December 19, 2025 – December 24, 2025
We left mid day on Friday before Christmas on a road trip that would take us across the southern end of Utah and into Arizona. Our first major destination was Canyonlands National Park in Utah, but we stopped to sleep and see friends along the way in Mexico, MO, Lincoln, NE, and an iOverlander campsite in Colorado just off I70. It was a warm 60 degrees driving through the Colorado mountains during the day, however we had snow on the ground when we stopped to camp.
After morning meetings, I kept working while Dan drove arriving a few hours before dark at the Island in the Sky Visitor Center in Canyonlands. Our plan was to see some of the highlights in that section and hopefully get to The Needles campground around dark. But we did not realize the sections of the park were not connected by road and you actually had to leave the park and drive through Moab to get to the southern section. We did not let that deter us from checking out the top picks for the Island in the Sky though. We did the quick Mesa Arch hike and then drove as far south as the paved road will take you for the Grand Viewpoint Overlook.
The Needles
It was already dark by the time we were driving through Moab and pitch dark when we arrived at The Needles campground. Before we found a campsite we went to the seasonally closed visitor center in that section to reserve a backpacking site for the following night. The backpacking site was free but you had to register and claim a site at a kiosk. No one else was registered and we had our pick, which was CP #5 (Chestler Park), as a ranger told us that Chestler Park was the most popular backpacking camp.
One section of The Needles campground was completely closed for the season and the other one was first-come, first-served with a kiosk to collect your $20/night camping fee. During peak season one campground does allow reservations. We felt lucky to mostly have the campground to ourselves. The shower house was closed for the season, but they had some of the cleanest vault toilets. We had fun walking around and exploring the campground in the dark and the sky was amazingly lit up with stars. The next morning I worked in the van with our Starlink, while Dan sorted and packed up for our backpacking trip.
Backpacking through Chestler Park
Our main goals for the backpacking trip were to make it to the CP5 campsite and see Druid Arch. At first, I thought we would have time to make it to the Arch on the first day, but the trails were a bit tougher and slower going than we were expecting. There was quite a bit of scrambling and so many rocks. We ended up taking a shorter path to our campsite but we set up well before dark and had some time to paint and take pictures and enjoy the vast Canyonlands all to ourselves. It was chilly and dark early, so we got snuggly in the tent and played some cards before bed. Even though I have become a van princess and had trouble getting to sleep in the tent, I was so happy we took the time to get out backpacking especially in such a unique and special place.
My Battles with the Sandstone
The next morning we started to Druid Arch and I sure am glad we did not try to squeeze that in on our first day. The mile of trail in between camp and the turnoff for the Druid Arch trail was no joke. There was lots of skirting along thin walkways on large rocks. Dan had to give me quite a few pep talks. After that the Druid Arch trail was mostly mellow following along a wash, but then it gets to a super steep rock face I never would have made it past without Dan. There was also a ladder and a bit of a scramble, but the one steep rock face was the only really hard part for me. Druid Arch was epic though and we were both really happy we made it. After that we hiked the fastest path back to the van, but it definitely did not feel fast. There were a few more obstacles that added to the adventure.
By the time we made it back to the van, tired and dusty and very aware of every step we’d taken, I realized there were no photos of the hardest parts. No images of the exposure, the cold sandstone under my hands, or the moments when fear outweighed confidence. Those were the times when stopping to pull out a camera never crossed my mind, when being present mattered more than documenting. And in some ways, that feels right. The most meaningful parts of this trip weren’t captured on film; they were earned, felt deeply, and carried forward long after we left the trail behind.
Backpacking Essentials1
Zoleo – Dan and I both carry one, allowing us to communicate with each other if we get separated, check in with family, and have an SOS in case of an emergency.
Radio – Allows for instant communication when we are close but hiking our own pace.
Big Agnes Tent – We have several variations and pleased with this brand overall.
Gossamer Gear Packs – These packs store well in the van when not in use. This is not an affiliate link, we just love the brand!
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This was a great backpacking trip. I like climbing on rocks and there were plenty! The Druid Arch was well worth the hike. The pictures never do justice. It’s a lot bigger than the pictures show. The desert is a very dark place at night and cool. Glad we made this trip together.
Definitely one of my favorite trips so far! And there have been a lot of good ones!