Hiking the High Desert - Backpacking in Canyonlands NP
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 16 ก.ย. 2024
- Join Sara and I in Utah for some desert camping, hiking, and backpacking in Canyonlands National Park. GPS Data at www.sintax77.com
For an easier to read along with photos, maps and other goodies, check out my full trip report blog post here: wp.me/p2ReUQ-e0
For this adventure, we did a 2 day, 1 night backpacking trip through the Needles District of Utah's Canyonlands National Park, followed by a little day hike visit to Arches National Park on the way back to Salt Lake City to catch our flight back home. In fact, this was actually the first trip we've ever done via flight instead our usual road warrior routine. That being said, we still got at least a moderate dose of driving during this trip, as the drive from SLC airport to Moab and Arches NP is about 4 hours. From there it was another 1.5 hour drive south to the Needles District, the southernmost district in Canyonlands.
Full GPS track data and waypoints for this trip can be found on the Trip Data page.
Parking Location: Squaw Flat Trailhead 'A' 38.143017,-109.803700
Day 1 Trails Used (In Order)
Squaw Canyon Trail
Lost Canyon Trail
Camp at Lost Canyon Campsite 2 (LC2)
Total Mileage: 6 miles
Gross Elevation Gain: 768'
Gross Elevation Loss: 682'
It should be pointed out that campsites in the Needles district are restricted to designated areas only, and must be registered in advance. This can can be done either online or in person at the visitor's center and costs $30. Since I live about 2,000 miles away, and spots tend fill up well in advance, I went the online route. I reserved my spot about a month in advance and still managed to get the spot I was after, but I could see other areas that were already booked up pretty solid. When stopped in the visitor's center on the day of our hike in, we caught a glimpse of the availability board and I was hard pressed to see any open spots, so reserving on the same day in person probably isn't the best game plan. The nice thing is, the spots seem to be nicely spread out. For instance, there were three campsites in the entire Lost Canyon area that we chose to visit, with about a mile of trail in between them. So, while we did have to be a bit more rigid in our planning than usual, and the $30 fee was definitely the highest I've ever paid for backcountry permit, we really did feel like we had a whole canyon to ourselves to call home for the afternoon and night. The site was also tucked back a decent way off the main trail and situated with an amazing view. I'm sure all the spots are awesome, but I would highly recommend LC2 to anyone on the fence about where to camp in Canyonlands. It was a great spot.
Speaking of things that make a campsite great, Lost canyon was one of the few areas in Canyonlands NP I could find in my research that had a high probability of reliable water. We crossed over several water sources within less that a mile of the campsite, due to the fact that the sites are located in the bottom of a relatively lush canyon within close proximity to the brook that runs though it. It's quite a stark contrast to the treeless universe or rock, sand and sun lying only a few hundred feet above. It also didn't hurt that the area experience some decent rains and flash flooding several days before. I tagged a couple of these spots in GPS file for this trip, but keep in mind that water flow conditions could be much different depending on time of year and amount of recent rainfall. If you're planning your own adventure, I would definitely suggest more recent reports and / or just bringing enough water for the duration of your stay.
Day 2 Trails Used (In Order)
Lost CanyonTrail
Peekaboo Trail
Squaw Canyon Trail
Return to Squaw Flat Trailhead A and parking lot.
Total Mileage: 3.8 miles
Gross Elevation Gain: 427'
Gross Elevation Loss: 440'
I'll save the full story for the video, but this was truly an amazing trip! I'll tell you what though, southern Utah may bitten me and infected me with the desert bug. Hmmmm, where to next...
Stat Totals for the Full 2 Day Loop
Total Mileage: 9.8 miles
Gross Elevation Gain: 1,195'
glad you saw a small portion of the desert. there are plenty of desert trails that offer solitude and reliable water especially in the spring. I'd be honored to show you some if you make it back out here again.
I can't believe I just watch an hour long video of somebody going camping! But I couldn't turn it off--my wife and I hiked Canyonlands a decade ago (also in October) and the memories came streaming back It's such an otherworldly place and left an lasting impression. Thanks for posting this.
+RabidMortal1 Thanks, man. We really enhoyed it as well. Glad to hear it brought back some memories!
Wow what treat I get to watch new Sintax and outdoorgearreview in one night.
I can't tell you how much I enjoy your videos. I am 53 and have had 2 hipreplacements so walking is very difficult for me. Your videos on my 90 inch tv make me feel like I am right there with you !😊😊😊
+Lyman Smith Thanks, Lyman! I'm glad you:re enjoying them :)
What a Beautiful place to hike and camp. Keep hiking and camping, while you are young, healthy and can make the time. Keep the videos coming. Thanks to you and Sara.
Great video! Totally left Sara hanging on the "I love you" at 34:30
I just how bounce off each other. You can tell that you two are still in love. Great hike, more hikes with Sara please. Your channel is the tops but Sara is definitely the icing on the cake. Only one negative. I was hoping for a night sky shot. But you can't have everything. I'm making my way through your old videos and loving every one of them. US has more diverse beauty than we do. We are more east coast over here, trees and rain. Thanks for taking me along for the ride and Hi from England UK.
like others have said, it's kind of more fun to watch when you are your wife are hiking / camping together!! love the vids !!
Sintax ..your Sarah makes your videos complete...thank you for bringing us along on this special hike
Syntax, long time viewer here. Just wanted to say thanks for this video, I just did the same loop over the weekend, and man, what a great overnighter! Your tips on the water sources were very valuable. The only change I did is I did the loop clockwise instead of your route. I stayed in LC1 (which you can hang a hammock in very well), so the thought was to load in water for that day and night, and reload at a water hole heading towards Squaw Cannon based on your video. Worked well, there was a very clean hole just before your camp site heading west. One thing I will say is that area where you joked about mandatory repel on your decent is no joke and definitely a few big pucker moments with the cliffs and drop offs! I am glad I scaled it, instead of descended like you did because my pack was way lighter by then (full winter set up, so not light at all), and if I descended, I would probably have gotten in trouble or stuck (my first dessert canyon hike, so my skills are a problem there also). Anyways, if it wasn't for this video, I would have never have known of this trail, thanks again!
I'm glad that this inspired you to do the Hike. Unfortunately I'm in the UK so I get to admire from afar and live vicariously through the channel whereas you get to actually do it. Kudos.
Nothing better than having that someone special to share the great outdoors with. I have the same and we love hiking, fishing, mountain biking, etc. Nice. Very nice video. I enlarged my view of your video so it almost felt like we were there with you both sharing the adventure. Thank you.
Nice work Sintax! Really enjoyed this video. I'm also from the east coast and the first time I camped out west I was blown away too. You and Sarah are awesome.
Even though this video was 6 years ago, I think it was awesome. Thank you for sharing. Y'all make an awesome couple.
KEEP ADVENTURING
GOD BLESS Y'ALL
🤗HUGS🤗
Just want to say thank you for all the videos. I really enjoy all the gear information and reviews along with just the amazing videos. It fills the times for me when I can't get out camping myself etc. Keep them coming
+Adam Austin Thanks, Adam. Glad to hear you're enjoying them. :)
I live in Utah and I love it so much. the canyons and rocks are beautiful and the scenery is amazing. its a miracle to live here.
Every time I watch a video with Sara in it, all I can think of is I want to be BFF's with her. Love watching your videos, thanks for sharing so that I can live vicariously through you! One day I'll do an overnight hike.
+Michelle Surette You should definitely fet out there and do an overnighter this season. Go for it!
Another great video of another awesome trip! Your editing skills are excellent. Sarah always adds a lot to the adventure. You guys really compliment each other. Stay safe and keep the videos coming.
+dean mclamb Thanks, Dean!
My wife is Dine' and from that area(about a couple hours south in Monument Valley). When it rains in the canyons it poors and it is like being surounded by waterfalls and is absolutley gorgeous.
Thanks for taking us along. Wow.
That was fun! Thanks for bringing us along. I was in Canyonlands in April, 2014. No backpacking but I did day hike in the Elephant Rock area. This video took me back. Thanks again!
Thanks, +nibimocs . I remember seeing the Elephant Rock area listed when I was looking over the available spots on the website a month prior to our trip - they were all already booked up! I guess that speaks to them being a pretty cool area :)
Canyonlands are bucket list destination material no doubt. Excellent video, enjoyed watching. Thanks for posting sintax78
24:38 Sintax77 'it's getting a little tight in there' Sara 'that's what she said'. Got to love a lady with quick wit and a sense of humour. Made me laugh out loud.
This is one of the better videos on TH-cam i've watched in a long time. I watched the entire thing and didn't get bored. I love in Salt Lake City and spend every spring and summer in that area. You absolutely have to come back and do the Chesler Park loop of the Needles. Such an amazing hike.
It was cool to watch you experience Utah's desert through your perspective. I've spent my whole life hiking around southern Utah that it doesn't give me the same rush as it did when I was a kid. I am sure you are unaware, but before you enter The Needles you drive through Indian Creek. Indian Creek is world famous for desert crack climbing. It's basically the Yosemite of desert splitter cracks. It's a climbing paradise!
Thanks for sharing this!
+Backcountry Exposure Thanks! I would love to get back out there some day. I'll have to check those spots out. Thanks for the heads up!
Watching this having a chuckle... it's always funny to see/hear the reactions of people from the east coast when they see desert for the first time. If you really want to experience it, visit this same area in August. It's a different world with the thunderstorms and 115* heat. Fall is a nice time too...
lol yeah im not a fan of the desert..everythings dead for a reason..lol
I've enjoyed your video's for years. Not feeling too well tonight and woke up to this video. I can't tell you how much it helped me feel better and put a smile on my heart. Thanks to you both! Dee. ~ :)
Just last night I was thinking it's been along time since Syntax posted a video and bam today a great long one. That part of the country is so beautiful and for you and Sarah to do it together made this video something special. Thanks you two for an awesome trek.
Arches is so amazing!
Canyonlands, too. That's one of my bucket list trips.
And the mountains in the distance are the Unitas, I think?
Great video! We're definitely going to have to go sometime! --Thomas
+AdventureArchives Thanks, guys. It was pretty awesome area indeed. Started checking out some of your stuff recently as well. Beautiful stuff! :)
+sintax77 yeah!! Collabo!! two of my fav channels!!
yay a new Sintaxx77 Hiking video! Thanks for sharing
When I can't get out myself, or need a quick break from everything I disappear into your videos. Thanks for what you do
What a great time That's what makes USA great oh thank you both so very much I had fun with you both
Great edit work on top of what you shared. Pretty place you got to share with your trooper girl. Count your blessings.
Lived in Utah my whole life and have yet to backpack down there. I have always stuck to northern Utah, mainly for fly fishing reasons. This makes me want to get down there this year. Thanks for the video!
+SirDallin You should definitely check it out some time. I didn't mention it in the video, but we actually hit up Wasatch NF on the morning before our flight out of SLC and was amazing. Definitely a completely different experience and only 5 hours apart. You've really got an awesome state there!
I really dig how you went back and forth from the multi camera views, when you two were settling at the campsite... I have watched pretty much all your videos a couple times and this one has been one of my favorites. I did a 13,000 mile road trip last summer and I live practically on the Atlantic Ocean in NH. So it's so nice to see the red rock again....
+deadheadhoodie Thank you! I'm glad you enjoyed it. The multi-cam camp scene was one of my favorite scenes to edit in this one.
Man,awesome video.
What a difference in scenery.
Thank you very much for sharing it with us.
Man,Sara is awesome.
You've got a lovely woman there.
Canyonlands is one of my very favorites! Chesler Park was one of my first and favorite hikes. Was out in the area again in September-only the Maze district as we were at Capitol Reef mostly where we had never been before. If you haven't-highly recommend as another park with no one around once you get off the main road. I just love southern Utah as the perfect contrast to New England.
Great vid. I am going to Canyonlands this weekend. I live in Utah and it is nice to have Easterners report on my local area.
Wonderful scenery; great adventure; informative narrative! Thank you for sharing!
Been waiting for a new Vid. Thanks sintax77. Going to do some hiking this year for the first time in a long while.
Cool.. always fun to watch your stuff. Thanks sintax77
I was in Arizona a few years ago, great hiking, always like your videos...
Your videos are better than anything on Netflix or t.v.!
Have been waiting for this for months! Glad you guys visited Moab!
+funnybeingme One of our favorite trips yet. Moab was an awesome little spot as well.
Great Video Sintax. We were in Nevada at the end of January. We hiked Red Rock Canyon outside of Vegas. I love the Desert. It was my first time, Ready for more....
Holy crap I remember going to the arches national park as a kid, and taking a photo of that same exact petroglyph.....epic hike
I always enjoy your channel. Glad to see a new episode. Great job!
yes a brand new adventure! love your videos sintax!!
I love the desert but not peopley parts, so it's awesome seeing some of the big 5 through your eyes! I'm new to watching your channel, and the 1st time I saw both you and Sara, I was hooked! The two of you are so fun together! I went to the playlist of the videos where you go together 😊 You two are awesome together! Your friends Mike and Danielle are great too! 😂
The fact that where desert is new to you is what makes this even better! You check out a lot of cool stuff regulars take for granted and skim past!
Thank you u 2 ! Outstanding.I miss the old place.Was 2011 when I was there last.Outside the park.Well you guys did a great job on your video.I miss the red rock.Thank you Hugs
+Ralph Russo Thanks, Ralph. We had a great time out there.
So exciting! Welcome out west!
nice! thanks for bringing us along on the adventure.
Nice trip. Your an amazing couple .cant wait for the next trip.
+Earl V You don't even want to know how many more I have in the war chest...
Beautiful...great trip! Thanks
Hey great to watch someone enjoying my backyard. You and your wife make a cute couple, loved the video. A little tip from an old scoutmaster. Instead of paper plates that crack, get a gallon milk jug and cut off the flattest side. Extend the cut up about 3/4 inch up the sides so it has a little bowl effect going on, but will still pack pretty flat. It makes a great plate or bowl. also works as a cutting board, often I will mix up my bannock in it. Most of time I pack two together and it is still lighter than one paper plate yet strong enough to never crack. Come join us again when you can.
Thanks for the tips on using the Sawyer filter system and great down-to-earth commentary.
Awesome vid. I really dig all your videos. I'll have a few days in July when I drive from Las Vegas to Park City, UT and this video has inspired me to head back to Canyonlands for the first time since I was stationed at Fort Bliss in El Paso, TX 23 years ago. I backpacked all over the desert SW during that period of my life. I mentioned Guadalupe Mountains(GUMO) NP, just 100 miles east of El Paso, in a comment on another of your videos. So if you liked the desert experience of Canyonlands you'd surely enjoy GUMO as it has mountains above 8000 ft and far reaching views of the Chihuahuan Desert. If you're ever in west TX it's a great destination. Thanks again for producing these videos. They're truly enjoyable to watch.
So I came back to rewatch most of this video. I planned a weekend trip to do Lost Canyon two weeks from now, with a side hike to Druid Arch. But I came back to watch this cause i recalled that you came to lost/squaw canyons. Funny thing is I reserved LC2 yesterday and now I'm seeing at 34:00 where I'll be staying, ha ha!
+Backcountry Exposure That's awesome, it's a great spot! Enjoy the trip!
Awesome footage. Great place and taking us along was awesome.
Been waiting awhile for this. So glad to see this awesome new content. Great footage and I'm glad to see its just you and Sarah.
...his friend Mike was going to come but he lost his plane tickets...😆😆😆😆
+BurningBeard714 Sucks for Mike. That's definitely a bummer. I mean him no trolling negativity. I just enjoy the solo/couple hikes.
Sara videos are gold she makes me laugh really hard.
great video...short and sweet, and loaded with beautiful scenery! What an awesome trip!!! Thanks
Great video as always, the time lapse at the end was really nice
Nice video, this is one of my bucket list areas to to hit up. Thanks for sharing!
Fantastic as always
WOW, amazing, such fun to do and watch. Thanks, Dave
I watched again. Tried to find the trail on google maps. Just a beautiful trail, definitely not in Pa. Wow. I will watch it again soon. That trail over rocks looked hard at times to follow. thanks
gotta say!! NICE.. way to go and Good for you 2!!!
Close to my 'hood! Glad you guys enjoyed it
+MrBelair216 Loved it!
This guy is jealous, for several reasons! Thanks for sharing man, some day I will get out west.
Haha guess what. This one, as well. For exactly the same reasons :)
Such an awesome trip!!!
Amazing footage. Fantastic video.
Went to Las Vegas for the first time recently for a brief business meeting and I couldn't see the sights because I kept staring at the desert mountains. Though I love and prefer the Eastern mountains, it was something different. I think I would miss a nice wood campfire the most. Nice video and thanks for sharing.
Awesome! I stayed in Green River when I was on my cross country road trip last year.
As always an excellent video shot -trip with your lovely Sara. She adds a lot to the adventure.. Looking forward to your next Rocky Mtn. or Pacific Northwest, maybe? Texas has the Lone Star Trail in the Sam Houston National Forest. Besides, Austin is an adventure in itself.
great video ,hi from England where it's cold and snowy , brilliantly shot and it warmed me up!!! cheers.
+Alan Tovey Thanks, Alan!
That was awesome, man! I sure would love to get out to that area myself someday. Very different from what we are used to on the east coast!
+Smell N Roses Yes, indeed. Like being on a whole other planet compared to the east.
DUDE! Great to see you out here in Utah. It's an amazing place. It's funny you mentioned how different it is to manage water and such. I took a trip out to the redwoods a couple years ago and had some issues keeping equipment dry, managing water. A fellow hiker gave me some tips and we discussed how different camping really is out in the desert. It's easier for me, only because I grew up in Nevada and Utah. It's all I knew. Constant moisture is a whole other game. I respect it much more now.
Great Vid! I love how you get out to so many area's. Too many of us neglect the outdoors, even when they are in our backyard. Great choice on canyonlands. I think Uintas would bum you out because it would never be as green as what you are used to. If you ever come back, maybe consider Zion's subway/narrows or Capitol Reef. If you are feeling crazy, get on a tour of West Water and ride the rapids down the Colorado River. Amazing time.
Love your vids. Glad it's getting warmer! Your video's and reviews have helped me decide on gear I buy more than any other channel. Thanks!
Your wife is a hoot thanks for having her in your videos:)
Thanks so much for sharing this unique experience!! You talked about the Rockies. Well, when I was 19 and very fit, I can remember still being out of breath just casually walking for a mile or two at only 8,000 or 9,000 feet elevation or even bowling. I was astounded at the extra effort it took to just do normal things. So, I'm sure you know this, but I'd suggest acclimatizing yourselves to high altitude climbing gradually before just leaping into a 14,000 foot climb of, say, Pikes Peak. Keep up the great videos!! Maybe see you here in the Whites, I hope, someday:-)
I enjoyed visiting Canyonlands and Bryce Canyon more than I did the Grand Canyon. I went I'm the middle of the summer so I stuck to short day hikes due to the heat.
Inspired to visit there, thanks!
Definition of a Hoot before I get in trouble, Smart, pretty, funny, Joy to the party, Should be in all your videos
This is one of my favorite edits.
For real waited a long time for this
Great video! Nice to see you got to do some hiking out West.
SWEET HIKE! I surly need to get out there some day. Thanks for taking us along!
Hey sintax, thanks for all your videos. Going to the Red river Gorge tomorrow for a 3 day trip.
+Robert Dean Awesome, enjoy it!
Definitely going to get the GPS data on this one as my wife and I are doing pretty much this same hike at the end of May...including staying over at LC2 (we're not stalkers, I promise!). We're tacking on a few more days to better explore the other districts in Canyonlands, and then Mesa Verde to the southeast. You video has really gotten me rev'd up about this trip now. Thanks! Oh, and you guys are an awesome couple...really great together!
+David W That's awesome, enjoy LC2 and the extra time to explore! We'd really like to get back out there some time to rent a jeep and try out some of the jeep camping spots as well. Seems pretty cool.
+sintax77 Oh and btw - I loaded your .gpx from this trip into my BaseCamp and I really appreciate your thoroughness in waypointing everything like you did. I'm only just starting to get comfortable with my Oregon 650 (yes, I have the same gps...again...not a stalker! haha), but I know that you have to make a decent effort to capture those kinds of details and as a noob, I very much appreciate having those details. So thanks again!
We just got back from our Utah/Colorado vacation last week. We did end up taking the same route to LC2 that you and Sara took, but we accidentally added about a mile on trek in because we missed the trail turn-off of the Squaw Canyon trail to Lost Canyon...not because we missed the trail marker (I inspected that carefully), but because the sign at the trail intersection made no mention of Lost Canyon! So, we kept going in the same direction we'd been heading (towards Druid Arch). If only I'd actually been using your GPX at that time, it would have saved us a mile. :-/ Oh well...we're no worse for the wear. Had a great time.
what an awesome videoooo!!!!!! loved itttt!!!! Cheers from the Bay Area, California!! :)
Great Area! I checked out the same area for a future trip just days before you did the guess where on Sinchats. Perfect job of editing and color! Two thumbs up!! Bob
Love Utah! The whole place is a National park. Looks like Sarah has the better bed 🛌
That was a great adventure with the wife. Thanks for sharing. Gotta do Zion Narrows next amigo. That's on my summer to do list.
I'm I'm a big fan of all the videos especially the PA hunting videos because I'm and from wellsboro and love that there is a group that videos local hunts around me. Anyway I work for a local propane company and my job gives me the opportunity to do alot of traveling around the country and I happen to stubble onto the "it's go time camp" I've alway wondered where the camp was at in the videos. I thought it was so cool that I finally saw where it was I figured I'd share it with you keep up the great videos.
That little trickle is why I like the Cnoc it has a larger opening.
looks like you guys had a lot of fun! beautiful area!
Great video, especially when watched in winter (well, end of it), thanks.
great viewing mate , lovely country , loved the end, spectacular , thanks for sharing it .. Cheers
+Tony Thanks, tony. It was definitely one of our most memorable trips so far. It's a whole other world out there.
Definitely different from the East Coast! Awesome video
Thanks for sharing man, another great video. I enjoy your adventures during the winter months, they keep me inspired. Keep up the great work. Hey I also enjoyed your podcast on HYOH.
+Gary Gomer Thanks, Gary. That was a fun podcast to do.
+sintax77 I forgot to ask ... what bear bag did you use?
Thanks for taking us along Sintax :-D
killer video, that was a fun hike and some really nice arches shots were bonus