Hiking the Utah State Park with Stunning Views and 5 Million Tons of Petrified Wood
Southern Utah does not want for big-name national parks, but this state park is a gem among giants.
Southern Utah is a veritable “who’s who” when it comes to National Parks: Bryce, Zion, Glen Canyon, and Grand Staircase-Escalante. Sometimes, though, it’s worth passing up rockstars (literally) to spend a day at Escalante Petrified Forest State Park. Escalante Petrified Forest State Park is the perfect example of why the country’s state and national parks systems are so amazing. It only costs $10 per vehicle to enter the park, the fee taken by a friendly employee who provides a map of the area. There’s a visitor center, reservoir, campground, and hiking trails. In 2014, a 50-foot petrified tree—roots and all—was added as an outdoor exhibit so all visitors would be able to check 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 knowing what a petrified tree looks like, it can be relatively easy to walk right past one. After all, they look just like a particularly large rock…until you notice that this rock also looks like a tree trunk. A petrified forest is a fascinating dichotomy, as it pairs the fossilized remains of trees and tree-like vegetation with the current living plants and trees that surround it today.
Petrified wood is a result of minerals taking over cavities of natural wood, after being buried by sediment or volcanic ash. Decomposition is slowed and minerals in water like quartz and agate very slowly replace the tree’s cells. At the end of it all, you’re left with brilliant, multi-colored pieces of petrified wood; hues of blue, green, orange, pink and more can be found in these stunning remains.
Hiking at Escalante Petrified National Park
The Petrified Forest Trail is a mile loop that immediately takes hikers on a winding trail that gains about 200 feet in elevation to the top of the mesa. It’s not necessarily for everyone, but most will find it a relatively easy hike. What takes this hike over the top is the interpretative guide that’s given out at the park entrance. 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 stops on the trail, including through a pygmy forest of juniper and piñon trees. Huge chunks of petrified wood dot the entire way; there’s an estimated five-and-a-half million tons of petrified wood within this relatively small park. Look, but don’t touch; taking petrified wood is banned in the park but also carries a legend of cursed luck to whoever has it. The visitor center has a dedicated wall with letters from collectors returning their petrified wood samples.
About a half-mile in, the trail flattens out to loop back around. There’s also a turnoff to take an additional loop, the Sleeping Rainbows Trail, which is far harder and steeper. But before choosing which path to take, it’s worth stopping to simply enjoy the view. 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 follow the 38-mile Hell’s Backbone road, which spits out just north of Escalante.
Wide Hollow Reservoir also spreads out below the petrified forest, built in the 1950’s to provide irrigation for the town of Escalante. It’s now become a popular spot for paddle boarding and canoeing, which can be rented, as well as fishing; the reservoir is stocked regularly with bluegill and rainbow trout. Beyond that, it’s simply calming to look at from the trail’s elevated position, water shimmering under Utah’s extraordinarily blue skies and against the rugged terrain. Bryce is less than an hour away, Zion only two; sometimes, it’s worth forgoing the giants for a day – or maybe altogether. Escalante Petrified Forest State Park is a deserving stop in its own right on your drive along Utah’s scenic SR 12.
Where to Stay
Ofland Escalante, approximately a mile up the road from the park, is an outdoor hotel with cabins and Airstreams to rent. The modern accommodations include spa-like shared bathrooms and private outdoor showers in the Deluxe Cabins. There’s a killer food truck onsite with the best burgers and breakfast burritos around. At night, grab a seat in one of the vintage cars at the drive-in theater to catch that evening’s flick; make sure to get there early before the movie to first watch a short film about the local Paiute tribe and their traditions involving the night sky.