Canyonlands closes Needles district as Babylon Fire nears park

On June 28, Canyonlands closed The Needles district to all uses until further notice as the Babylon Fire, burning near Blanding in Bears Ears National Monument, moved toward Canyonlands and the UT 211 corridor.

Day hiking is off the table, backpacking is off the table, and overnight backcountry camping is off the table. The Needles Visitor Center was closed, all visitors in The Needles district were ordered to evacuate, and no new backcountry overnight or day-use permits were being issued. Reservations for The Needles Campground were also suspended, which means even permit holders and campsite bookers could not simply work around the closure and carry on as planned.

Overnight trips in the backcountry normally require permits, and day-use permits are required on some of the area’s signature routes, including Elephant Hill, Lavender Canyon, and Peekaboo/Horse Canyon roads.

Canyonlands is not a single easy loop. The park’s four districts are separated by distance and there are no roads connecting them, so getting from one district to another can take 2 to 6 hours by car. Canyonlands also has limited cell service, and Potash Road and SR-279 are already adding friction with weekday paving delays, rough surface conditions, and periods of alternating one-way traffic through mid-July. The park is under Stage 2 fire restrictions as well, so all fires are prohibited and only petroleum- or propane-fueled stoves or grills are allowed in backcountry campsites, campgrounds, and picnic areas.

If you still want a Canyonlands fix this week, Island in the Sky is the clearest reroute. It is the easiest area of the park to visit, with a paved scenic drive and roadside pullouts, while The Maze is a far less practical substitute because it is the park’s remote backpacking country.