Devils Kitchen to Elephant Canyon Trail

Dogs No Dogs

Features Views

Head east following the wide sandy wash for about 100 yards where the trail leaves the wash but keeps running parallel on the southern flank. Follow the narrowing canyon upstream for a third of a mile. The trail heads up the rocky slope and crosses a beautiful line of reddish needles. Continue through the basin on the other side and make your way around the needles at 0.8 miles. The trail turns south now and skirts the outline of a beautiful stretch of needles. Far reaching views are to the east to the La Sal Mountains and to the north to Junction Butte and Grand View Point. Follow the path as it hugs the needles for about 2 miles where you reach the trail that leads to Chesler Park.

Keep left to stay on the trail. After half a mile, you descend into Elephant Canyon with its wide wash. Cross the wash and head up straight on the other side. The trail ascends quickly leading to a spectacular slot, a shady and cool place on this mostly exposed trail. As you exit the slot, the trail turns right and heads up a grassy prairie framed by a wall of needles on the right. Cross another smaller set of needles at about 3.8 miles. You can now see the prominent Elephant Hill straight ahead. Continue on the slightly descending trail towards another set of smaller rocks. Once you have passed them, views across the plateau are abundant. Follow the cairned path and leave Elephant Hill to your left. At 5 miles, the trail descends to the Elephant Hill parking lot where it ends.