Escalante Petrified Forest Trail

Escalante Petrified Forest State Park was established in 1963 and the Wide Hollow Reservoir was built in 1954. Once you pay the entrance fee the parking lot is just around the corner to the right. Restrooms and showers are located north of the trailhead parking lot, in Wide Hollow Campground. Right at the parking lot there is tons of petrified wood to see and a large petrified tree example up on display to the east of where you park. There are also some dinosaur bones and other fossils in this area all of which are over 100 million years old! On the south side of the parking lot you will find the trailhead for the Petrified Forest Trail. Grab a trail guide if you want and head out as you will find different numbered stops along the way pointing out the petrified wood, scenery, and vegetation. This trail initially has a few switchbacks to gain the 270+ feet of elevation needed to get to the top of the hill where you will get some great views of Wide Hollow Reservoir. The trail is pretty easy unless you hike it in the middle of the summer. So, if you are planning on hiking in the summer, hike earlier or later in the day so you aren't hiking in the 100+ degree temperatures! Despite what some people think, you won't be finding "forests" of petrified wood. There are amazing specimens to behold, but they are sporadic or still hidden under the dirt. And sadly, many people have already taken pieces of the wood as souvenirs. Please do not take pieces of petrified wood home. Once you hike to the top of the hill you will see that the trail goes left or right. The trail makes a loop here so it doesn't really matter which way you go. This guide bears right. The vegetation on top is juniper trees, cedar trees, short grasses, and lots of different types of bushes. If you are lucky, you might be able to see rabbits, snakes, scorpions, deer, lizards, rodents, many different types of birds, and perhaps a coyote or desert fox. After hiking a little ways from where the loop trail begins, you will come to the first location of petrified food. Since it's located in a wash, it has since slowly been uncovered by years and years of erosion. You can see the colorful crystals and minerals that have taken the place of the original wood. You are basically standing on the top of a fallen ancient forest. You will come to another fork in the trail. The trail continues on the Petrified Forest Trail or goes down the Trail of Sleeping Rainbows. More amazing and colorful petrified wood is found down this trail. The park says that this part of the trail is strenuous and it's about another 1/4 mile loop. Keep hiking and the trail will then turn left to another great location to see more petrified wood. Some examples of petrified wood are huge! One of the best examples of seeing the original tree rings can be found near where the loop trail begins. This giant piece of petrified food overlooks the reservoir below and you can see the tree rings! The trail will meet up with the trail that heads back to the parking lot.