Saturday, October 8, 2016

Sand Hollow State Park, Escalante Petrified Forest State Park, and Scenic Byway 12!

We went to Sand Hollow State Park one more time before leaving Hurricane, Utah.

 The water is so clear we saw a crawdad.
 This is a popular place for fishing, boating, and ATV's. 


Another beautiful sunny day for a hike around the reservoir.
The state parks were a nice option to get away from the crowds.

It was cloudy on Wednesday as we traveled to Escalante, Utah
 Scenic overlook on Byway 12.
This seems pretty drab compared to Bryce and Red Canyon.
But wait there is more. 
We stayed one night in Escalante. After parking the RV we
went for a hike in Escalante Petrified Forest State Park.
It is a one mile loop unless you want to add the 3/4 mile 
 trail which was recommended by the ranger. 
 Of course we took the Sleeping Rainbow Trail! 
Petrified trees were everywhere.



This is a great hike for kids too, but watch out for the cliffs.
 The varied colors of petrified wood are caused by the presence
of other minerals that enter the wood during the petrifying process.
Iron oxides produce orange, red, and yellow, while manganese
oxides create blues, blacks, and purples.

A view of the Million Dollar Highway from Escalante to 
Torrey.

Three reasons not to drive this road at night.
1. You will miss the beautiful views.
2. No guardrail - steep drops.
3. Cows on the road.



The drive along Scenic Byway 12 was amazing!
I found this video on YouTube if you would like to see more.
We would highly recommend this scenic road. 
Fall colors and cooler temperatures. 46 degrees at approx. 9000 elevation.

Great view from our dinette - priceless!

"Keep close to Nature's heart...and break clear away, once in awhile, and climb a mountain or spend a week in the woods. Wash your spirit clean." John Muir





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