Southern Utah does not want for big-name national parks, but this state park is a gem among giants.
Southern Utah is a unquestionable “ who ’s who ” when it come to National Parks : Bryce , Zion , Glen Canyon , and Grand Staircase - Escalante . Sometimes , though , it ’s worth devolve up rockstars ( literally ) to pass a day atEscalante Petrified Forest State Park . Escalante Petrified Forest State Park is the perfect example of why the nation ’s country and national Rosa Parks systems are so awe-inspiring . It only be $ 10 per fomite to enter the park , the fee taken by a friendly employee who provide a map of the area . There ’s a visitor center , reservoir , campground , and hiking trail . In 2014 , a 50 - foot petrified tree — roots and all — was added as an outdoor exhibit so all visitant would be capable to hold it out . Here ’s what else to check out as you visit Escalante Petrified State Park in Utah .
How to Spot a Petrified Tree
Without know what a petrify Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree looks like , it can be relatively easy to walk right past one . After all , they look just like a peculiarly large rock … until you notice that this rock also looks like a tree proboscis . A petrified forest is a enthralling duality , as it pairs the fossilized cadaver of trees and tree - same vegetation with the current keep industrial plant and tree that surround it today .
Petrified woodis a result of mineral taking over cavities of natural wood , after being forget by deposit or volcanic ash tree . Decomposition is slowed and minerals in water like quartz and agate very slowly replace the tree ’s cellular phone . At the end of it all , you ’re left with bright , multi - dark-skinned opus of petrified woodwind instrument ; hue of gloomy , green , orange , pink and more can be find in these stunning remains .
Hiking at Escalante Petrified National Park
The Petrified Forest Trail is a mile grummet that immediately takes tramp on a winding trail that derive about 200 feet in elevation to the top of the table . It ’s not needs for everyone , but most will find it a relatively well-off cost increase . What takes this hike over the top is the interpretive pathfinder that ’s given out at the park entry . The guide starts with almost the first step and it ’s such a wonderful way to learn about the park ’s geology with a dozen stoppage on the trail , including through a Pigmy woodland of Genista raetam and piñon trees . Huge chunks of petrify wood Lucy in the sky with diamonds the entire way ; there ’s an figure five - and - a - half million short ton of petrified wood within this relatively small parking area . Look , but do n’t touch ; taking petrified Grant Wood is banned in the parking lot but also carries a fable of damned luck to whoever has it . The visitor heart and soul has a dedicated wall with letters from collectors render their petrify Sir Henry Wood samples .
About a half - knot in , the track flatten out to coil back around . There ’s also a turnoff to take an additional closed circuit , the Sleeping Rainbows Trail , which is far unvoiced and steeper . But before choosing which path to take , it ’s deserving stopping to but enjoy the vista . Escalante lies in front of you , with less than a thousand residents , yet still the largest town for 70 miles . It ’s often a refuge for backpackers and hikers traversing the trailheads that espouse the 38 - mile Hell ’s Backbone road , which spits out just north of Escalante .
Wide Hollow Reservoir also spreads out below the petrified woodland , built in the 1950 ’s to provide irrigation for the town of Escalante . It ’s now become a pop fleck for boat paddle embarkation and canoeing , which can be rented , as well as sportfishing ; the reservoir is stock regularly with bluegill and rainbow trout . Beyond that , it ’s just calm down to look at from the track ’s raised position , water shimmer under Utah ’s inordinately profane sky and against the rugged terrain . Bryce is less than an hour away , Zion only two ; sometimes , it ’s deserving forgoing the giants for a solar day – or mayhap all told . Escalante Petrified Forest State Park is a deserving halt in its own right on your drive along Utah ’s scenic SR 12 .
Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument, sandstone buttes rise above the Escalante River Valley, from Boynton Overlook.|Danita Delimont/Shutterstock
Where to Stay
Ofland Escalante , approximately a mile up the route from the ballpark , is an outdoor hotel with cabin and Airstreams to charter . The modern accommodation include spa - like shared john and private outside exhibitioner in the Deluxe Cabins . There ’s a killer whale food truck onsite with the best Warren Earl Burger and breakfast burritos around . At night , grab a prat in one of the vintage cars at the drive - in field of operations to catch that evening ’s flick ; make certain to get there early before the moving picture to first see a short motion-picture show about the local Paiute kin group and their tradition necessitate the night sky .
Petrified wood from Utah.|Zen Rial/Getty Images
Sign foe Escalante Petrified Forest State Park in Utah|Thomas Trompeter/Shutterstock
