boulderrr
02-07-2013, 02:04 PM
Hello all! My girlfriend and I will be heading to stay near the Needles District of Canyonlands for President's day weekend for my birthday. We went on the same weekend last year and got VERY lucky with the weather. While last year's snow season in the area was abysmal, it led to some favorable winter desert exploring conditions as there was barely any snow to be found. We did the Chessler Park / Joint Trail loop and the Big Spring Canyon to Squaw Canyon loop.
It looks like we won't be quite as lucky with the weather this year, though I'm not complaining because I'll take as much snow as we can get! We were hoping to do the hike from from Squaw Flat to Peekaboo, but I've heard that it can be treacherous if there is snow on the ground. Looking at the current conditions for the Needles, it appears that a lot of the roads are snow covered or impassable whereas last year they were all clear. This leads me to believe that there will be a reasonable amount of snow on a lot of the potential hikes.
For anyone who has done the hike to Peekaboo, do you agree that it would be too dangerous to attempt with snow? Thinking back, the Chessler Park loop would probably be safe enough in the snow. I doubt that the Big Spring to Squaw Canyon hike would be though.
Are there any hikes, non-technical slot canyons, or other activities you can suggest in or near the Needles district for when there is snow on the ground? We plan to bring our snowshoes just in case, but I doubt there will be enough depth to need them. One idea I had was the loop to the north of the Chessler Park/Joint Trail loop, which goes by the Devil's Kitchen.
We're open to wandering/exploring through the desert (with GPS and navigation skills), so it doesn't necessarily have to be a trail hike. We are staying between the turn off to the Needles and Monticello so are looking for things to do anywhere in the general Needles area that will be possible and safe enough if there is snow on the ground.
Thanks in advance... Can't wait to get back to the desert in a week!
It looks like we won't be quite as lucky with the weather this year, though I'm not complaining because I'll take as much snow as we can get! We were hoping to do the hike from from Squaw Flat to Peekaboo, but I've heard that it can be treacherous if there is snow on the ground. Looking at the current conditions for the Needles, it appears that a lot of the roads are snow covered or impassable whereas last year they were all clear. This leads me to believe that there will be a reasonable amount of snow on a lot of the potential hikes.
For anyone who has done the hike to Peekaboo, do you agree that it would be too dangerous to attempt with snow? Thinking back, the Chessler Park loop would probably be safe enough in the snow. I doubt that the Big Spring to Squaw Canyon hike would be though.
Are there any hikes, non-technical slot canyons, or other activities you can suggest in or near the Needles district for when there is snow on the ground? We plan to bring our snowshoes just in case, but I doubt there will be enough depth to need them. One idea I had was the loop to the north of the Chessler Park/Joint Trail loop, which goes by the Devil's Kitchen.
We're open to wandering/exploring through the desert (with GPS and navigation skills), so it doesn't necessarily have to be a trail hike. We are staying between the turn off to the Needles and Monticello so are looking for things to do anywhere in the general Needles area that will be possible and safe enough if there is snow on the ground.
Thanks in advance... Can't wait to get back to the desert in a week!