Druid arch hike.

Today's hike is in the Needles section of Canyonlands, about 100 miles from Moab. All is paved except the last 3 miles which is narrow, but good dirt road. The hike is 11 miles and has signs at all junctions with distance to the next point.

 Before you get to the park entrance you pass a Newspaper rock. There are restrooms at this parking lot but the panel is on the opposite end of the lot.You park almost right next to it and don't have to hike at all.

After passing the entrance station we head toward the campground and between loop A and loop B the dirt road takes off to the right to the "elephant hill" parking lot where the trail starts.

 After leaving the south side of parking lot you immediately go through a crack in a rock with steps up. On top continue south on a trail over terrain like this photo, to a signpost at 1.6 miles directing you on to Druid arch.

 Looking ahead our destination is behind the rocks in the distance.

 Jerry helping Cheryl with her rock climbing.

Fendler Cliff Bush.

 First sign post. We went from elephant hill to druid arch. 5.5 miles each way.

 A tall kind of Mahonia. It also grows here on the trail to little zion.

 First narrow area. There is a small boulder to climb over.

 Second narrow area. This slot opens into a grotto like area before dropping down into another wash. There are cairns here and where the obvious trail disappears.

Grotto like area. After this is where you drop down into the wash that leads south to the arch.

In the main, and last section, of the southerly wash you can see Druid Arch. That rock sticking up in the middle, looking "end-on"

 After a while the trail enters a wash and continues south to the arch. There are still some obstacles in the wash.

 The wash eventually becomes impassable due to high pour overs and deep water. This is a climb up the left side to get onto a shelf where the trail continues.

Later you come to this dry fall. At the top of it do not continue in the wash. The trail climbs up again on the left at the top of this dry fall.

This ls looking back down after the climb up.

 Showy Stone seed.

Same dry fall

When you are almost to the arch you have to turn left leaving the wash and scramble up to it's base. This is a hard spot where they put in a ladder making it much easier.

panorama of the arch.click on the link, then the photo.

From the trailhead there is a trail that goes generally south west going over a few drops till it meets a canyon going south. The southerly canyon goes to the arch.

There are some signs in the southerly wash pointing out designated campsites. But at the two places where the trail steps up onto higher ground (left) to avoid being boxed in there are  only cairns, and possibly foot prints.

The last section up to the arch is a scramble. Just before the scramble is a steel ladder to help you over a high rock.