Escalante Petrified Forest State Park is a small park with a big payoff, and an ideal stop on the long drive along Scenic Byway 12 between Bryce Canyon and Capitol Reef. It sits just outside the town of Escalante at about 5,900 feet, set around Wide Hollow Reservoir, which was built in 1954 to irrigate the town and is now stocked with rainbow trout and bluegill. The park was established in 1976 to protect a hillside littered with petrified wood, the remains of ancient trees that were buried, then slowly replaced by minerals until the logs turned to stone in brilliant reds, yellows, purples and whites. The main attraction is the Petrified Forest Trail, a one-mile loop that climbs a ridge above the reservoir, passing through old lava flows and thousands of pieces of petrified wood, some of them large sections of trunk lying where they eroded out of the hillside. An optional 0.75-mile loop called Sleeping Rainbows branches off the main trail; it is much steeper and requires scrambling over rocks, but it leads to some of the most colorful wood in the park. Back at the visitor center, built in 1991, displays include polished petrified wood, petrified dinosaur bones, ammonites and shell fossils, and outside you can see a 50-foot petrified tree, laid out from roots to tip and accessible to all visitors. The views from the ridge over the reservoir and the town are a bonus.
How the wood got here. The logs were once trees growing on an ancient floodplain. After they were buried by river sediment, groundwater carrying dissolved silica seeped through the wood and slowly replaced it, cell by cell, preserving the grain and rings in stone; traces of iron, manganese and other minerals created the reds, yellows and purples. Erosion has since brought the logs back to the surface. Collecting petrified wood is not allowed in the park, so leave every piece where it lies for the next visitor to discover.
Visiting tips. The main loop is short but climbs steeply at the start, with uneven footing, so wear proper shoes and bring water, especially in summer. Allow about an hour for the trail and the visitor center, more if you add Sleeping Rainbows or fish at the reservoir. In summer, paddleboards and kayaks are popular on Wide Hollow. Winter is a quiet time to visit: snow is possible but the low elevation often keeps the trail open, and the park makes a good walk on days when higher trails are icy. Expect a day-use fee and check the park's hours and campground details before you go.
Fitting it into a trip. Scenic Byway 12 is one of America's great drives, and this park breaks it up nicely. Combine it with Lower Calf Creek Falls a short drive east, the Kodachrome Basin detour west, and a lunch stop in Escalante. Families love the treasure-hunt feel of the trail, road-trippers appreciate a quick, rewarding stop, and geology fans can spend hours examining the colors and textures of the wood.
What to expect
The experience
A one-mile loop trail past petrified wood and lava flows above Wide Hollow Reservoir, an optional steeper side loop, and a visitor center with fossils and a 50-foot petrified tree.
Best time
Morning or late afternoon in summer; any dry day in winter.
How long
About an hour for the main trail and visitor center.
Tips
Wear sturdy shoes for the steep start, bring water, and never take petrified wood. Add Sleeping Rainbows only if you are comfortable scrambling.
Quick picks
- Best for
- A short, rewarding stop on Scenic Byway 12.
- Families
- A treasure-hunt trail kids love, though the start is steep.
- Couples
- Sunset views over the reservoir and town.
- Pair with
- Lower Calf Creek Falls to the east and Kodachrome Basin to the west.
- Time needed
- One to two hours.
Good questions
How long is the Petrified Forest Trail?+
It is a one-mile loop. The optional Sleeping Rainbows loop adds 0.75 miles but is much steeper, with scrambling.
Can I collect petrified wood?+
No. Collecting is prohibited in the park. Take photos instead, and leave every piece where it lies for others to enjoy.
What else is there to do?+
Fishing, swimming and paddling on Wide Hollow Reservoir in the warm months, and fossil displays in the visitor center.
Is it open in winter?+
The park is open year round; check the official site for hours and seasonal conditions.
Where is it?+
Just outside the town of Escalante on Scenic Byway 12, between Bryce Canyon and Capitol Reef.
