Chesler Park Trail Hike

Another rainy morning in Moab, birds are singing outside our window and the air is fresh.

Driving along 191 on the way to The Needles, 40 degrees and it's pouring rain. I don't think we'll be doing any hiking today. 

I was wrong, the rain stopped and the sun came out so we decided to hike the Chesler Park trail out of Elephant Hill in The Needles. 

Chesler Park trail

The trail starts out steep with stairs formed into the rock but that doesn't last very long and soon you're walking on dirt and slick rock.

Chesler Park trail

After about 1.5 miles we came to what they call the Joint Trail which is like walking through a slot between the rocks. Pretty cool!

Joint Trail

We hiked for awhile and came to some steeper portions and a little more challenging terrain but nothing too hard. We got to the end of the trail and took a bunch of photos then started back.

The Needles

The Needles

Cactus Flower

On the way back as I was scrambling up a fairly steep rocky section I managed to injure myself on a protruding tree limb. It cut a large gash in my head. We managed to stop the bleeding enough to begin the hike back down to the car, two miles away. 

Three hours later I was in emergency at Monticello Hospital being treated by the very competent staff in the ER there. 

I can't wait to go back sometime and do more hiking in the area. Next time I'll try to avoid the hazards.

I found this blog page about the area and thought I'd share it. It's a nice write up of this beautiful trail.

Chesler Park & Joint Trail Loop – Canyonlands National Park – Needles District