Elephant Canyon

Elephant Canyon-Lower Salt Creek Loop is a route in the Needles District of Canyonlands National Park. Ascending up Lower Salt Creek requires climbing skills. There is one 15' upclimb of 5.6 in difficulty, so having a good climber along is recommended. THIS IS A LEGIT CLASS 5.6 CLIMBING MOVE. YOU MUST HAVE A CLIMBER IN THE GROUP OR YOU MAY BE TURNED AROUND AND FACE AN ADDITIONAL 8+ HRS. TO EXIT THE SOUTHER ROUTE. There may be webbing there but you can not rely on it remaining.

Trailhead The trailhead is at the Big Spring Overlook Trailhead in the Needles section of Canyonlands National Park. Approach Hike Follow the Confluence Overlook Trail as it descends a couple hundred feet to the Big Spring Canyon bottom, crosses it and up the other side. Continue along the trail until it drops into Elephant Canyon. This is about 1.5 miles from the trailhead.

Follow Elephant Canyon down canyon from the trail. After about a mile, there is a drop off at 38.1873, -109.8370. Continue hiking down the drainage for about 1 mile until you reach a big drop off at 38.1990, -109.8465. If you brought a long enough rope you can rappel this. Otherwise, traverse the left rim about 500 feet to a short drop off the cliff band at 38.2022, -109.8466. Hike about another mile to the next drop off at 38.2081, -109.8478 and the next rappel. Hike down the drainage about a 1/2 mile to the next and final drop off at 38.2122, -109.8489. Following, there are many Crinoids along with red and black chert. Right before you reach the Colorado River, look up 50 feet or so on the right side and locate some Anasazi ruins.