About
Length0.6 mi
ShapeLoop
DifficultyEasy
Elevation gain20 ft up
Typical time15 min
TrailheadPothole Point parking area, The Needles
SurfaceBare slickrock
Best seasonSpring and autumn. Summer highs exceed 100F with no shade and no water on any trail.
DogsNot allowed
What you'll see 🌄 Big views🦌 Wildlife

This short loop trail (0.6 mi/1 km) crosses sandstone dimpled with pockets called potholes. Roundtrip Distance : 0.6 mi (1 km) Time : 45 min Elevation Change : 36 ft (11 m) Difficulty : Easy/Short Hike Description : Uneven slickrock leads to diverse pothole communities and views of The Needles. Trail follows cairns. Accessibility : This trail can be rough, uneven, and requires walking up and down a rocky hill and stone steps. It is not accessible to wheelchairs. In winter, there may be snow or icy conditions; we recommend traction devices for hikers. Dogs are not allowed on this trail . Service animals are allowed in national parks. What is a service animal? Help protect fragile desert ecosystems When wet or dry, potholes are tiny-and sensitive-ecosystems. Body oils, soaps, and sunscreen easily pollute the water. Protect these ecosystems by never putting anything (like fingers or feet) into potholes, and by walking around potholes, even when they are dry. The bumpy soil along the trail is also alive. Biological soil crusts are living communities of cyanobacteria, mosses, algae, lichens, and fungi. Soil crust prevents erosion, stores moisture, and provides critical nutrients for plants. Protect this life by staying on trail.

Tips
Come a day after rain and the potholes are full of tadpole shrimp and fairy shrimp. Never step in a pothole, wet or dry - the eggs survive years of drought in the dust.
Location

Pothole Point parking area, The Needles

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