As its name suggests, Pothole Point is a natural landmark featuring a rocky plateau pockmarked with holes, which are seasonally filled with water. It lies at the end of its namesake trail in Canyonlands National Park. Walk carefully as you explore this scenic and otherworldly terrain.
At the Needles Visitor Center speak with the staff about the intriguing surrounding topography. Appreciate the natural beauty, as you drive for about 10 minutes to the Pothole Point Trail, a 1-mile (2-kilometer) round-trip with a moderate incline. Complete the circuit, which lies between the Wooden Shoe Arch Overlook and the Slickrock trailhead, in about 30 minutes.
Bring snacks and drinks to enjoy in the picnic area. Most of the path is composed of slickrock, which has a smooth, polished surface. Continue along the trail as it meanders between dry shrubs and other arid vegetation. Reach the rim of the canyon for some of the best views of The Needles, natural rock towers that give the appearance of a line of red needles on the horizon.
Let your kids clamber over and hide behind some of the rocks. Spot bighorn sheep in the distance and walk around the edges of the famous potholes. Explain to your kids how acidic rain created and enlarged the holes over time. After a rain, look for tiny shrimp, worms or snails in these depressions. Wind sometimes carries grit into the holes, allowing plants to grow, looking like gardens growing on rock.
Make sure to bring enough water and sunscreen in summer, when the scorching sun heats up the slickrock. In winter, the path can be slippery and covered in a layer of ice.
Pothole Point is in the heart of Canyonlands National Park, in the southeastern corner of Utah. Drive northwest from Monticello for 50 miles (80 kilometers) to get here in just over 1 hour.
While you’re in the region, stop at some of the surrounding highlights, such as Arches National Park, Mount Pennell and the Canyons of the Ancients National Monument. You’ll need to purchase a pass to enter the national parks. Visit from spring through fall to see the potholes.
