Canyonlands Needles Crosscanyon Traverse April 10-15, 2016

6 Days in the Needles District of Canyonlands National Park:


Days 1 and 2 I spent with Abert (David) carcamped at Davis Canyon. I had intended to backpack from Salt Creek/Cave Spring TH but he was able to drive us all the way into Davis in his Subaru! We left my car at the TH for me to trek back to.

Attachment 83569Attachment 83570Attachment 83571


On our second day we explored various forks of Davis Canyon and scouted an exit to traverse to Horse Canyon that I'd do the next day.

Attachment 83572Attachment 83573Attachment 83574Attachment 83575


Days 3 through 6:


After two days exploring Davis with David I started a backpack exiting an unnamed Davis Fork via an ancestral Puebloan route with Moki steps into Trail Fork Horse Canyon to Horse Canyon.


Attachment 83576Attachment 83577Attachment 83578Attachment 83579Attachment 83580Attachment 83581Attachment 83582Attachment 83583Attachment 83584

I spent time exploring and scouting Horse Canyon. Then I located a possible route into Secret Canyon and scouted it with a light pack.

Attachment 83585Attachment 83586Attachment 83587Attachment 83588Attachment 83589Attachment 83590

After leaving Horse I turned up Salt Canyon a mile to First Unnamed West Fork upstream of Peekaboo Spring.
I camped below Salt Creek-Lost Canyon Divide.
Attachment 83592Attachment 83593

Next day I crossed into Lost with one thin Class 3 ledge, to explore Lost Canyon forks. I camped back at Divide, bumping up camp through the exposed ledge in case rain came in. I didn't want wet friction on the sandstone.

Attachment 83607Attachment 83594Attachment 83595Attachment 83596



I returned to my car at Cave Spring by descending through the length of trailless Lower Lost Canyon. It was dense brush, wet soggy bottom, then endless soft sand! But I hadn't done it.


Attachment 83597Attachment 83598

Some more pictures of ancestral Puebloan ruins and rock art found here:

Attachment 83599Attachment 83600Attachment 83591Attachment 83601Attachment 83602Attachment 83603Attachment 83604Attachment 83605Attachment 83606

Sorry, I can't figure out how to get the vertical shots rotated....