Trail Overview

This graded gravel road leads to the trailhead for Paul Bunyan’s Woodpile, which is an interesting (and rare in Utah) geographic feature, which is a cluster of lava “logs”. They are about a foot in diameter and up to 15 feet long. The hike up and back is about 1.8 miles, which is mostly uphill.

Photos of Paul Bunyan’s Woodpile

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Difficulty

Graded gravel road with gentle grades, two vehicles wide except for one narrower section.

History

Paul Bunyan's woodpile is a geological curiosity that is rare in Utah. The "Woodpile" is a cluster of lava logs formed about 30 million years ago during the Eocene period. The "Logs" were formed when a lava flow cooled into orderly columnar joints having 3 to 6 sides. The columns measure about a foot in diameter and up to 15 feet in length. This formation was on the rim of the caldera that collapsed due to a void left when lava flowed out from under the caldera. Basin and range faulting caused the formation to tilt onto its side. Erosion has exposed the formation we now see.

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