Petrified Trees- sounds strange huh? It is really hard to think how could a tree get petrified until you see one! I spent a night at Escalante, UT during my recent road-trip. It was extremely cold and after driving in snow for sometime I wanted a break though it wasn't very late in the evening. These petrified trees were was just 5-mins away from the RV park and it was an hour before sunset. So I decided to visit the Escalante Petrified Forest state park.
The park has a mile long loop trail which climbs up the hill where one can see thousands of petrified tree logs lying around. There is an additional 3/4-mile longer and steeper loop for more adventure. Throughout the trail one can notice ancient lava flow.
At first the trail climbs up through rocks. Once on the top of cliff the trail levels out and meanders through a forest of dwarf trees most of them are dry and have weird shapes.
Then one can see the petrified tree logs scattered around. Isn't it amazing to see the dead trees turned into gems? Next an optional 3/4th of a mile trail is very steep which needs scrambling down-up the rocks. There is a big log of petrified wood called Sleeping Rainbow.
From the top of the cliff the view of the reservoir looks great. With clear blue october sky, cotton-y clouds scattered around is a delight to watch. People who cannot climb up to the cliff can enjoy the tree logs near the visitor center.
The state park has $6 entrance fees and it was worth visiting the park for I had never seen a petrified wood before.
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If you want pictures please ask me :)
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Scrapbook- A Travel Blog by Kusum Sanu is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.
Wonderful series from your trip, the petrified trees are neat. It is a cool park to visit. Thanks for sharing, have a happy weekend!
ReplyDeleteThank you Eileen!
DeleteThe petrified trees are amazing aren't they. There is one petrified tree park here in the Napa Valley too, I think it's in St. Helena.
ReplyDeleteI have hiked up Mt. Saint Helena, didn't know about the petrified tree.
DeleteHow odd, I have just been visiting a blog in England that showed the petrified forest on the Devon coast. Here in Australia we have a few but the major one is in Western Australia.
ReplyDeleteLooks like you got yourself an an education.
Oh yes! I didn't know that dead trees would turn into gems!
DeleteVery well documented! I've been to the petrified forest in Arizona, but not this one. Looks amazing!
ReplyDeleteThanks, The Petrified Tree National Park in AZ? That is amazing. I had been there too!
DeleteLovely pictures from the petrified park :)
ReplyDeleteThanks!
DeleteWonderful shots, must be quite impressive to walk between those petrified trees and the remains of them.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing and enjoy your weekend.
Yes! It was an interesting short hike!
DeleteInteresting formations! Thanks for sharing this, Kusum.
ReplyDeleteHi. Very interesting post and photos.
ReplyDeleteThank you Margaret!
DeleteInteresting trees.
ReplyDeleteGood work... Thank you for the valuable information..
ReplyDelete