A Hike on the Escalante Petrified Forest State Park Trail

This is one of the hikes recommended by the Escalante InterAgency Visitor Center Rangers. It costs $8.00 to enter the park. But the views and the beautiful petrified trees are worth it.

I wanted a short hike, after I had hiked and walked eight miles the day before. This hike is only about a mile or so out of Escalante. And I love petrified wood.

Come along.

View from the parking lot

This was the view from a few switchbacks up the path

The path went past this amazing balancing rock

The path always had lots to see along it and from it

There were amazing views across the country side from different high places

A colorful piece of petrified tree

These were the only blooming cactus I saw. 

Someone had lined up a lot of pieces of petrified wood here 

Another view across the countryside

Another jewel

And another - each piece had different colors and some seemed to have their bark on while others did not

Another glorious view

There were several interesting rock formations along the trail

A very pastel piece

A trio of different colored logs

A closeup of all the different colors - and lichens

The next hillside

Another rock formation

Several places had logs that had probably washed together before petrifying

A blooming shrub

Petrified and non-petrified wood

Another pile of logs

Love these colors

This log showed its core

This dead cedar was also exhibiting its beauty

Rocks and petrified wood

Another view

Oh those pastels

More colors - each due to different minerals

This was advertised as the largest log in the park and was also remarkable for the diversity of colors

A closeup showing some of the colors 

Afternoon view across Wide Hollow Reservoir