Escalante

Park Guidelines Your park fees provide for the care, protection,
and enhancement of this park.
Petrified Forest
Please observe these park regulations
to ensure a safe and pleasant visit.
Park Location:
The park is located 1 mile west of the town of Escalante on State Park
Utah State Route 12.
Fires – Campfires may be built in specified areas.
Most developed campsites provide fire pits and Operating Hours:
barbecue grills. Firewood is not generally available Summer: 7 a.m.–10 p.m. Winter: 8 a.m.–6 p.m.
in state parks. Picnickers and campers should bring
appropriate fuel. Gathering firewood or kindling in
Address Inquiries To:
the park is strictly prohibited.
Escalante Petrified Forest State Park
Pets – Pets are allowed at Escalante, but should 710 N. Reservoir Road
be on a maximum 6-foot leash. Service animals are P.O. Box 350
the only animals admitted into park buildings. Do Escalante, UT 84726-0350
not leave pets unattended. Please promptly clean 435-826-4466
up after pets. or
Utah State Parks and Recreation
The Petrified Forest Plants and Animals – All plants, animals, minerals, P.O. Box 146001

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fossils, and other natural features in state parks are Salt Lake City, UT 84114-6001
tep back in time! Climb to the 200-foot 801-538-7220, 877-UT-PARKS
protected. It is unlawful to remove, alter, or destroy
high mesa top, which was once the bottom them. stateparks.utah.gov
of an ancient flood plain. Approximately 135
to 155 million years ago, trees up to 100 feet Fireworks – Unless authorized by the park For Reservations:
tall were uprooted and buried in mud during manager, explosives, fireworks, and firecrackers are 800-322-3770
periods of flooding. prohibited. utahstateparks.reserveamerica.com
Vandalism – Please help keep our parks beautiful.
Groundwater permeated the buried trees over
It is unlawful to mutilate or deface any natural or Utah State Parks Mission:
millions of years. Because they were in an constructed feature. Do not carve on rocks. To enhance the quality of life by preserving and providing
oxygen-free environment, the trees did not natural, cultural, and recreational resources for the
decay. Instead, through a complex geologic Speed Limit – The speed limit on state park roads enjoyment, education, and inspiration of this and future
process, silica solution in the groundwater is 15 mph. The campground speed limit is 5 mph. generations.
replaced organic material in the tree, leaving Wastewater – It is unlawful to dump or drain Information contained in this brochure was accurate at the time of
the cell structure intact. Due to erosion, this wastewater from campers or trailers onto the printing. Policies, facilities, fees, hours, and regulations, etc., change
fallen forest of petrified trees is now exposed. as mandated. For updated information please contact the park.
ground. A sanitary disposal station is provided for
registered campers. The Utah Department of Natural Resources receives federal aid
The beautiful and varied colors of petrified and prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, age,
wood are caused by the presence of other Quiet Hours – 10 p.m.–7 a.m. national origin, or disability. For information or complaints regard-
ing discrimination, contact Executive Director, Utah Department
minerals that entered the wood during the of Natural Resources, P.O. Box 145610, Salt Lake City, UT 84114-
Generator Hours – 7 a.m.–10 p.m.
petrifying process. Iron oxides produce 5610 or Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, 1801 L
Street, NW, Washington DC 20507-001.
orange, red, and yellow, while manganese
oxides create blues, blacks, and purples. Printed 07/21 Utah State Parks
 STATE PARK Things To Do

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ESCALANTE PETRIFIED FOREST
scalante Petrified Forest State Park is wo established trails wind through vast deposits
located in beautiful southern Utah, just of some of the most beautiful petrified wood
44 miles east of Bryce Canyon National found anywhere, with some pieces measuring nearly
Park. Hike along park nature trails through five feet long! Please wear sturdy walking shoes and
a petrified forest and camp along the sunscreen, and carry plenty of drinking water. Sightseeing Reservations

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shores of Wide Hollow Reservoir. At the scalante and the surrounding area are veritable ndividual campsites can be reserved a
Petrified Forest Trail: This 1-mile loop is a moderate
visitor center, examine petrified wood and wonderlands of scenic beauty. From your base minimum of two days in advance of arrival
to strenuous hike, which climbs 200 feet to the top of
fossilized dinosaur bones. camp at the state park, you can explore the high- date and up to 16 weeks in advance from park
the mesa behind the visitor center.
mountain lakes and forests of Boulder Mountain, checkout date. Group-use reservations may be
Trail of Sleeping Rainbows: This .75-mile extension made up to 11 months in advance. Reservations
Park History remote canyons of the Escalante River, and slickrock
off the 1-mile Petrified Forest Trail has the highest are always recommended, and may be made by
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desert country of the famous Hole-in-the-Rock
scalante Petrified Forest State Park
concentrations of petrified wood in the park. The trail crossing at Lake Powell. Plan a visit to nearby Anasazi calling 800-322-3770 or visiting our website at
was established in 1963 to preserve
is very strenuous. Use extreme caution. State Park Museum in Boulder. stateparks.utah.gov.
and protect the unique natural resources of
the area for the enjoyment and education Please do not remove any petrified wood from
of visitors. Wide Hollow Reservoir was the park. Petrified Forest Trail 1-mile loop, moderate to strenuous Visitor Center
Lake View
constructed in 1954 and renovated Trail of Sleeping Rainbows 0.75-mile loop, strenuous Group Area Parking
Visitors who remove petrified wood are breaking the Eagle View Bike Trail For bike trail info, go to trailforks.com (Site B is part of group site) N Trailhead
in 2010. Its water is used by the town

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Nature Trail Points of Interest
law. They may also be taking an additional risk—some   Restrooms
of Escalante for irrigation. A portion of    Showers
say stolen wood is cursed by ancient spirits and brings  B*
reservoir shoreline was added to the park Boat Ramp
nothing but bad luck.
in 1972. A Day-Use Picnic Area
Group Pavilion
Wide Hollow Reservoir offers great fishing for rainbow C ADA Site
trout, largemouth bass, and bluegill. Take a swim or D 11
Plants and Animals lounge on sunny shores, and watch for many species
Lake View 13
9 Water and Electricity
Water Faucet

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Campground 15 8
xplore the desert environment, of raptors, songbirds, and waterfowl. se 12 10 Garbage
rv
7
which is typical of the Upper Sonoran ice
ro
ad
Se
14
Wide Hollow
16
Life Zone. Pinyon and juniper dot the Camp and picnic in a modern, 22-unit campground rv
ice
18
Campground 6 Petrified Wood Cove
Ro
landscape; stands of cottonwood grace complete with tables, fire pits, barbecue grills, culinary ad 17 19
4
the reservoir’s shoreline. Many species water, restrooms with hot showers, and a sanitary 21
Picnic
of wildflowers share the park with small disposal station. A group campsite is also available. 20 Pavilion
22 Host 50-foot
rodents, lizards, waterfowl, birds, deer, Site
No RV Petrified
Parking
Tree
and coyotes. Escalante Petrified Forest
State Park is listed in the Utah Wildlife Escalante Petrified Forest
State Park
To Petrified Forest
Viewing Guide as one of the few wetland  Exit
Petrified Forest
 Trailhead Kiosk
bird viewing sites in southern Utah. Wide Hollow

To

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Reservoir

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