After two hard activity days we took an easier day and hiked a couple shorter spots in Canyonlands. First we hiked Slickrock Trail, then checked out Pothole Point and Stone Storehouse. If you only have a couple hours in the Needles District, this would be a good option for you.
Slickrock Trail is under three miles and takes place entirely on rock. The “trail” is just following rock cairns around the slabs and out to viewpoints. We wandered around and did some extra credit off shoots as we explored.
Pothole point features sandstone potholes which form small ecosystems. The potholes themselves support a community of creatures that thrive in the water after rain, including fairy shrimp, tadpole shrimp, snails, and Great Basin spadefoot toads. When dry, the potholes contain dormant eggs and microscopic animals waiting for the next rainfall. Life is amazing.
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