Outdoor Activity At Escalante Petrified Forest State Park

All of us undoubtedly need to take time off from the humdrum of daily life. Our body, our mind and our spirit need a breather. Nature has put a cap, a limit on everything we indulge in. Ignoring the call of the body and soul to take time to rest can burn us out. Illness and burnout are worse consequences if we fail to rest.

Taking ample time to rest makes one happy, healthy and more fulfilled. But rest comes in many ways. There are those who prefer to rest at home as a break from work. Others choose to stay outdoors to experience something new, savor fresh air and delight in nature. Between these two options, of course, more people choose the latter. Most people have observed that spending time outdoors is great fun, enlightening, and provides a sense of peace and reflection.

Photo Credit: Roig61

One of the places that people love to go for an outdoor vacation is Escalante Petrified Forest State Park. This place, which is located in the southern part of Utah has a myriad of things to offer its many visitors. It has a Wide Hollow Reservoir where boating, canoeing and fishing are popular. Your eyes would be awed with wonder seeing trees that have been petrified into hard wood with kaleidoscopic color and that give you a clue that they have existed for such a long time. You can also find a number of campsites, recreation and vacation parks and scenic group sites which offer people the chance to pass the time.

But before you begin with your tour, get to the on-site visitor centers which offer educational opportunities and displays of petrified wood and dinosaur bones, ammonite, and shell fossils. It is here where you can learn a lot of things about the area before going on the several trails or to enjoy boating, canoeing and fishing in the reservoir. The Escalante Petrified Forest State Park is quite accessible and its proximity to the highway makes it ideal for a day’s stay or more.

The Petrified Forest Trail is one of the most-hiked trails in the park. This is a one-mile loop winding through lava flows and juniper forest, whose berries are used to flavor gin. At the trailhead, pick up the hiking guide containing information on the interesting points along the trail and the spots with petrified wood. It is here where thousands of colorful logs can be found. You can check out these colorful specimens and observe at what time these trees fossilized which perhaps would be over a million years ago.

Another trail that is totally worth hiking on is the Sleeping Rainbow Trail. It is a 75-mile loop that is much steeper than the other trails. It traverses narrow deep gorges with steep sides and requires moderate scrambling and climbing over rocks. Here is where petrified wood is densely concentrated.

After your outdoor trip to Escalante Petrified Forest State Park you will go home with your heart content and your physical and mental well-being at high levels. So try taking time off to experience what the outdoors could do for your overall wellness.