater called the Keyhole, then through the Cave of Cairns.

We wound our way to the far end of the “joint” and emerged into Chesler Canyon, heading west.

The trail finally descends to join the Devil’s Kitchen Road.   We followed this 4WD drive road north to another junction back to Chesler Park (another story to follow).