When I first moved to Salt Lake City, a co-worker told me that Chesler Park in Canyonlands National Park is the most beautiful place in the State of Utah. When I finally made it down there with my wife, Callista, I saw first hand what he meant. Of course there is the usual red-rock formations everyone expects around Moab, but Chesler Park takes the scenery up a notch with its red and white stripes of color that transform sandstone towers into something like a giant version of Candyland.
Located in the Needles District of Canyonlands National Park, Chesler Park is remote and the only way to get there is on foot. A large, flat circle of meadow surrounded by walls and towers of red sandstone is the main feature of the area.
The Joint Trail encircles the meadow as it goes from cairn-marked slickrock to well established singletrack. The trail also descends into a short slot canyon that is fun to explore. The entire loop is 11 miles which Callista and I did in a day, but in order to really appreciate the landscape, it would be much better to camp and hike it in two days. The extra time can then be spent taking a side hike to Druid Arch, a huge natural arch standing watch above Elephant Canyon.
The day Callista and I took the hike, it was overcast and chilly. But the lack of sunshine didn’t take away the beauty of the rock formations. We stayed on the Joint Trail, taking it slow and easy as we enjoyed the spectacular views and scrambled around in the slot canyon. Of course the hike took longer than it should have as we stopped every 50 yards to take pictures. Chelser Park is one of those rare places where if you point the camera anywhere, you will get a nice picture. The scenery never ends as it wraps around you from every direction.
If you go: Spring is an excellent time to hike Chesler Park as it gets too hot in the summer, and despite its desert location, stays very cold in the winter. To get to the trailhead, drive to the Visitor Center in the Needles District of Canyonlands National Park. Then simply follow the signs to the Elephant Hill trailhead. If you want to camp, an overnight permit must be obtained for a small fee at the Visitor Center.
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