Chesler Park is a 600 acre open area of grass and sand dunes inside the towers, fins, pinnacles, cliffs, and spires of the Needles District in Canyonlands National Park.   All hikes into or through Chesler Park are between 10 to 13 miles, depending on the route chosen.   Our trail started at Elephant Hill and looped through the southern end of Chesler Park, through the Joint Trail, and then back by the Chesler Loop, about 5 hours of hiking.

Along this trail stand the towers (Needles) looking like an impassable wall, but the trail cleverly winds through gullies and over slickrock to the enclosed, nearly circular “park.”

Around every corner are new views: arches, windows, slot canyons, sandstone waves, mushroom-rocks, slickrock ramps, and alcoves.

All of Needles is a giant maze of rock obstacles, but with many opportunities to explore too. Trails follow sandy washes and canyons, then traverse up and over ridges to the next canyon.  Although the trail junctions are signed and the rock traverses are marked by cairns, we can strike off the trails in any direction to find hidden gems.

To the north is the high mesa of Island in the Sky and to the west across the Colorado River is The Maze, both parts of Canyonlands.

The 11 000+ foot La Sal Mountains flank the Needles on the eastern side.

All of the trails in the Needles District are a wonder for any hiker.   A return trip to explore more trails is a constant call for us.