Journey Back to the Jurassic in Escalante

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Have you ever wanted to travel back in time? At Escalante Petrified Forest State Park you can journey back to the late-Jurassic when you hike to the Petrified Forest.

Escalante Petrified State Forest

The Petrified Forest Trail features 150 million year old fossilized trees that grew during a time when Utah was closer to the equator. Rivers, lakes and streams supported large forests where dinosaurs such as Allosaurus and Apatosaurus lived. Evidence of these ancient waterways can be seen as you hike to the top of a mesa through colorful sedimentary rocks of the Morrison Formation.

Escalante petrified wood Once you reach the top of the mesa the trail winds through the Pinyon-Juniper woodlands where you’ll discover beautiful fossils of multi-colored petrified wood. Some logs measure over 4 feet in length! Look closely and you may see impressions of bark on the outside and growth rings on the inside of some of the larger pieces. The trees became fossilized when they were buried in sediments and saturated by groundwater containing silica and other minerals. The minerals gradually replaced the organic material and replicated the cellular structures of the tree on a microscopic level. Take a photo using your camera’s macro lens and admire nature’s artistry.

From the mesa you can also enjoy magnificent views of the nearby Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument and surrounding area. Check out the horizon in all directions and locate the Pink Cliffs of the Aquarius Plateau, Fifty-Mile Mountain leading to the famous Hole In The Rock crossing, Navajo Mountain on the Arizona border, and the impressive canyons of the Escalante River.

For the adventurous hiker, a side loop called the Sleeping Rainbow Trail offers a challenging descent down a steep drainage filled with extraordinary amounts of petrified wood. At the bottom of the trail hikers can rest at the edge of a dramatic pour-off overlooking Bailey’s Wash below. Climbing back up the trail you will notice a bizarrely eroded form of calcite-rich sandstone that resembles marbles imbedded in rock, another reward for tackling the steep trail.

Back on the main loop, be sure to stop near the Wide Hollow Reservoir overlook to admire the impressive piece of petrified wood measuring over 3 feet in diameter. Think about the incredible geologic journey that has transformed this tree into a rock. Consider what would happen if every visitor took even just a small piece for a souvenir. Although fossils might seem abundant at the park, these gems from the Jurassic and the unusual conditions that created them are actually quite rare. Please think of future visitors to this unique park and do not collect petrified wood during your journey to the past.

Escalante Petrified Forest State Park is open year-round and is located 1 ½ miles west of Escalante on Scenic Byway 12. The park offers both tent and RV camping with modern restrooms and showers, picnic sites, boating, fishing, swimming, birding, wildlife viewing and interpretive programs. For information about the park please visit our website at www.stateparks.utah.gov or call the visitor center at 435-826-4466.