If you’re staying in the Escalante area, or just passing through, a visit to the hiking trails in Escalante Petrified Forest State Park are worth a look. The Petrified Forest offers short strolls in the hills above the town of Escalante. Sweeping views of the valley and red rock cliffs in the distance are nice, but the petrified wood is the highlight of the park.
The trails wind through what was once groves of ancient trees that grew during prehistoric times. Back then, conifer trees covered the landscape. The theory is that when the trees died and fell, some got caught in floods where water saturated the wood. The trees were then covered in silt which prevented decay. Over time, silicates in the water got into the wood and turned the trees into stone. Millions of years later, erosion and tectonic uplift revealed the buried trees. Of course, the trees are long gone, but fallen logs, branches and bark remain, frozen in time.
The hike is divided into two loops: the short loop, which is about a mile and is very easy, and the Sleeping Rainbow Loop, which is steep and rocky. However, the Sleeping Rainbow Trail is well worth the effort as it is an especially good place to look at petrified wood. Dozens of tree stumps and fallen logs are scattered around the area, each featuring perfectly preserved growth rings and bark. Smaller pieces of petrified wood litter the trail to the point that hikers can’t avoid walking on it as it crunches underfoot.
The trailhead is located in the campground at Escalante Petrified Forest State Park. There is a $6 day use fee to go on the hike, or you can camp and explore the trails at your leisure. The park itself can be found about a mile west of the town of Escalante. For an even better idea of what the hike is like, watch the video below:
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