Needles

rock formation, Utah, United States

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

July 16, 2026

Quick Summary

The Needles is a region within Canyonlands National Park in southeastern Utah, United States. This area is characterized by massive, banded sandstone pinnacles that give the region its name. It also features unique geological formations like the Druid and Angel arches, which are enormous balanced rock structures. The Needles section of the park is known for its deep canyons, formed by grabens (elongated fault blocks), and contains remnants of early Pueblo Indian dwellings, such as the Tower Ruin. A paved road provides access to this part of the park from the southeast.1

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

3 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

Canyonlands National Park
The Needles has sandstone formations that include the massive red- and white-banded rock pinnacles for which the area is named, as well as the Druid and Angel arches, which are gigantic balanced rock formations, the latter reaching a height of 150 feet (45 metres). Grabens, or…
Read More
The Needles has sandstone formations that include the massive red- and white-banded rock pinnacles for which the area is named, as well as the Druid and Angel arches, which are gigantic balanced rock formations, the latter reaching a height of 150 feet (45 metres). Grabens, or…
Read More