Chesler Park Viewpoint

Route Description for Chesler Park Viewpoint

The Chesler Park Viewpoint Trail is a fantastic, moderately challenging hike with incredible views of Canyonlands National Park. This hike gets hot in the afternoon so, if you can, head out early in the morning to beat the heat, especially in the summer. As with any hike in the desert, bring salty snacks to replenish your electrolytes and more water than you think you’ll need. A good sunhat and long, light layers also go a long way to protect your body from the Utah sun. This hike does have some rugged sections, so leave the slides at home and tie up your good hiking shoes for this one.

Once you’re out there, the views from the Chesler Park Viewpoint are out of this world. This hike rewards you with incredible views of the Needles: colorful, stripy spires of cedar mesa sandstone that give this area of Canyonlands its name.

From the Elephant Hill Trailhead, follow the path south for 2.1 km to a fork, take a right to head west for a few hundred yards to the first viewpoint. Continue on for another few hundred yards to the second viewpoint. A quarter mile past the second viewpoint you will reach an intersection at the Elephant Canyon campsite; camping here is permitted with a backcountry overnight permit. Continue west from the campsite for 1.0 km to the next divide, take a left to follow the trail just 0.2 km to the third, and final viewpoint.

The third viewpoint marks the end of the Chesler Park Viewpoint trail. From here, you can turn around and follow the same trail back out to the trailhead or you can explore more by hiking along the Druid Arch to Chesler Park Loop.

Insider Hints for Chesler Park Viewpoint

• Start this hike early in the day to beat the heat
• Bring a camera! The views from this trail are unreal
• If you feel like you’re getting off-trail just look for cairns (small stacks of rock) that mark the way