Discover the kaleidoscopic colors of wood reclaimed from the Earth. Awe at the
power of nature and the ancient remnants of time past; the expansive vistas of
the reservoir and surrounding mountains from the top of the hiking loop; the
cool, refreshing waters of the lake.

There's a good reason why the setting here is so spectacular. The state park
and nearby town of Escalante stand watch over the nearby Grand
Staircase–Escalante National Monument, which is more than 1.8 million acres of
outdoor adventure spread across slot canyons, slickrock and other geologic
wonders.

Escalante Petrified Forest is a great stop on Utah's Road to Mighty® between
two of The Mighty 5® national parks, or could serve as a base camp to
adventure throughout Southern Utah. Make a reservation on the Utah State Parks
reservation site.

Discover the kaleidoscopic colors of wood reclaimed from the Earth. Awe at the power of nature and the ancient remnants of time past; the expansive vistas of the reservoir and surrounding mountains from the top of the hiking loop; the cool, refreshing waters of the lake.


There's a good reason why the setting here is so spectacular. The state park and nearby town of Escalante stand watch over the nearby Grand Staircase–Escalante National Monument, which is more than 1.8 million acres of outdoor adventure spread across slot canyons, slickrock and other geologic wonders.


Escalante Petrified Forest is a great stop on Utah's Road to Mighty® between two of The Mighty 5® national parks, or could serve as a base camp to adventure throughout Southern Utah. <a href="http://utahstateparks.reserveamerica.com/camping/escalante-petrified-forest-state-park/r/campgroundDetails.do?contractCode=UT&parkId=345221" rel="nofollow">Make a reservation on the Utah State Parks reservation site</a>.

$8 and $4 for Utah seniors. $19/$25 camping.

Colorful fragments of petrified forest are millions of years old and are protected by law.

Utah State Park

Petrified Wood

Fees for camping at Wide Hollow Campground start at $19 per night and sites are available on a first-come first-serve basis.

Camping on the Shore of Wide Hollow Reservoir

The placid, cool waters of Wide Hollow Reservoir.

Escalante Petrified Forest State Park

Wide Hollow Reservoir is fully stocked with rainbow trout and bluegill and the boating and kayaking is serene.

Wide Hollow Reservoir at Escalante Petrified Forest

The Canyons of the Escalante--Wonders in Water and Stone. The Escalante River,
the last major river system to be mapped in the continental United States,
cascades off the southern flank of the Aquarius Plateau, winding through a
1,000-mile maze of interconnected canyons. This magical labyrinth is one of
the scenic wonders of the West.

The Canyons of the Escalante--Wonders in Water and Stone. The Escalante River, the last major river system to be mapped in the continental United States, cascades off the southern flank of the Aquarius Plateau, winding through a 1,000-mile maze of interconnected canyons. This magical labyrinth is one of the scenic wonders of the West.

Canyons Of Escalante/Burr Trail

Canyons Of Escalante/ Burr Trail

Steep walled canyons, mesas, benches, natural bridges, and arches characterize
the area.The lower Calf Creek Falls trail in Calf Creek Canyon includes the
area of the Calf Creek Canyon between the Lower Falls and the campground. This
portion of Calf Creek Canyon includes approximately 200 acres with significant
educational values.The Phipps-Death Hollow WSA, in the upper part of the
Escalante River, has landscape features not found in the middle and lower
portions of this drainage. For example, white and yellow Navajo sandstones are
in greater abundance in the landscape and the canyons are the deepest in the
drainage system.The Escalante River Canyon within the WSA is 1,100 feet deep
between the mouth of Mamie Creek and the community of Escalante. The canyon
walls are rough and broken, and the canyon is narrow and it meanders. The
canyon is impressive throughout its length. Escalante Natural Bridge, a 130
foot high bridge with a span of 100 feet is in the south wall of the canyon.
Four other natural bridges and arches are in the area.

Steep walled canyons, mesas, benches, natural bridges, and arches characterize the area.The lower Calf Creek Falls trail in Calf Creek Canyon includes the area of the Calf Creek Canyon between the Lower Falls and the campground. This portion of Calf Creek Canyon includes approximately 200 acres with significant educational values.The Phipps-Death Hollow WSA, in the upper part of the Escalante River, has landscape features not found in the middle and lower portions of this drainage. For example, white and yellow Navajo sandstones are in greater abundance in the landscape and the canyons are the deepest in the drainage system.The Escalante River Canyon within the WSA is 1,100 feet deep between the mouth of Mamie Creek and the community of Escalante. The canyon walls are rough and broken, and the canyon is narrow and it meanders. The canyon is impressive throughout its length. Escalante Natural Bridge, a 130 foot high bridge with a span of 100 feet is in the south wall of the canyon. Four other natural bridges and arches are in the area.

Bird's eye view of the park

Phipps-Death Hollow

The paleontological values contained within the WSA are of scientific value.
Invertebrate and vertebrate specimens are found in the Straight Cliffs.The
Straight Cliffs, raising 2,000 feet above the Escalante Valley floor, are a
scenic landmark in southern Utah. The cliffs are the dominant topographic
feature between the Town of Escalante and Lake Powell, and provide spectacular
scenic views of the Escalante River drainage, the Waterpocket Fold, Boulder
Mountain, and the Henry Mountains.

The paleontological values contained within the WSA are of scientific value. Invertebrate and vertebrate specimens are found in the Straight Cliffs.The Straight Cliffs, raising 2,000 feet above the Escalante Valley floor, are a scenic landmark in southern Utah. The cliffs are the dominant topographic feature between the Town of Escalante and Lake Powell, and provide spectacular scenic views of the Escalante River drainage, the Waterpocket Fold, Boulder Mountain, and the Henry Mountains.

Carcass Canyon

At the base of the towering 11,000-foot Boulder Mountain is the site of what
used to be one of the most populated Ancestral Puebloan communities west of
the Colorado River. Ancestral Puebloans, also known as the Anasazi, occupied
this area between 1050 and 1175 A.D. Few places in the United States can
compare to the archaeological attraction that is Anasazi State Park Museum,
where you can get an up close and personal look into life from almost 1,000
years ago. There are no lodging facilities at Anasazi State Park Museum, but
there are hotels in nearby towns and camping at nearby national parks and
monuments and in the national forest and BLM land. Part of many Road to Mighty
itineraries.

At the base of the towering 11,000-foot Boulder Mountain is the site of what used to be one of the most populated Ancestral Puebloan communities west of the Colorado River. Ancestral Puebloans, also known as the Anasazi, occupied this area between 1050 and 1175 A.D. Few places in the United States can compare to the archaeological attraction that is Anasazi State Park Museum, where you can get an up close and personal look into life from almost 1,000 years ago. There are no lodging facilities at Anasazi State Park Museum, but there are hotels in nearby towns and camping at nearby national parks and monuments and in the national forest and BLM land. Part of many Road to Mighty itineraries.

Take a close look at the artifacts inside museum.

Anasazi State Park Museum

Inside, view artifacts excavated from this site and learn the lifeways of these people.

Outside the museum, tour a life-sized, six-room replica of an ancient dwelling.

Much of the area is characterized by plateaus or benches and canyons. The
Escalante River has cut a deep, winding canyon from west to east.The area is
large and geographically complex. It is associated with a section of the
Escalante River Canyon between the Glen Canyon NRA and the highway between
Boulder and Escalante, Utah. This area has some of the most outstanding
scenery in the country. East of Horse Canyon in the eastern portion of the
area, canyons draining to Horse Canyon through the Circle Cliffs escarpment
have created a unique canyon and bench system.Wolverine Canyon and Little
Death Hollow possess extremely narrow and convoluted sections, but the most
distinctive topographic feature is the surface of the benches.

Much of the area is characterized by plateaus or benches and canyons. The Escalante River has cut a deep, winding canyon from west to east.The area is large and geographically complex. It is associated with a section of the Escalante River Canyon between the Glen Canyon NRA and the highway between Boulder and Escalante, Utah. This area has some of the most outstanding scenery in the country. East of Horse Canyon in the eastern portion of the area, canyons draining to Horse Canyon through the Circle Cliffs escarpment have created a unique canyon and bench system.Wolverine Canyon and Little Death Hollow possess extremely narrow and convoluted sections, but the most distinctive topographic feature is the surface of the benches.

North Escalante Canyons/The Gulch

Cliffs, hills, and the blue-gray shale badlands for which the WSA is named,
characterize the study area.The WSA houses a number of endangered species and
one plant species which is eligible to be listed.

Cliffs, hills, and the blue-gray shale badlands for which the WSA is named, characterize the study area.The WSA houses a number of endangered species and one plant species which is eligible to be listed.

The Blues WSA

The Devil’s Garden is located in Garfield County, Utah, USA, and is part of
the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. The protected area has
sandstone formations such as hoodoos and natural arches. A portion of Devil's
Garden offers outstanding opportunities for hiking, geological sightseeing,
and photography.

The Devil’s Garden is located in Garfield County, Utah, USA, and is part of the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. The protected area has sandstone formations such as hoodoos and natural arches. A portion of Devil's Garden offers outstanding opportunities for hiking, geological sightseeing, and photography.

Devil's Garden

The WSA consists of five parallel, south trending canyons separated by
benches. Numerous winding side canyons and steep cliffs isolate the
benches.The Circle Cliffs landscape is found in the northeastern portion of
the WSA. This is the best known and recognized feature within the WSA.
Characteristic features include the intensely colored red, orange, and purple
Chinle mounds and ledges at the base of Wingate Sandstone cliffs; vertically
joined cliffs banded with red, yellow, and white colors; and bench tops and
upper cliff faces possessing innumerable orange red Kayenta Sandstone knobs.
This is one of the most distinctive landscapes on the Colorado Plateau.

The WSA consists of five parallel, south trending canyons separated by benches. Numerous winding side canyons and steep cliffs isolate the benches.The Circle Cliffs landscape is found in the northeastern portion of the WSA. This is the best known and recognized feature within the WSA. Characteristic features include the intensely colored red, orange, and purple Chinle mounds and ledges at the base of Wingate Sandstone cliffs; vertically joined cliffs banded with red, yellow, and white colors; and bench tops and upper cliff faces possessing innumerable orange red Kayenta Sandstone knobs. This is one of the most distinctive landscapes on the Colorado Plateau.

Escalante Petrified Forest State Park

Directions

Reviews

Nearby Parks