CANYONLANDS - NEEDLES DISTRICT (04/2011)

The Needles District forms the southeast corner of Canyonlands and was named for the colorful spires of Cedar Mesa Sandstone that dominate the area.  The Needles District is a little more remote than Island in the Sky (the other end of Canyonlands), and provides a completely different experience.  It was a beautiful day to enjoy hiking in this part of the park.  I took several trails, including one where I had to climb up two ladders to reach the top of a rock where there was a magnificient view.

(Click on photos to enlarge.)

 On the 30-mile drive  into the park,
there are horses and cows just meandering around

 This, for obvious reasons, is called the Woodenshoe Arch

 Beautiful scenery like this is all over

Some snow-capped mountains off in the distance (not in the park)

 A unique desert flower

More pretty flowers 

I am going to get a little technical here (I didn't make this up).   In the below photograph is what is known as Cryptobiotic Crust.  The desert supports some unusual life forms; some of them do not even look alive.  Dark crusts ar formed by algae, bacteria, and other organisms vital to seedling germination and soil stabilization. These crusts are extremely fragile ~~ careless footsteps can destroy years of growth.

This was a cowboy camp that was left in its original form 

Some pictographs in one of the caves

This was listed as an "easy" hike.  I am going to challenge that!  Anything that involves climbing up two ladders is NOT easy.

These are the views from the top!  Well worth the ladder-climbing!

The pathway down - much easier than coming up

This little lizard kept me company on my hike

 Of course, after that strenuous hike, I needed a picnic lunch!

A couple of ravens waiting for me to drop a morsel of food.

Yeah, like that's going to happen!!


Me taking millions of photos!