Confluence Overlook Trail

The Confluence Overlook Trail in the Needles District of Canyonlands National Park is an 11 mile round trip to the point where the Green River and Colorado River flow together.

The trail head for the Confluence Overlook Trail is at the west end of the main scenic drive. Like most of the hikes in Canyonlands the trail climbs up and down in rough canyons and follows along the canyon bottoms.
Some of the spots along these trails seem impossible, but there are often helpful ladders or carved steps arranged to make the trip a little easier. These spots are a reminder to stay on the trails and keep your eyes alert for the rock cairns marking the route.
There are several high points along the up and down route where views of the nearby LaSal Mountains or the amazing Needles are visible.
The view that keeps you going is the point deep in the Canyonlands to see the mighty Colorado River, flowing from the right meeting the Green River from the left. The view is from about 1000 feet above the streams.
The two rivers flow together to the south toward Cataract Canyon, and further to Lake Powell behind the huge Glen Canyon Dam.

It was a relatively cool June day, about 70 degrees F. and it took me 5:00 hours to complete this trip, spending only 10 minutes at the overlook. I finished the last of my 2 liters of water about 10 minutes before the finish.