Escalante Petrified Forest State Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Escalante Petrified Forest State Park |
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IUCN Category V (Protected Landscape/Seascape)
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Large piece of petrified wood in Escalante Petrified Forest State Park
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 Escalante Petrified Forest State Park
Location in Utah
Escalante Petrified Forest State Park
Location in the United States
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| Location | Garfield, Utah, United States |
| Area | 1,350 acres (5.5 km2) |
| Elevation | 5,900 ft (1,800 m) |
| Established | 1963 |
| Visitors | 57934 (in 2011) |
| Governing body | Utah State Parks |
Escalante Petrified Forest State Park is a cool state park in Utah, USA. It's located just a short distance north of the town of Escalante. This park is famous for its amazing petrified wood, which is wood that has turned into stone over millions of years!
The park has a visitor center that opened in 1991. Inside, you can see displays of ancient plant and marine fossils. There are also incredible pieces of petrified wood and even fossilized dinosaur bones. These fossils are super old, more than 150 million years old, from a time called the Upper Jurassic Period.
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Discovering Petrified Wood
One of the best ways to explore the park is by hiking the Petrified Forest Trail. This trail is about one mile (1.6 km) long and goes up the side of a hill called a mesa. At the top, you'll find most of the fossilized wood.
What is Petrified Wood?
Imagine a tree falling down a long, long time ago. Instead of rotting away, it got buried quickly by mud and ash. Over millions of years, water seeped through the wood, carrying minerals like silica. These minerals slowly replaced the wood's original cells, turning it into stone. This process is called petrification. The wood keeps its original shape, but it becomes hard like a rock!
Colors of the Ancient Forest
The petrified logs you see in the park are very colorful. They come in shades of red, yellow, white, and black. These colors come from different minerals that were in the water when the wood was turning into stone. The logs are thought to be from ancient conifer trees. Rivers carried these trees a long time ago before they were buried and became petrified, turning into a type of stone called agate.
You can see huge logs, some two feet or more across, along the trail. They are slowly appearing as the ground wears away. Near the start of the trail, there's a giant 50-foot (15 m) long petrified log. It's one of the most complete fossil logs ever found from this ancient time period!
Exploring More Trails
If you're feeling adventurous, you can take the Sleeping Rainbows trail. This is an extra 0.75 mi (1.2 km) loop that branches off the main Petrified Forest Trail. It's a bit tougher, with steeper sections where you might need to climb over some rocks. But the views and discoveries are worth it!
Fun at Wide Hollow Reservoir
The park isn't just about ancient trees; it also has a beautiful lake! Wide Hollow Reservoir was built in 1954. It was originally made to help water the town of Escalante.
Today, the reservoir is a popular spot for water activities. It's stocked with rainbow trout and bluegill, so it's a great place for fishing. You can also go swimming, boating, or just enjoy the water on a warm day.
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Petrified wood in Escalante Petrified Forest taken 10 April 2019
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Petrified wood in Escalante Petrified Forest taken 26 April 2019
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Large piece of petrified wood in Escalante Petrified Forest State Park taken 9 March 2014
This article incorporates public domain material from the website of the Division of Utah State Parks and Recreation.
Images for kids
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Morrison Formation (all three members) exposed at Escalante Petrified Forest State Park,
