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Rainbows of color streak the mineralized wood that make this petrified forest, located 44 miles east of Bryce Canyon National Park, a fascinating place.
The mineralized wood is what's left of trees carried to Escalante by rivers 140 million years ago. Buried in sand and gravel, the trees did not decay, but hardened as their cells were replaced by crystals.
Fossilized dinosaur bones and artifacts from the Fremont Indians who inhabited the area nearly 1,000 years ago have been found in the park.
Hikers can explore the stone forest on two trails, a one-mile round trip, which includes a climb to a 240-foot high ridge, and a less-than-one-mile loop off that trail to other areas of the forest.
A short wheelchair-accessible trail takes visitors from the parking lot through the "petrified wood cove," a stone garden where wood from the forest is displayed.
Visitors fish for rainbow trout and bluegill in 140-acre Wide Hollow Reservoir, or paddle in canoes (the park has some available for rent) to watch for Canada geese, terns, ducks, coots and grebes.
There's also a visitor's center, with displays of petrified wood and dinosaur bones, and a 22-unit campground.
Outdoor Activities |
Close-up of petrified wood at Escalante State Park.
A hike through Escalante Petrified Forest State Park reveals colorful specimens of petrified wood.
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