Thanks for sharing! I’m doing this hike in September and was considering doing it later in the day. But it seems like I should go early and have more time to see the sights. I’m watching all of your other videos in the area too. Really enjoying them.
There are options to make this hike longer or shorter, but if you have plenty of time allow for it and enjoy it. It's even possible to turn this into an overnight trip pretty easy (though you'll need permits). Fun area for sure. Hoping to get down there again this winter and do more myself.
Wonderful and informative video, thank you! Just two questions. 1. Was is difficult to find and follow route on some sections on rocks? 2. Are there any steep and a little initimidating descents/ascents on the loop?
I didn't really have an issues. It's pretty well traveled. I do usually have a digital map (often AllTrails) downloaded though for reassurance. Overall I don't remember anything, particularly steep or technical, just a long trail.
Just finding this - Great VId! Quick Question - I'm a "Portly" gentleman (Very active - Multiple back-country in Yellowstone and the Tetons ) - I'm not worried about the distance or elevation, but I am concerned about the slot canyon. I've had to turn back before in Escalante Slot Canyons (Peekaboo, and Elephant), and I don't want to have to turn around 6 miles into the loop. My question is how tight is it?
To be honest it's been a couple years since I did this now and I can't remember exactly. The Joint trail part can be pretty narrow in places, like probably not much more than shoulder width.
Hey man, thank you for your video these are always incredibly helpful to me when planning. Would you recommend this hike to someone who isn’t good at rock scrambling? I don’t mind boulder-hopping but if I have to utilize my upper busy strength to physically lift myself it gets a bit sketchy unless I’m with someone else. Does this hike have any difficult rock scrambling areas, that you recall? Thank you so much in advance.
I would love to hear your perspective but before I ask the question just wanted to provide some context to my question. May 2021 I was there with full intent of doing the druid arch hike. Fate would have it that I broke my leg and got boot off right before the trip so I was offroading instead. I did 9 miles of elephant hill trail in my 4x4 so I got to see "needles". I am planning to do a May 2023 trip with intent to hike the area. I noticed that you have mentioned that you have been there before this hike. In your assessment, based on now 2 trips out there... and knowing that I already saw the area while offroading... would you say that I could, theoretically, get just as much "hike" out of doing all those loops instead of doing out and back to druid arch? Is it more "of the same" heading to the arch or is it something completely different from your trips so far? I am contemplating doing druid arch hike + joint trail spur or doing chessler hike + joint trail spur. It seems to me that druid + joint trail would yield probably 17 miles to hike which is a lot so I am trying to ascertain just how badly do I want to see the druid arch, especially if scenery from where trail weirs off there is basically giving same scenery. Just wanted to hear your perspective and thoughts. Thank you.
That's a difficult decision to make. It's all pretty. The Druid Arch and the Chesler Park Loop really only share a small segment of trail, the beginning Elephant Hill section and a small part of the Chesler trail until you hit the Druid arch trail. You're going to see some of the same stuff I saw in this video from a different perspective, but of course you're going to miss some of it to being on a different side of the formation. I do love that loop I did in this video though. There is so much to see, if I was to do it again I would consider getting a backcountry permit and spending a couple days doing it to take it all in. I realize that isn't going to be practical for everyone, but it's worth considering.
Like the last 4, but i was decently hydrated to begin with. I probably drink more water than the average hiker to start with (which is probably why I ran out).
@@getlosttrails I've hiked all those needles trails . The best NP in the country in my opinion . And I'm a guide at Mesa Verde lol. But I'm a water horse . I cant do a mile out there with out water . My main page is Greg the guide . Im in the needles 5 or 6 times a year . Cheers great video
I did this route about ten years ago. It is one of my favorite hikes of all time! The scenery is unique and unforgettable.
The hike is quite a bit of effort but as you said it is very unique, varying, and totally worth it!
Great video. I'm headed back for my 7th visit. Never gets old
It is such a great area to visit and there is so much to explore.
Fun fact-the view point by the CP1 campsite has cell service.
@@stevebednarchik9390 That's good to know. I've always just day hiked in there, but backpacking would be awesome to cover more and get deeper.
Thanks for sharing! I’m doing this hike in September and was considering doing it later in the day. But it seems like I should go early and have more time to see the sights.
I’m watching all of your other videos in the area too. Really enjoying them.
There are options to make this hike longer or shorter, but if you have plenty of time allow for it and enjoy it. It's even possible to turn this into an overnight trip pretty easy (though you'll need permits). Fun area for sure. Hoping to get down there again this winter and do more myself.
Wonderful and informative video, thank you! Just two questions. 1. Was is difficult to find and follow route on some sections on rocks? 2. Are there any steep and a little initimidating descents/ascents on the loop?
I didn't really have an issues. It's pretty well traveled. I do usually have a digital map (often AllTrails) downloaded though for reassurance.
Overall I don't remember anything, particularly steep or technical, just a long trail.
Just finding this - Great VId! Quick Question - I'm a "Portly" gentleman (Very active - Multiple back-country in Yellowstone and the Tetons ) - I'm not worried about the distance or elevation, but I am concerned about the slot canyon. I've had to turn back before in Escalante Slot Canyons (Peekaboo, and Elephant), and I don't want to have to turn around 6 miles into the loop. My question is how tight is it?
To be honest it's been a couple years since I did this now and I can't remember exactly. The Joint trail part can be pretty narrow in places, like probably not much more than shoulder width.
Hey man, thank you for your video these are always incredibly helpful to me when planning. Would you recommend this hike to someone who isn’t good at rock scrambling? I don’t mind boulder-hopping but if I have to utilize my upper busy strength to physically lift myself it gets a bit sketchy unless I’m with someone else. Does this hike have any difficult rock scrambling areas, that you recall? Thank you so much in advance.
No rock scrambling, just a long hike.
@@getlosttrails Thank you so much!
I would love to hear your perspective but before I ask the question just wanted to provide some context to my question.
May 2021 I was there with full intent of doing the druid arch hike. Fate would have it that I broke my leg and got boot off right before the trip so I was offroading instead. I did 9 miles of elephant hill trail in my 4x4 so I got to see "needles".
I am planning to do a May 2023 trip with intent to hike the area.
I noticed that you have mentioned that you have been there before this hike. In your assessment, based on now 2 trips out there... and knowing that I already saw the area while offroading... would you say that I could, theoretically, get just as much "hike" out of doing all those loops instead of doing out and back to druid arch? Is it more "of the same" heading to the arch or is it something completely different from your trips so far?
I am contemplating doing druid arch hike + joint trail spur or doing chessler hike + joint trail spur. It seems to me that druid + joint trail would yield probably 17 miles to hike which is a lot so I am trying to ascertain just how badly do I want to see the druid arch, especially if scenery from where trail weirs off there is basically giving same scenery.
Just wanted to hear your perspective and thoughts. Thank you.
That's a difficult decision to make. It's all pretty. The Druid Arch and the Chesler Park Loop really only share a small segment of trail, the beginning Elephant Hill section and a small part of the Chesler trail until you hit the Druid arch trail. You're going to see some of the same stuff I saw in this video from a different perspective, but of course you're going to miss some of it to being on a different side of the formation. I do love that loop I did in this video though.
There is so much to see, if I was to do it again I would consider getting a backcountry permit and spending a couple days doing it to take it all in. I realize that isn't going to be practical for everyone, but it's worth considering.
Great video! Did you find a free spot to camp on the Lock Hart Road ? or did you have to pay to camp there ?
There are free spots to camp out there, along with a paid campground (Hamburger Rock).
So you did 4 miles with out water ???? crazy
Like the last 4, but i was decently hydrated to begin with. I probably drink more water than the average hiker to start with (which is probably why I ran out).
@@getlosttrails I've hiked all those needles trails . The best NP in the country in my opinion . And I'm a guide at Mesa Verde lol. But I'm a water horse . I cant do a mile out there with out water . My main page is Greg the guide . Im in the needles 5 or 6 times a year . Cheers great video
Ah nice..I have spent some summers in Durango actually! Mesa Verde can be quite hot so I can understand the high demand for water.