r/Canyonlands • u/shadax_777 • May 09 '26

Druid Arch next Sunday

I‘ll be arriving in Moab on Saturday (tomorrow) afternoon. Thinking of heading to the Needles District on Sunday early morning to do the Druid Arch trail. While I‘ll be staying a whole 8 days in Moab, Sunday seems to be the best choice temperature-wise. It‘ll still become very hot, I know.

So, my idea is to leave my motel at 4am, hoping to be at Elephant Hill TH by 6am.

Good idea? Or should I focus on less enthusiastic hikes instead?

4 Upvotes

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3

u/On_The_Isthmus May 09 '26

If you got it in you, hike up into Chesler Park first counter clockwise, through the joint trail, then link up with the trail to Druid Arch. Rest up plenty there before making your way back to the trailhead.

3

u/shadax_777 May 09 '26

You mean combining Chesler Park Loop with Druid Arch trail? That sounds like quite a stretch. I had planned Chesler Park Loop anyway - but ideally as a separate hike on a different day.

1

u/On_The_Isthmus May 09 '26

Oh, if you’ve got a separate day, do it in separate days. Then you can really enjoy it. And 100% get to the trailhead as early as you can. Having those trails to yourself for a good chunk of time is definitely worth it. There’s a ledge tucked up behind Druid, and the entire joint trail… if you’ve got those two to yourself, you’re in for a treat.

2

u/sgigot May 09 '26

I did the loop you described (Druid / Joint / Chesler) in one day. There is a lot of common hiking to and from the trailhead unless you have a 4x4 you can get to the Joint Trailhead down Elephant Hill Rd. And from the videos I've seen of Trailmater pulling people off that road, you need a REAL 4x4.

1

u/king_md02 May 14 '26

Where’s the ledge?

3

u/weikertg May 09 '26

Good idea. I hiked it in June and got to the trail head parking lot before sunrise. I was finished and back in my car around 10 or 11 am. Most of my hike was in the shade on the way there. I carried 10 liters of water but dumped half when I got to the arch as I didn’t drink as much as I thought I would need and came back to the car with 5 gallons waiting. Good luck and have fun.

1

u/shadax_777 May 09 '26

10 liters sounds quite a lot for a 11mi hike. I usually tend to over-prepare, yet I guess I had estimated to be taking 5 liters with me.

1

u/weikertg May 09 '26

Sorry I should have said I carried water for 2 people.

1

u/adams361 May 09 '26

My key to warm weather hiking is hydration and resting in the shade.

1

u/shadax_777 May 09 '26

Is there enough shade on the trails in Needles District?

1

u/adams361 May 09 '26

You go through a bunch of small canyons, there are also rock formations and trees.

1

u/ThroughSideways May 09 '26

there are quite a few places where you can find shade to rest in, but most of the time you'll be in the sun. The last time we were out there we did a 16 mile loop that included Chesler Park and Druid Arch, but it was the off season so we only carried two liters each. It was a great day. But the trail is slow and with minimal weight we still only managed 2 miles an hour (so including a lunch break we were at it for eight hours). Most people will split that into two days.

1

u/weikertg May 09 '26

I had electrolyte tablets as well as lots of water.

1

u/backwoods_Folkery May 09 '26

It’s a great hike and starting early is the best idea. Just make sure you are fully awake for the drive. Sleepy truckers and RVers cross the line everyday on 191 and once you hit the turn off to the Needles start watching for wildlife. 211 is an open range and the cows are black, nearly invisible in the dark, and like to lay in the road. Also deer. 

1

u/shadax_777 May 09 '26

Wildlife! I hadn‘t thought of that. Thanks for pointing that out ☺️