Lost Canyon and Squaw Canyon Loop in Canyonlands National Park, UT

Hike Lost Canyon and Squaw Canyon Loop Canyonlands National Park, UT

Class 2 8.9 miles 800 gain 3-5 hrs Loop Aug 11, 2017
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude

Lost Canyon and Squaw Canyon Loop GPX Track

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This popular loop in Canyonlands National Park's Needles District has a great amount of variety. The Squaw Canyon Trail leads through pleasant meadowy terrain to the junction with the Peekaboo Trail. I did the loop clockwise, taking Peekaboo Trail first. This is an interesting section of slickrock navigation using cairns on less-clear sections. A ladder aids in descending the rimrock and to the canyon below. The Peekaboo Trail meets with the Lost Canyon Trail on the right. This may be a little difficult to follow at times when washed out, but you can't get too lost. Lost Canyon becomes pretty lush and the contrast of vegetation against the gorgeous sandstone is really nice. The Lost Canyon Trail leads out of its drainage and back up to the slickrock above, where it then leads back to the Squaw Canyon Trail. This trail completes the loop and leads back to the trailhead.

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Starting along the Squaw Canyon Trail.
Starting along the Squaw Canyon Trail.
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View back along the trail.
View back along the trail.
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A little mini scramble, marked with cairns. There are a few of these.
A little mini scramble, marked with cairns. There are a few of these.
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Navigating the slickrock rim.
Navigating the slickrock rim.
Approaching a ladder that brings you into the canyon below.
Approaching a ladder that brings you into the canyon below.
Looking back at the ladder and the rim I came down from.
Looking back at the ladder and the rim I came down from.
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Junction with Lost Canyon.
Junction with Lost Canyon.
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Lost canyon starts pretty wide and slowly narrows a bit. There are some spots where the trail is washed out, but it's usually pretty easy to pick it up again.
Lost canyon starts pretty wide and slowly narrows a bit. There are some spots where the trail is washed out, but it's usually pretty easy to pick it up again.
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Gorgeous, lush sections within Lost Canyon.
Gorgeous, lush sections within Lost Canyon.
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Lots of little grottoes like this where the trail gets swallowed by underbrush.
Lots of little grottoes like this where the trail gets swallowed by underbrush.
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Approaching the exit of Lost Canyon.
Approaching the exit of Lost Canyon.
Looking down into Lost Canyon.
Looking down into Lost Canyon.
Heading up the ridge out of Lost Canyon.
Heading up the ridge out of Lost Canyon.
Looking back into Lost Canyon.
Looking back into Lost Canyon.
Closeup of Lost Canyon.
Closeup of Lost Canyon.
After crossing the ridge out of Lost Canyon, the trail continues through here.
After crossing the ridge out of Lost Canyon, the trail continues through here.
Looking back toward the ridge crossing after Lost Canyon.
Looking back toward the ridge crossing after Lost Canyon.
A fun little narrow section.
A fun little narrow section.
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Continuing along the Squaw Canyon trail back to the trailhead.
Continuing along the Squaw Canyon trail back to the trailhead.
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Hire/refer me as a web developer or send me a few bucks if you find my site useful. I’m not sponsored, so all fees are out-of-pocket and my time preparing trip reports is unpaid. I really appreciate it!