Big Spring to Elephant Canyon Trail

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You'll find this trail on your right/west just over a half mile along Big Spring Canyon Trail from the Squaw Flats parking area. When on a dirt surface, the trail is easy to follow, but when on solid rock, make sure you keep an eye out for cairns.

At about a third of a mile, you'll leave the flat dirt to scramble onto the rocky walls separating Big Spring and Elephant Canyons. This first scramble is a great introduction to the fun that awaits throughout The Needles district (and is much more fun than difficult). Once on solid rock, follow the Martian landscape south and slightly uphill.

After 1.3(ish) miles, you'll be at the top of the canyon walls and get to head back down into another branch of Big Spring Canyon. Follow the canyon floor west, and keep an eye out for a turn northwards. This is the beginning of a large bend in the trail that will take you up and out of the Big Spring Canyon branch. Expect a little more enjoyable scrambling as you ascend onto a plateau that leads to Devils Kitchen to Elephant Canyon Trail.