A year after hiking this trail system in Canyonlands National Park, I returned to hike it again, this time in the opposite direction.

In the Needles District of Canyonlands, we can combine a series of trails to make our own loop.   I arrived early in the afternoon so I chose to do an 11 mile loop combining Lost Canyon, Big Springs Canyon, Squaw Canyon, and the Squaw Flats Viewpoint Trail.    The trails sometimes followed canyon floor washes with cottonwoods just leafing out.

At the ends of canyons the trails climb, winding up over slickrock routes.

Around every corner is another superb view and more opportunities to scramble over unlikely routes.

There was some water in Big Springs Canyon and in Lost Canyon but it would need to be filtered.   The day was warm and sunny in the middle of April.

Red Cedar Mesa sandstone is sometimes capped with harder white sandstone, creating capped towers.   Spires stand above the canyons in every direction.

The traverse from Lost Canyon to Big Springs Canyon is a superb route over slickrock, one to return to do again as often as I can.   The Squaw Canyon Loop has many variations.   Better yet, backpack into one of the backcountry campsites and spend a few days exploring the area.

More information:

• 2014 article – Big Springs Loop
• Needles Trails and Roads
• Canyonlands National Park – Needles