Elephant Hill Trail

by The Flatlander for

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Summary: The 3 1/2 rated Elephant Hill trail presents a selection of awesome looking obstacles and some fantastic scenery in the Needles District of Canyonlands National Park.

Location: This trail is about 75 miles from Moab in Canyonlands National Park. Take Highway 191 south out of Moab for about 40 miles and turn west on Highway 211 for another 35. Get a map with directions for the last few miles at the Ranger Station at the same time you pay your Park visitor fees.

Scenery: The spectacular colors and forms of the Cedar Mesa Sandstone rock formations make this area world renown. A short hike provides a breathtaking overlook of the confluence of the Green and Colorado Rivers.

The Trail: This is a worthwhile and popular trail to visit. Elephant Hill itself is often the source of the sounds of slipping tires. Other obstacles include the "squeeze play" (you can't open your doors as you pass through) and the Silver Stairs. The scenery is varied and beautiful.

4X4NOW Same Day
Jeep Safari Trail Report
Tuesday, March 25, 1997

The weather was bright, sunny and cool as trail leaders Todd and Linda Adams visited with the Elephant Hill participants as they arrived in the Spanish Arena parking lot on Hwy 191 south of Moab. CB introductions for each participant helped pass the time during the hour and a half drive to the trail head in Canyonlands National Park. After paying park visitor fees, and a brief visit to the Visitor Center we were on our way up Elephant Hill.

Todd leads the group up Elephant Hill. The hairpin turn behind him is too sharp to be made in one turn so the Park Service has constructed an area next to the turn to turn your vehicle in. Todd's interest in this area was sparked 24 years ago by an article about the area in National Geographic and he has been exploring and studying the area ever since.

Todd tackles an optional obstacle near the top of Elephant Hill. His Isuzu Amigo is well equipped with 32s and a rear air locker.

The group starts down the even steeper back side of Elephant Hill. This looks incredibly steep on the return trip.

As is often the case, the picture does not do justice to the steepness of the trip down the back side of Elephant Hill.

After some very scenic driving in the wash bottom and one threatening looking but minor obstacle comes Coors Hill - so named because one of the broken down parties the Park Rangers had to rescue here had drank all their beer while waiting and littered the area with the cans. Of course the Rangers required them to clean them up. Todd said that Park Rangers have told him they have more trouble with people breaking down or getting stuck on Coors Hill than on Elephant Hill.

The "Squeeze Play" is no place to break down because the rock walls are so close you can't open your doors. Full sized vehicles need to fold in their mirrors and use extra care here.

Linda drives by with the striking needles formations in the background.

Todd pointed out a line of potholes that may only be about 10 years old. If they continue to grow and advance they may threaten the trail someday.

Just past the potholes the group split in two. One group went to the Confluence Overlook where the Green and Colorado Rivers join (shown here). This is the shorter and easier drive and hike. Our group took the more difficult and scenic route to the Joint Trail.

The drive to the Joint Trail features a trip down S.O.B. Hill. The Hill has been improved by the Park Service in order to get sanitation trucks in and out and is not near as difficult as it used to be. But long vehicles may need to back in and make a turn at the top or risk getting wedged in.

The 0.6 mile Joint Trail hike includes a long very narrow (just barely wide enough to walk through) and deep "joint". It was very impressive as was the view form the other side after climbing some hand built rock stairs.

Both groups completed the "loop" on the way back to Elephant Hill including the Silver Stairs. These stairs are steep but much less difficult than they were before the Park Service filled the worst spots with concrete.

It was getting late as our group came back up Elephant Hill. Airing up the tires and the long drive put us back in Moab after dark - which is often the case when taking the Elephant Hill Safari Trail. It was well worth it.

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