Canyonlands: Needles District & Lockhart Road
Saturday, February 5, 2011
After finishing up in Indian Creek Canyon I continued on down the highway to the Needles District of Canyonlands National Park. Since all of the 4×4 roads in the park were closed, I figured that I would complete some of the easier and shorter hikes that I always drive by on my way elsewhere. I started out with the Roadside Ruin.
From there I headed over to the Cave Spring Loop. It was a short but fun loop…..and it’s where I found my last rock art of the day….
Cave Spring Pictographs
Cave Spring Pictograph 1
Cave Spring Pictograph 2
Cave Spring Handprints
After finishing up the loop I headed over and checked out Pothole Point. The potholes were all dry, so there weren’t any good photo ops. My last hike of the day was around the Slickrock Foot Trail. This was another nice hike with some good views in all directions.
Before heading home for the day I ended up hopping on the Lockhart Basin Road and taking it to just under the Needles Overlook before turning around and heading home. Lockart Basin is one of those trails I always mean to complete, but still haven’t yet…..maybe 2011 will be the year I finally do?
By the time I made it home it was a long day, but I had a great time and it was worth it!