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Kitchen Chat and more…
Escalante Petrified Forest is located at Wide Hollow Reservoir (a short 12 minute drive from Slot Canyons Inn) where boating, fishing and swimming are popular. There is plenty of fun to be had while visiting the park! With the reservoir, hiking trails and exceptional camp sites there is surely something for everyone to enjoy here.
There are two camp grounds at Wide Hollow, the Wide Hollow camp site and the Lakeview RV camp site. Both sites border the reservoir and offer stunning views of the lake and the surrounding landscapes. The Fee for Wide Hollow site is $16 and Lakeview is $20. Lakeview offers RV hook-ups with some pull in sites and some back in sites. With all the camp sites you will want to check for availability and make reservations ahead of time, especially in the more popular months; summer-fall.
Enjoy taking short hikes through the hills above Escalante with captivating views of the valley. Though the views are not generally what bring visitors, its the wood! That’s right, hence the name Petrified Forest. As you hike around you will find piles of petrified wood near the trails. Be careful though, it is said that the wood is haunted and taking it from the park will cause you bad luck!
Photo Credit: Roig61 on flickr
The trails wind through groves of what once were growing trees during the prehistoric times! There are two loops to hike, the short loop which is perfect for kids and is fairly easy, about a mile long. Then there is Sleeping Rainbow Trail which is longer, steeper and rockier. Definitely for the more advanced and adventurous hikers. Although Sleeping Rainbow is more difficult, it is well worth the effort. This is where you will find the most petrified wood, with the growth rings and bark perfectly preserved!
Bring a boat, or rent a canoe! This reservoir is the perfect place to cool off during those summer months. Plenty of room to tube, water ski and more! Enjoy swimming and playing water sports with loved ones. Bank fishing is especially popular here for trout and bluegill. The best time to visit is in the spring when the water elevation is relatively higher than the rest of the year.
When you go to the Visitors Center you get the opportunity to see fossilized marine creatures and dinosaur bones! You can also get more information on the hiking, boating, camping and other activities that are permitted inside the park.
Summer is reaching its peak and that means the heat is on! This also means that while hiking, camping, backing and visiting The Grand Staircase you will want to stay extra hydrated to avoid dehydration. Remember, this is a desert landscape, so temperatures can rise and not having enough water can be detrimental to your health here. Sun safety in general is very important here in the desert.
Photo Credit: RIGHTBRAIN on flickr
1. Bring plenty of water to drink.
2. Wear a hat to protect your face from sun damage.
3. Try keeping all outdoor adventuring to early mornings or evenings, avoid mid-day temperatures.
4. Hang out in the shade as much as possible.
5. Wear plenty of sunscreen.
Unfortunately not everyone is prepared for the deserts arid conditions, and many people die each year due to heat stroke, dehydration and all in all poor practice of sun safety. To avoid these situations drink plenty of water while out hiking and camping in the area. Try to avoid drinking alcohol or coffee if possible, and if you have consumed that, then make sure to drink even more water. Start your day out completely hydrated to avoid being already deficient in water in turn causing you to need to drink more while out.
Look for the signs of dehydration to put a stop to it before it gets out of hand, such as a headache. Some more symptoms include; dry eyes, nose bleeds, irritated/dry throat, lungs feeling dry and muscle cramps. It is pertinent that if you start getting dehydrated you drink water immediately and continue to drink 4-6 ounces every 15-20 minutes to help rehydrate you. If your symptoms are worsening – EVEN A LITTLE BIT – you will want to stop hiking and find shade immediately to cool off and rehydrate in. If your symptoms get worse you may need to get to a doctor as soon as possible. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO FINISH A HIKE IF YOU ARE NOT WELL HYDRATED – This is what causes fainting, vomiting (in turn making you more dehydrated) and vertigo and worse, death.
Please try to be as prepared as possible when exploring around these areas and stay hydrated. The desert can be an unforgiving place especially in these climbing temperatures. Safety and health must always come first when exploring any kind of outdoor recreational center.
Have a safety plan in place for if you or anyone in your group experiences any sort of dehydration, heat stroke or heat exhaustion symptoms.
Utah is one of the most visually and physically interesting places to take a road trip. There is so much here to be explored! The best part is that you will never see the same type of landscaping twice. With the Northern parts of utah sticking to the greenery, and the ever-changing Southern Utah desert, it’s no wonder Utah is one of the most desired places to visit for those who love nature and scenic roads to travel. There is beauty and adventure around every turn of the highway. We are not surprised by how many road trippers we accumulate through Escalante.
What started out as a cattle blazing trail is now one of the most picturesque drives in Utah. Pass through some of Utah’s most stunning landscapes and National Park/Monuments like Capital Reef, Grand Staircase and Glen Canyon National Recreational Center. This is a long and classic all American drive that families will love. There are many places to stop and explore with absolutely stunning views. Something that road trippers dream of!
One of the most picturesque and fun unpaved backways. This 47-mile dirt road will take you on an adventure of a lifetime. The conditions of the road are good, although you’ll still want to take a decent SUV or 4×4 just to be safe. In spring the roads can become very muddy making it near impossible to drive for any SUV. The begging of this drive will seem stark and desolate, until you roll down into the Paria River Valley, where the landscape drastically changes from desolate desert to beautiful oasis. Be sure to check out the few trails along the way like The Cottonwood Narrows Trail and more.
If you have not heard of Hole-in-the-Rock road, then you are not road tripping right! This is one of the more famous backways. Most of it is located in Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument, but the last bit takes you through part of Glenn Canyon NRA. This is the original general route that the Pioneers took to find a way across the river, which is now Lake Powell. Should you decide to head further, the road becomes a little more rugged and is best traveled by foot or mountain bike.
Photo Credit: Colby Gutierrez-Kraybill on flickr
These and many more backways here in Utah are what keep our adventurous road trippers coming. The scenery in Utah is next to none, and unbeatable.
Slot Canyons Inn located at
3984 W. Ephraim's Camp Rd., Escalante, UT. 84726
Phone: (435) 826-4901
https://www.slotcanyonsinn.com