Hiking the Slickrock Trail in Canyonlands National Park
Distance: 2.7 miles / 4.3 km
The Slickrock Trail, often called the Slickrock Foot Trail, is a relatively quick and easy day hike near the end of The Needles Access Road in Canyonlands National Park.
The hike features four distinct viewpoints along the way, with none being more beautiful than the fourth, located at the very far end of the Slickrock Trail.
To learn more, I highly recommend reading to the end, as it was very clear from the time I visited that most visitors don’t venture far enough to see the best of what the Slickrock Trail has to offer!
U.S. National Park Pass
Did you know that the same America the Beautiful Pass that grants access to all 63 U.S. National Parks can be purchased in advance at REI?
Yes, you can save time when you arrive by purchasing your National Park pass, along with your other outdoor gear, at REI before traveling to the park!
Slickrock Trailhead Parking
Located about 6.3 miles (10.1 km) past the visitor center and only 0.2 miles (0.3 km) away from the Big Spring Canyon Overlook, parking for the Slickrock Trailhead can be found directly off the side of The Needles Access Road.
In my experience, parking at the Slickrock Trailhead is not as challenging as other trailheads in The Needles—especially the Elephant Hill Trailhead, which is generally the most popular place to hike, on account of the beautiful Chesler Park Loop Trail.
Google Maps Directions: Slickrock Trailhead
Hiking Checklist - Canyonlands
Here is a complete list of must-have things that you will want for any hike in Canyonlands National Park.
Osprey 3L Water Bladder - The Osprey 3L water bladder is the most universal hiking and backpacking water bladder on the market, and it’s my go-to because of the slide-off seal that allows it to be quickly filled from the top. Additionally, individual parts are easily replaceable, such as the bite valve.
Blister / Heel Protectors - I swear by these cheap, amazing heel protectors to prevent blisters for nearly every kind of hiking and backpacking that I do!
Black Diamond Headlamp - Personally, I recommend the Black Diamond Storm because it is one of the brightest, lightest, and longest-lasting headlamps on the market—and trust me, the weight-to-battery-life ratio really does matter!
Hiking / Trail Running Shoes - Depending on the type of trail, I prefer to use either the Keen Targhee for longer, more rugged hiking or the HOKA Zinal Trail-Running Shoe for lighter, less intense trails. In either case, both have been amazing to me for many years across countless environments, and both can be found in men’s and women’s sizes. - (Men’s Keen / Women’s Keen) (Men’s HOKA / Women’s HOKA)
Waterproof Rain Shell - You never know when it may rain, and I’ve learned over the years that a rain shell is far better than a rain jacket. By this, I mean that it’s best to have something that the water will roll right off of, which is why I recommend the Patagonia Torrentshell 3L available in both men’s and women’s sizes.
Sun Shirt w/ Hood - A quality sun shirt can be your best friend on a trail with minimal shade, which can be found in both men’s and women’s sizes.
High SPF Sunscreen - Packing high-SPF sunscreen is a must for long days outside!
Hiking the Slickrock Trail
The Slickrock Trail begins on a slightly downhill path before climbing up to the mesa, where the majority of the Slickrock Trail is located.
Following this initial down-and-up, the Slickrock Trail has very little elevation change over the course of the 2.7-mile (4.3 km) trail.
Slickrock-Viewpoint 1 Junction
After 0.3 miles (0.5 km), the Slickrock Trail reaches the first of four viewpoint junctions, but, as previously mentioned, the fourth is the best and most rewarding!
Viewpoint 1
This is the first viewpoint, located almost directly off the trail.
That being said, I personally think the first is the least impressive of the four.
Slickrock-Viewpoint 1 Junction
Once back on the main trail, there is about 0.2 miles (0.3 km) until the Slickrock Loop Trail.
Sun Shirts
If this is your first time in the area, you’re likely unprepared for how strong the sun can be.
For this reason, I recommend picking up a quality, hooded sun shirt if you plan to do any hiking. Protection from the sun cannot be overstated, and in my experience, sunscreen alone has never been enough over a multi-day visit, especially if you’re visiting during the summer season!
Slickrock Loop Trail
This is the start of the Slickrock Loop Trail, and while it could be hiked in either direction, going right in the counterclockwise direction is generally the most common way to hike the loop, as this is the side of the loop with the majority of the designated viewpoints.
Slickrock-Viewpoint 2 Junction
This is the split for the second viewpoint, located about 0.3 miles (0.5 km) past the start of the Slickrock Loop.
Viewpoint 2
In my opinion, the second viewpoint is noticeably more beautiful than the first, and it only gets better as the loop reaches the far end of the mesa.
Slickrock-Viewpoint 2 Junction
Then, the Slickrock Trail continues north along the mesa for another 0.2 miles (0.3 km) until the junction for the third viewpoint.
Slickrock-Viewpoint 3 Junction
For most, including the National Park Service, they consider the third viewpoint to be the area closest to the cliff of the mesa, but I recommend hiking further, as shown below, to reach a more beautiful spot on this little peninsula.
Viewpoint 3
From viewpoint three, the Island in the Sky District, the mesa off in the distance below, truly starts to stand out from the rest.
Once back on the Slickrock Trail, the remaining hike out to the furthest viewpoint tends to be the most vague to navigate.
However, as long as you’re hiking north toward the furthest point on the mesa you can see, you’re heading in the right direction.
Toward the end, the Slickrock Loop makes this hard left turn where the trail drops down.
This is where the loop trail splits, with the final spur that leads out to the fourth viewpoint.
Slickrock-Viewpoint 4 Junction
From the loop to the very end, there is only another 0.3 miles (0.5 km) to reach best viewpoint on the entire Slickrock Trail.
Toward the final viewpoint on the north end of the Slickrock Trail, the hike out to the end becomes the most vague of anywhere on the trail.
By this, I mean that you’ll likely hike straight out, reach a cliff, and have to turn back a few times before figuring out the best path to the end.
The best I can describe is: the trail near the end drops down to the right of the mesa, instead of heading straight to the north, as it may appear.
Viewpoint 4 (Big Spring Canyon)
The fourth and final viewpoint looks out over Big Spring Canyon, with the confluence located just beyond.
That being said, it is possible to continue further along the mesa, as can be seen from the flat area that extends out in the photo below. However, I only recommend hiking that far for those with good scrambling skills and navigational awareness, in order to make it back to the Slickrock Trail safely.
The two closest mesas that you can see off in the distance are the Island in the Sky and Junction Butte on the left. Specifically, this is the end of the Island in the Sky, where the Grand View Point Trail is located.
That being said, I could not recommend the Grand View Point Trail any more highly, which I encourage you to learn more about in my separate article linked below.
Read My Separate Post: Grand View Point Trail
Slickrock-Viewpoint 4 Junction
Once back on the Slickrock Loop Trail, go right to continue on the shorter 0.5-mile (0.8 km) side of the loop back to the original loop split.
That being said, this stretch from the fourth viewpoint junction to the trailhead is roughly 1.0 mile (1.6 km) in all.
Slickrock Loop Junction
Finally, from the start of the loop to the Slickrock Trailhead, the hike descends the mesa back to the beginning, located about 0.5 miles (0.8 km) away from this point.
Slickrock-Viewpoint 1 Junction
This is the same split in the trail from the first viewpoint shown earlier.
Slickrock Trailhead
Overall, the Slickrock Trail makes for a quick and easy day hike, so long as you’re not hiking in the hot summer heat!
I say this because there is next to no shade on the entire Slickrock Trail, which is why the hike is best explored during the fall, winter, and spring months.
This is all without saying that the Slickrock Trail does not pass through The Needles. In fact, one group I ran into was surprised that they didn’t see any of The Needles, being that it is the name of the district.
That being said, I pointed them in the direction of Elephant Hill and the Chesler Park Loop, which I could not recommend any more for those interested in enjoying the best of what The Needles District has to offer!
Read My Separate Post: Chesler Park Loop Trail
More Canyonlands Adventures
If you’re interested in reading about some more amazing adventures within Canyonlands National Park, check out my separate posts below!
Best Way to Find Places to Stay!
Wherever I travel, I love to start my search for places to stay on VRBO.
Even if I don’t end up booking through them, I think it’s one of the best ways to see what’s in the area!
Washington
Best Way to Book Rental Cars!
I travel quite a bit, and I know firsthand that finding a good rental car deal can be a challenge, but that’s why I recommend comparing all of your options with Discover Cars.
In short, Discover Cars is a well-known, reputable business that allows you to search for the best deal across companies, and they have the best full-refund cancellation policy I’ve ever seen, valid up to 72, or sometimes even 48, hours prior to your reservation!
Book Here: Discover Cars
Discover Cars!
Safety
With summer temperatures that soar well above 100 ºF (38 ºC) and snow storms come winter, both Arches and Canyonlands National Park are known for having extremely variable weather throughout the year.
That being said, heavy snow storms are uncommon in the Moab area, but summer adventures need to carefully be planned around the dangerous mid-summer heat. For this reason, you may consider visiting Moab during the off season in order to maximize your time in either park, while also visiting during a time of year that’s far less crowded.
Furthermore, be sure to know the local forecast if you are hiking during the summer monsoon season, as it’s not uncommon for areas, such as slot canyons, to fill with water rapidly, creating very dangerous situations for anyone inside. On top of this, summer monsoonal weather is typically accompanied by lightning, which can be very dangerous in exposed desert areas like the parks around Moab.
As for Canyonlands specifically, the most important thing to stress is the dramatic cliffs surrounding the Island in the Sky and other parts of the park. Even the Mesa Arch is a deadly cliff, which most photos, such as mine, don’t show.
Finally, there is at least one venomous rattlesnake found across the area, which you can learn more about here.
As always, find the most up-to-date information and conditions on the official Arches and Canyonlands National Park websites.
National Park Service: Arches National Park / Canyonlands National Park
U.S. National Parks Pass
Did you know that the same America the Beautiful Pass that grants access to all 63 U.S. National Parks can be purchased in advance at REI?
Yes, you can save time when you arrive by purchasing your National Park pass, along with your other outdoor gear, at REI before traveling to the park!
More U.S. National Parks
If you’d like to read more about some of my best recommendations when visiting other U.S. National Parks, check out some of my other posts below!
Disclaimer
All information provided on this blog is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for information or advice from qualified professionals or managing agencies.
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