Hike along park nature trails through a petrified forest, camp along the shores of Wide Hollow Reservoir, or rent a canoe and paddle on its clear waters.
The Setting
Wide Hollow Reservoir offers great fishing for rainbow trout, largemouth bass, and bluegill. Rent a canoe and life jacket, and paddle around the quiet waters. Take a swim or lounge on sunny shores, and watch for many species of bird and waterfowl.
Two established trails wind through vast deposits of some of the most beautiful petrified wood found anywhere, with some pieces measuring nearly five feet wide! View fossils, petrified wood, fossilized dinosaur bones, and artifacts left by ancient Fremont Indians who inhabited this area nearly 1,000 years ago.
The Facility
Camp and picnic in a modern, 22-unit campground complete with tables, fire pits, barbecue grills, culinary water, restrooms with hot showers, and sanitary disposal station, or enjoy one of the four new full hookup RV campsites just updated last fall.
Camping Tips
The beautiful and varied colors of petrified wood are caused by the presence of other minerals that enter the wood during the petrifying process. Iron oxides produce orange, red, and yellow, while manganese oxides create blues, blacks, and purples.
Please wear sturdy walking shoes and sunscreen, and carry plenty of drinking water, and please do not remove any petrified wood from the park – some say the wood is haunted and removing a piece brings the taker nothing but bad luck.
Park Features
Escalante and the surrounding area are veritable wonderlands of scenic beauty. Set up base camp at the park, and be within a few miles of the high-mountain lakes and forests of Boulder Mountain, remote canyons of the Escalante River, and slick rock desert country of the famous Hole-in-the-Rock crossing at Lake Powell.
Many species of wildflowers share the park with small rodents, lizards, waterfowl, birds, deer, and coyotes. Escalante Petrified Forest State Park is listed in the Utah Wildlife Viewing Guide as one of the few wetland bird viewing sites in southern Utah.
Address
Escalante Petrified Forest State Park
710 North Reservoir Road
Escalante, UT 84726-0350
(435) 826-4466
www.stateparks.utah.gov
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