Gandy Warm Springs: Utah’s Desert Oasis

by Outdoor Fam Fun | May 4, 2021 | Desert, Featured Posts, Utah, Water

Gandy Warm Springs: Utah’s Desert Oasis

Gandy Warm Springs is an oasis in Utah’s West Desert. Its crystal clear waters offer a way to cool off in the summer heat or warm up on a cold day. You can explore a serene underwater cave that feels more like you are on a tropical island then in the middle of the desert.

KID RATINGS

Fun: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (out of 5)
Difficulty: Very Easy EASY Moderate Hard Very Hard

KEY FEATURES

Terrain: Water, dirt, rocks, water cave
Time Needed: 1 to 2 hours
When to Go: Spring, Summer, Fall

COST

Free

AMENITIES

None at Warm Springs site.
Closest public amenities are at a gas station on the Utah/Nevada border 45 minutes away on U.S. 50.
Bathrooms: If you go on a tour of the Crystal Ball Cave there are bathrooms at the Bates Family Ranch which is less than 10 minutes from the Warm Springs.
Cabins and camping available at Bates Family Ranch just 10 minutes from Warm Springs

THINGS TO BRING

Sunscreen
Swim suit
Water shoes/sandals
Snacks/Lunch
Water
Googles
Kid Floaties
Headlamp
Vehicle that can drive on dirt roads

DETAILS

Gandy Warms Springs is a fun way to cool off when exploring Utah’s West Desert. It is less than 1 hour from Great Basin National Park and only minutes from Devils Gate Slot Canyon and Crystal Ball Cave. The water temperature felt like it was in the 70s. The Utah Geological Survey says the water temperature can reach 81 degrees. The water feels cool on a hot summer day but warm in the cooler seasons.

There are three natural pool areas to visit at Gandy Warm Springs. Check out our Youtube of Gandy Warm Springs!

Middle Pool

The middle pool is the most popular with a small waterfall and a small underground cave to explore. You are able to drive right up to this pool. The pool features a small waterfall and flows into a small cave.

The Cave

The cave was our favorite part. The greenery hanging made it feel like we were in Hawaii instead of the middle of the desert. Make sure to bring a headlamp so you can see in the cave. The water is about four feet deep in parts and you will have to duck and maneuver around low hanging rocks. I do not recommend the cave if you are claustrophobic.

There were a few areas in the cave that my younger kids couldn’t touch in. Be prepared with floaties. My older kids were able to swim. It was nice to have my hiking sandals on in the cave becasue it is rocky and rough in some areas.

Upper Pool

You walk to the upper pool from the middle pool. It is nestled up against the rocks above the middle pool. There were a few old men in this pool when we were there that kindly let my husband take a picture. The upper pool isn’t very deep and is more for sitting than swimming in.

Lower Pool

The Lower Pool is located about 1/2 mile east of the Middle Pool and Cave. We drove from the middle pool to the lower pool. The lower pool area is more of just an area in the river. It has more of a current to it in parts and is deeper than the other two pools.

The kids really like this area. They played in the current with an attached rope and explored underwater with googles. This area was at least four feet deep in places.

PROS & CONS

PROS

Beautiful clear water
Fun water cave exploration
Location is remote, but close to a few other adventures. See below.
Great way to cool off in the hot summer desert

CONS

No amenities on site

Neutral

Remote
The spring doesn’t necessarily feel warm on a hot day

DIRECTIONS

Gandy Warm Springs is located near the ranching community of Gandy Utah in Utah’s West Desert near the Nevada Border. From Hwy 50/Hwy 6 you will turn North on the Gandy Highway and continue about another 28 miles. Gandy Highway is a dirt highway with little traffic.

You will turn left at the Gandy sign which is just before the Bates Family Ranch and continue another almost 3 miles. You will come to two forks in the road. Stay right with both. Follow my map below as there aren’t any signage on most of the desert dirt roads.

The last three miles is a rougher road which has one small area, about 10 feet, that is fairly sandy with a big bump. We were in a truck and did just fine. If you are worried about this part of the road, you can always park and walk the rest of the way. The main pool and cave are less than 1 mile from this sandy area.

See my map below for the location of all three pools.

MAPS

MORE INFO

Utah Geology Survey

OTHER NEARBY ADVENTURES

Crystal Ball Cave (10 mins)

Devil’s Gate Slot Canyon (20 mins)

Great Basin National Park (1 hour)

Hermits Cabin (1 hour 30 mins)

U-dig Fossil Quarry (2 hours)

ABOUT

Hi, I’m Corrine! I’m an outdoor enthusiast and mother of four.

My goal is to inspire you to get outside and create your own amazing memories as a family. Life is precious and there are too many adventures to be had to spend life on the couch or in front of a screen.

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Capitol Reef National Park with Kids

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Capitol Reef National Park with Kids

by Outdoor Fam Fun | May 3, 2021 | Desert, Featured Posts, Hiking, National Parks, Southern Utah, Utah

Capitol Reef National Park with Kids

Explore Capitol Reef National Park with kids and discover an oasis in the middle of red-rock and desert in central Utah. Your kids will love picking fruit, hiking to arches and through canyons, playing in streams, viewing petroglyphs, eating fresh pie from the Gifford House, junior ranger activities and more. Whether you are old or young Capitol Reef is an adventure for the entire family.

KID RATINGS

Fun: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (out of 5)
Difficulty: Very Easy Easy Moderate Hard Very Hard
(Activities range from very easy to hard depending on what you are doing)

KEY FEATURES

Terrain: Dirt, sand, streams, rivers, rock, exposed trails, shaded trails
Time Needed: A few hours to a few days
When to Go: Spring, Summer, Fall

Hiking Distance: 1.5 miles to 6 miles, depending on the trail

COST

$20 per vehicle for a 7 day pass

Free if you have a 4th grader with Every Kid Outdoors program

AMENITIES

Bathrooms at Visitors Center and Fruita Campground
Camping and water available at Fruita Campground within Capitol Reef National Park
Lodging in Torrey, Utah about 10 minutes from park entrance

THINGS TO BRING

Food for camping or snacks for day use
Water
Sunscreen
Camping gear if camping
Good hiking shoes
Weather appropriate outdoor attire
Water shoes/sandals if planning on playing/hiking in streams

DETAILS

Capitol Reef is a lesser known National Park within Utah, but don’t let that detour you from visiting with your kids. This park is an absolute gem and I often refer people here instead of the busier parks in Utah.

Capitol Reef National Park with Kids is a great park choice because of the variety of activities. See below for ideas for Things to Do during your visit.

We spent a weekend at Capitol Reef National Park with kids and then ended up going back the next weekend to get a hike in we didn’t have time for the week before. We stayed at the Fruita Campground and loved being close to the main hikes, junior ranger programs, orchards and Gifford house. Capitol Reef also hosts my favorite all time family hike – Sulphur Creek.

Fruita is the main hub of Capital Reef National Park. The area was habited by Fremont Native Americans between 300 and 1300 BC. Latter Day Saint Settlers moved to the area in the late 1800s and started a small farming community that became self sufficient. The orchards, land and historic buildings are now all part of the National Park program and is enjoyed by people visiting from all over the world.

We spent our time in the Fruita area but there are two other more remote areas of the park: the Waterpocket District in the southern areas of the park and Cathedral Valley in the north. We hope to explore these areas of the park soon.

THINGS TO DO WITH KIDS

Fruit Picking

My kids loved picking fruit from the Fruita Orchards! There are over 2,000 fruit trees including apples, cherries, peaches, pears apricots that are available for public picking. Call (435) 425-3791 to find out if there is fruit ripe when you are visiting or check the Park’s Facebook page.

Baked Goods at The Gifford House

The Gifford house was originally built in 1908 and housed a few different farming families before it become unoccupied. It now serves as a historical building, gift shop and a great place to purchase fresh baked goods like pies and cinnamon roles. Get there early in the day. They often run out of pie by the end of the day.

Wade in Sulphur Creek or Fremont River

Need to cool off after hiking in Capitol Reef National Park? Jump in one of the rivers of streams in the park. We had so much fun wading and swimming here. It was a great way to spend an afternoon after a morning hike.

A great wading location is in Sulphur creek between the Ripple Rock Nature Center and the Gifford House. Access Sulphur Creek through the large grassy area with picnic tables. You can also hike/wade Sulphur Creek from the back side of visitors center.

Bridge over Sulphur Creek at Capitol Reef National Park

Camping

Fruita Campground is the only developed campground within the park and has 71 sites that include tent, RV and trailer spots. It truly is an oasis in the desert with green grass and large mature trees providing great shade in the summer.

The campground is also surrounded by tall red rock and fruit orchards. It has flush toilets and well kept facilities. The campground is also near the visitors center, Gifford House, hiking opportunities, river access, ranger programs and more. I definitely recommend Fruita Campground to anyone visiting Capitol Reef.

Fruita Campground is open to reservations at www.recreation.gov on a 6 month rolling basis from March to October and is first come first in the winter months. Book early if you want to snag a spot at this beautiful campground.

Primitive camping is also available at the Cathedral Valley Campground and Cedar Mesa Campground. Pit toilets are available but there is no water. 4×4 vehicle required. These are good places to camp if you are exploring the more remote areas of the park.

Fruita Campground

Petroglyph Viewing

Right off of Utah State Route 24 there are large walls of Petroglyphs. These wall drawings were created by the Fremont Native Americans who lived in the area from 300 to 1300 BC. There are permanent binoculars for viewing or bring your own. Make sure to check out both boardwalks!

Petroglyph Panel at Capitol Reef National Park

Wild-life Viewing

Keep your eyes peeled for deer, lizards, yellow bellied marmots, bats the rare big horn sheep and more. While staying at the Fruita Campground we saw deer every evening.

Mule Deer at Fruita Campground

Ranger Programs

There are three daily Ranger Programs May to October. If you stay at Fruita Campground in the summer there are daily Ranger Programs located at the campground amphitheater.

We attended an evening program about bighorn sheep and fell in love with them — We bought a stuffed animal bighorn which we affectionally call Ramy. Ramy comes with us on our road trip adventures now. The kids were determined to see a real-life bighorn sheep at Capitol Reef. Our seven year old was adamant she saw one traversing a hill — I think she actually did. She was our best animal spotter in Yellowstone.

Amphitheatre at Fruita Campground

Junior Ranger Program

We love getting Junior Ranger books from National Park visitor centers. The Junior Ranger program keeps the kids busy while we drive and helps them learn about each park and how to preserve it. At Capitol Reef there is a Junior Ranger Geology Badge class at the Ripple Rock Nature Center. We enjoyed learning about the geology of Capitol Reef and the kids got a cool badge at the end.

Hiking

Capitol Reef is home to many amazing hikes! All the hikes we did were in the Fruita area. We hope to go back soon and check out the more remote areas of the park. The hikes we did are listed below. Follow this link for other hiking options in the park.

Sulphur Creek: 1.5 miles – 6 miles (you choose), out and back or one way

One of my top 3 favorite hikes we have done as a family (and we have done a lot of hiking). I have an entire blog post and youtube video dedicated to this incredible hike. The full 6 miles requires a little preparation so make sure to check out my Sulphur Creek blog post if interested. This hike follows Sulphur Creek and has a few water falls and pool areas. SO MUCH FUN!

Capitol Gorge: 2 miles, 80 feet elevation gain, out-and-back trail.

This hike takes your through a red rock canyon and then up to “the tanks.” These pockets in the red rock hold water and wildlife at times throughout the year. The tanks were dry when we were there in August, but it was still a fun hike. The canyon walls keep you shaded most of the way and there are fun areas in the red rock the explore.

The Tanks

Hickman Bridge: 1.8 miles, 400 feet elevation gain, out-and-back with a loop at the arch.

Great hike to a large arch. Jump in the river at the end to cool off.

Hickman Bridge

Cassidy Arch: 3.4 miles, 700 ft elvation gain, out-and-back hike.

Hike to one of the few arches you can actually walk on! Incredible! This hike has some steep drop-offs so might not be good for kids who wander.

Star Gazing

Capitol Reef is a designated International Night Sky Park. This means on a clear, moonless night your kids may see more stars than they ever have before. Our friends brought a telescope and we were able to see some stars and planets up close. You might be able to catch a ranger led Star Talk program at the Gifford House. Check the visitors center for details.

Historical Buildings

Visit the Fruita Schoolhouse, Gifford Barn or Gifford house. We enjoyed peering in the one-room Fruita Schoolhouse and imagining what school was like in the early 1900s. The school is set up like it would have been 100 years ago.

Fruita Schoolhouse

Scenic Drive

Take 8 mile Scenic Dr. from Fruita to see some of the geologic wonders of Capitol Reef National Park. This road is paved and RVs and trailers welcome. The two dirt roads, Grand Wash and Capitol Gorge are worth the detour on the way. These areas have picturesque high red rock. RVs and trailers may not be able to make it on these two dirt roads.

PROS & CONS

PROS

Not as busy as other Utah National Parks
Variety of activities available (fruit picking, ranger programs, historical buildings, water hikes, wading etc)
Easy to hard hiking options
Wildlife viewing
Water available to play in

CONS

Hot in the summer (hike early/late – include a water hike or wading in the afternoon)

DIRECTIONS

Captiol Reef National Park is located in south central Utah off of Utah State Route 24. It is about 15 minutes east of the town Torrey.

MAPS

MORE INFO

National Park Service

OTHER NEARBY ADVENTURES

Fish Lake National Forest (1 hour)

Goblin Valley State Park (1 hour 15 min)

Lower Calf Creek Falls (1 hour 15 min)

Escalante Petrified Forest State Park (1 hour 45 min)

Arches National Park (2 hours 15 min)

Bryce Canyon National Park (2 hours 15 min)

Canyonlands National Park (2 hours 30 min)

Peek-a-boo & Spooky Slot Canyons (2 hour 30 min)

ABOUT

Hi, I’m Corrine! I’m an outdoor enthusiast and mother of four.

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Peak a boo and Spooky Slot Canyons with Kids

by Outdoor Fam Fun | Apr 30, 2021 | Desert, Slot Canyons, Southern Utah, Utah

Peak a boo and Spooky Slot Canyons with Kids

Peek-A-Boo and Spooky Slot Canyons in Grand Staircase Escalante Monument, Utah are an out-of-this-world adventure that your kids will always remember. You will feel like you are on a different planet as you traverse the rock formations of Peek-A-Boo and skim through the narrow walls of Spooky. This is a slot canyon adventure your family will never forget.

KID RATINGS

Fun: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (out of 5)
Difficulty: Very Easy Easy MODERATE HARD Very Hard (Moderate to Hard depending on how far you hike)

KEY FEATURES

Distance: 3.5 – 5.5 miles depending on the parking lot
Elevation Gain: 700 ft
Terrain: Desert, rocks, sand, exposed trail, slot canyons
Time Needed: 2.5 to 5 hours
When to Go: Spring, Summer (morning or evening), Fall

COST

Free

AMENITIES

Vault bathrooms at trailhead, but NO water
Restaurants, gas and lodging available in Escalante, 60 minutes away
Dispersed camping available on BLM land

THINGS TO BRING

Plenty of water, 1 to 2 liters per person
Snacks/Lunch
Good hiking shoes
Download all trails map
Small hiking backpack, a large backpack will not fit through the slots
Sunscreen
Vehicle that can handle driving on bumpy dirt road

DETAILS

Peek-A-Boo and Spooky are my kids favorite hikes so far. Such a fun adventure! We hiked with an 11, 10, 7 and 2 year old without any problems. Our 2 year old hiked 90% of the slots on his own, barefoot (his shoes wouldn’t stay on!). You don’t need to bring a rope or special climbing equipment.

This adventure is not for everyone. If you are overweight or have a larger frame, some of the slots in Spooky may be too tight for you. It is only about 10 inches wide in some areas. Spooky is also not a good slot canyon if you are claustrophobic.

Peek-A-Boo on the other hand is wider and should not be a problem for most people. You can do Peek-A-Boo and then turn back the way you came if you are not able to do Spooky.

Slot Canyon Safety

It is very important to check weather conditions before attempting to hike any slot canyon. Flash flooding can happen creating a dangerous situation in slots. Before hiking any narrow canyons we check the National Weather Service at www.weather.gov/slc/flashflood for flash flood potential. We only attempt to hike if flash floods are not expected.

You can also check with the local BLM office on the likelihood of a flash flood. The closest BLM office to Peek-a-boo and Spooky is in Escalante:

Escalante Interagency Center

Address: 755 W. Main, Escalante, UT 84726
Phone: (435) 826-5499

The Drive

Peek-A-Boo and Spooky slot canyons are located within Grand Staircase Escalante Monument. You access these slot canyons via Hole in the Rock Road outside of the town of Escalante.

Hole in the Rock Road is very bumpy and impassable if there is rain. A 4×4 is recommended, but not required. We have a truck and it was a bumpy ride, but doable. I saw a couple of cars that were making the drive. Drive slow and make sure to have a spare tire just in case. Follow signs for Dry Fork Trailhead.

The Trailhead

There are two different trailheads, both located off of BLM 252. We didn’t know this at time of hiking and ended up at the trailhead that makes the hike longer, closer to 5.5 miles. Both trailheads are accessed from from Hole in the Rock Road, Bureau of Land Management (BLM) road 200. There are bathrooms at the Dry Fork Trailhead we parked at but no water. Pack plenty of water beforehand. The second trailhead is located a bit further up BLM 252 and cuts at least 1.5 miles off the hike from what I can tell from google maps.

The hike is an out-and-back combined with a loop. The first and last miles of the hike are the same trail just opposite directions and are completely exposed in the desert. We ended the hike the first week of June around 1 pm. This was hot! This last mile of the hike was not enjoyable.

Despite the desert heat of the last mile we still loved this hike. I recommend this hike in the spring and fall. The slots are nice and cool, but the beginning and end along with the trail between Peek-A-Boo and Spooky slots are completely exposed. This exposed section of the hike is shortened if you hike from the closer trail head. See my Maps section below.

The first mile has beautiful views of the desert and then descends down some slick rock. Follow the trail markers.

FOnce you level out again you will come to a ravine and then an opening with a sign.

From this sign, Dry Fork Canyon will be to your left, Peek-A-Boo will be ahead slightly to your right, and Spooky will be to your right about 0.6 miles.

Peek-A-Boo and Spooky form a loop. You can choose which direction you want to hike. I recommend doing the loop clockwise starting with Peek-A-Boo. By hiking clockwise first, the narrow spooky slot will be mostly downhill.

Peek-a-boo

Peek-a-boo will be your first slot if you hike in the clockwise direction. The entrance to peek-a-boo requires a short scramble. I climbed the Peek-A-Boo entrance first and then helped the kids up as needed from the top while my husband helped at the bottom.

Entrance into Peek-a-boo Slot Canyon from Clockwise Direction

As you enter Peek-A-Boo you will feel like you are on a different planet – so many amazing rock formations. We loved exploring the red rock and climbing over and under the sandstone. Around each corner was something new and fun.

Peek-A-Boo ends by ascending upward slightly to open desert. Follow the trail markers (stacked rocks) for about a half mile through the sand.

You will then descend down a sandy path to the entrance of Spooky.

Spooky

Spooky starts after your hike on the open desert path. The red rock starts wide and then gets more narrow as you go further into the slot. Spooky is more narrow than Peek-a-boo. Some places are only 10 inches wide. Do not attempt if you are overweight or claustrophobic. We stopped for lunch in an open area at the beginning.

In Spooky you will come to some large boulders which look impassable.

However, as you descend you will find a rope you can use to slowly lower yourself down to continue on the trail. On All Trails reviews I found that there is sometimes a hold up of people in this area because it takes a little bit of time to get through. Be aware of this if you are headed to Peek-a-boo and Spooky on a holiday weekend or spring break.

I would recommend at least 2 adults if hiking with kids to help with this area. I helped the kids as they used the rope to lower themselves. I passed our 2 year old down to my husband.

This kids loved adventuring through Spooky’s narrow walls. I had to turn sideways to fit through some of the slots. We brought a child hiking backpack carrier which was too wide when we needed to fit through sideways. I ended up just holding it out in front of me when I needed to walk sideways.

Getting Back

After Spooky you will take a left and head the 0.6 miles in Dry Fork back to the sign, finishing the slot canyon loop. You then hike out of the ravine the way you came. Make sure you have water left for this exposed last mile. If you parked at the closer trailhead, this section will be a lot shorter and more enjoyable.

Exit to Spooky Slot Canyon if Hiking Counterclockwise

Dry Fork Narrows

We were too tired to hike Dry Fork Narrows by the time were finished Spooky. I hiked just a little of it by myself. Dry Fork Narrows are a good option if you don’t like the tight squeezes in Spooky. It is a flat and wider trail.

PROS & CONS

PROS

Free
Super fun slot canyons
Beautiful and unique scenery
Fun for all ages
Many other amazing outdoor adventures within 2 hours

CONS

No water at trailhead
Accessed via bumpy dirt road
Exposed trail at beginning and end
Spooky skinny and not appropriate for people who are larger in size

DIRECTIONS

Peek-a-boo and Spooky Slot Canyons are located within Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument, about 33 miles south west of the Town of Escalante Utah. It is about an hour drive from Escalante due to road conditions. Heading west on Highway 12 from Escalante take Hole in the Rock Road for 26 miles.

Hole in the Rock Road is bumpy and sandy. We went 30 to 40 MPH on this road in a truck with 4 wheel drive. We saw a few cars and smaller SUVs drive this road. You may just need to take it slower. Do not attempt to drive on this road if it is muddy. After 26 bumpy miles on Hole in the Rock Road, turn left onto BLM road 252 and follow this to one of the two trailheads.

The trailhead is officially called Dry Fork Trailhead. There are signs directing you. There is also an overflow parking area not far off of the Hole in the Rock Road as you drive to the trailheads. Follow my maps below. Try to park at the lot closest to the trailhead pin. This will make your hike through the desert shorter.

The trail is marked with trail-markers, however I read reviews of a few people getting confused between Spooky and Peek-A-Boo slots. It might be a good idea to download the All Trails map for this hike onto your phone before attempting.

MAPS

MORE INFO

National Weather Service

The Hiking Project

All Trails

OTHER NEARBY ADVENTURES

Devils Garden (30 mins)

Twenty Mile Dinosaur Trackway (40 mins)

Petrified Forest State Park (1 hour)

Lower Calf Creek Falls (1 hour 15 mins)

Zebra Slot Canyon (1 hour 30 mins)

Anasazi State Park (1 hour 30 minutes)

Kodachrome Basin State Park (1 hour 45 mins)

Hole in the Rock Road (3 mins to 1 hour)

Bryce Canyon National Park (2 hours)

ABOUT

Hi, I’m Corrine! I’m an outdoor enthusiast and mother of four.

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Petrified Forest State Park with Kids: Escalante, Utah

by Outdoor Fam Fun | Apr 28, 2021 | Desert, Hiking, Southern Utah, Utah, Water

Petrified Forest State Park with Kids: Escalante, Utah

Escalante Petrified Forest State Park with Kids is a must-see stop when exploring Grand Staircase Escalante Monument in Utah with your family. Walk through geological history as you explore colorful, 150 million year old petrified wood on the Petrified Forest Nature Trail or escape the southern Utah heat in the cool waters of Wide Hollow Reservoir.

KID RATINGS

Fun: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (out of 5)
Difficulty: Very Easy Easy Moderate Hard Very Hard (Ranges from Very Easy to Moderate depending on what you are doing)

KEY FEATURES

Hiking Distance: 0.1 to 3 miles
Hiking Elevation Gain: Flat to steep, depending on the hike
Terrain: Sand, rocks, petrified wood, reservoir
Time Needed: An hour to few days
When to Go: spring, summer, fall

COST

$6 Day use fee

$20 – $28/Night if camping

AMENITIES

Flush toilets
Showers
Camping
Water
Reservoir for swimming/boating/kayaking/fishing
Picnic tables
Paddle boards/kayaks for rent
Town of Escalante minutes away with gas stations and small grocery stores.

THINGS TO BRING

Camping gear if camping
Water/sand toys
Paddle boards/kayaks if you own them
Life jackets
Good hiking shoes/gear
Dogs allowed

DETAILS

Visiting Petrified Forest State Park with kids is a great way to learn about geology and have some fun at the same time. It is also a perfect base camp for visiting Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument. You can stop here for a few hours to explore the petrified wood or cool off in the reservoir or stay several days. We stayed three nights and wished we had a few more days to spend.

The town of Escalante is located just a few miles from Petrified Forest State Park. Within the town of Escalante there are visitor’s centers and historical sites as well as access to gas stations and small grocery stores. It was nice to be near some civilization, we were able to grab some eggs for breakfast we had forgotten and slushies to help us cool off.

Petrified wood at Escalante Petrified Forest State Park

Petrified Forest State Park is definitely somewhere we will stay again. We loved that we were near the many outdoor adventures of Grand Staircase Escalante Monument. There are endless outdoor adventures in this 1 million acre protected area. We were able to explore the Spooky and Peak-a-boo slot canyons within the monument during our stay. These slot canyons were absolutely incredible and such a surreal experience.

Peek-a-Boo Slot Canyon, Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument (1 hour away)

Things to Do

Petrified Wood Viewing

Petrified wood can be found in a viewing area near the nature trail trailhead. An entire tree is displayed as well as several pieces. This area is great for any age and is ADA accessible. There is also a large petrified tree near the main bathrooms. You can also hike the Nature Trail and the Trail of Sleeping Rainbows to see more.

Water Recreation

Wide Hollow Reservoir is located within Petrified Forest and is a refreshing place to escape the southern Utah heat. It is nestled along the layers of red and white rock providing a one of a kind scenic backdrop.

The beach area of the reservoir is located across the reservoir from the entrance and the campground. We drove to the beach from the campground because it is probably about a half mile walk.

We had so much fun playing in the sand, swimming, kayaking and paddle boarding. We own paddle boards and kayaks, but there are also rentals if you don’t have your own at Float Werks Rental located just outside the park. The views while paddle boarding and kayaking were absolutely stunning. I definitely recommend doing this if you have time.

There is a dock and boat launch located right next to the camping area near the entrance of the park. We had fun dock jumping for the first time. There were several boaters while we were there water skiing.

Hiking

Petrified Forest Nature Trail is a 2 mile trail that leads to several deposits of petrified wood. The trailhead is located next the main parking lot just after the park entrance. This trail is a steep upward climb for the first quarter mile.

It levels out for a loop on a plateau where you can view a few deposits of petrified wood and then descends a quarter mile on the same trail back to the beginning. There are points of interest numbered and marked along the way. We enjoyed following along with a handout from the trailhead to learn about each point of interest.

Off the Nature Trail there is an additional ¾ mile loop called Trail of Sleeping Rainbows. This trail descends into a steep ravine and then back up to connect into the Petrified Forest Trail. The ravine area has the best and most petrified wood deposits in the park. Definitely worth the steep decline and ascent.

Camping

There is a small 20 site campground located within Petrified Forest State Park. We stayed three nights and had plenty to do within the park as well as in the surrounding Escalante National Monument. This is a place we will stay in again. We loved the beautiful red rock backdrop and lake scenery.

Most of the camping spots have shade provided by a nearby tree or a built in shade structure. We stayed in campsite number W108. The scenery was beautiful at this site but the tent area wasn’t big enough for our tent so we had to set up our tent on part of the parking spot. The restrooms were well kept and warm showers were available.

The campground at Petrified Forest State Park books on a 4 month rolling basis. I recommend planning ahead and booking 4 months in advance if you are able. The campground fills up quickly in the late spring and early summer.

Grand Staircase Escalante Monument

There are endless adventures in this more than one million acre national monument. While staying at the Petrified Forest State Park we explored the Peak-a-boo and Spooky Slot Canyons. These were absolutely incredible. There are dinosaur tracks, waterfalls, and other hikes and slot canyons nearby.

Hisotrical Sites

There are several historical sites and points of interest within the city of Esclante including the Escalante Heritage Center and the Escalante Interagency Vistor’s Center.

PROS & CONS

PROS

Water activities nearby to help escape summer heat
Central location to explore Grand Staircase Escalante Monument
Shade structures available
Water rentals available
Beautiful scenery
Petrified wood viewing

CONS

Hot in summer for hiking – start early morning or go in evening
Campground is small and fills quickly

DIRECTIONS

Utah’s Petrified Forest State Park is located off of scenic highway 12 just a couple miles northwest of the town of Esclante, UT. Put Petrified Forest State Park, UT in your GPS device to get to the right location.

MAPS

MORE INFO

Petrified Forest State Park official page

Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument

OTHER NEARBY ADVENTURE

Upper Calf Creek Falls (30 mins)

Devils Garden (30 mins)

Kodachrome State Park (50 mins)

Twenty Mile Dinosaur Trackway (50 mins)

Peek-a-boo and Spooky Slot Canyons (1 hour)

Bryce Canyon National Park (1 hour)

Willis Creek Slot Canyon (1 hour)

Anasazi State Park Museum (1 hour)

Capital Reef National Park (90 minutes)

ABOUT

Hi, I’m Corrine! I’m an outdoor enthusiast and mother of four.

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How to Find Sunstones in Utah

by Outdoor Fam Fun | Apr 27, 2021 | Desert, Utah

How to Find Sunstones in Utah

Finding Sunstones in Utah is not hard if you know where to go and what to look for. Watch the ground glitter in the sun from sunstones left by an ancient volcanic eruption at Sunstone Knoll. This unique site, located just outside Delta, Utah contains a vast ground sprinkled with tiny yellow-colored sunstones, just waiting for you and your family to collect.

KID RATINGS

Fun: ⭐⭐ (out of 5)
Difficulty: VERY EASY Easy Moderate Hard Very Hard

KEY FEATURES

Distance: Short walk
Elevation Gain: 100 feet or so to the top of knoll or flat if you stay below knoll
Terrain: Dirt and rocks, broken glass
Time Needed: 15 minutes to 1 hour
When to Go: Anytime of the year when its sunny. Make sure to go when its sunny so it is easier to see the sunstones.

COST

Free

AMENITIES

No bathrooms or water at Sunstone Knoll but Delta is only about 20 minutes away and has gas stations and grocery stores.

THINGS TO BRING

Sunscreen, trail exposed
Bucket for gathering
Shovel, if desired
Pick-axe or hammers, if desired
Water, especially in summer months
Snacks
Sunscreen (no shade
Dogs allowed

DETAILS

We love hunting for rocks and minerals! After hunting for fossils during social distancing of COVID-19 we went searching for Sunstones at Sunstone Knoll, near Delta Utah.

Sunstone Knoll was a volcanic vent formed around 1 million years ago and is only about 20 minutes south of Delta, Utah. The susnstones are yellowish in color and range in size from 1/8 to 1 inch. The best place to find sunstones is on the east side of the knoll.

We spent 30 minutes gathering the small sunstones all over the ground. You can also break rocks open to find more, but there were plenty of small stones on the ground for us to gather easily with kids. Make sure to go on a clear sunny day so you can see the sunstones glitter the ground. You cant see the glittering from the picture but they were glittering for us.

We took a short walk to the top of the knoll where you get a 360 degree view of the Great Basin area. Even our 2-year-old could climb to the top.

There is a lot of broken glass in the area which look a lot like the sunstones, so make sure your little kiddos (or adults) aren’t picking up broken glass, unless you are helping clean up to throw it away.

The knoll can be visited any time of the year, however the area is very hot in the summer with highs averaging in the 90s. We visited in March. The area might be covered in snow at times during the winter. Check weather forecasts before you go.

PROS & CONS

PROS

Easy and fun for kids
Does not take a lot of time

CONS

Glass can be mistaken as sun-stones
No amenities on site
Not worth the long drive just for sun-stones, do other things in Delta in conjunction to make the trip worth it. This is why we rated this as 2 stars for fun.

DIRECTIONS

Sunstone knoll is a small hill in the middle of a flat desert 20 minutes south of Delta, Utah. It is located directly east of highway 257. You will need to drive across the train tracks off of highway 257 to access it.

The road from the highway to the knoll is dirt, but it should be accessible with most vehicles. Our van handled the dirt road just fine. You can either park your vehicle after you cross the tracks, where you will have to walk to the east side of the knoll, or simply drive around on the dirt road to the east side

MAPS

MORE INFO

Utah Geologic Survery

OTHER NEARBY ADVENTURES

U-dig Fossils or Fossil Finding on BLM land (1 hour)

Paul Bunyan’s Woodpile hike (1 hour)

Fort Deseret (10 minutes)

Fort Deseret is also right off highway 257, about 10 miles outside of Delta. If you are traveling to Sunstone Knoll from the Delta area it will be off Highway 257 on the right side. Fort Deseret was built in 1965 during the Utah Black Hawk War to protect settlers against attacks of the local Ute Tribe. It is made of mud and straw and is still standing over 150 years later.

ABOUT

Hi, I’m Corrine! I’m an outdoor enthusiast and mother of four.

Fossil Hunting: Delta, Utah

by Outdoor Fam Fun | Apr 26, 2021 | Desert, Utah

Fossil Hunting: Delta, Utah

Fossil Hunting in Utah is a great way to dig into Utah’s rich geological history with your kids. You can find and keep your own fossils in fossil beds near Delta, Utah. This is where the classroom meets real-life and your kids can discover a love of geology and paleontology.

KID RATINGS

Fun: ⭐⭐⭐ (out of 5)
Difficulty: Very Easy Easy MODERATE Hard Very Hard

KEY FEATURES

Terrain: Dirt, rocks, shale. Bumpy dirt road to access fossil area.
Time Needed: 1 to 2 hours
When to Go: Spring, Summer (morning or evening), Fall

COST

Free on Bureau of Land Management (BLM) land.

U-Dig Fossil Quarry

There is a paid option up the road about a mile from the BLM land called U-dig Fossils. This private, 40 acre quarry provides tools and instructions on fossil hunting. We went fossil hunting when U-dig wasn’t open so I can’t speak to the success of fossil finding there. However, other blogs have mentioned that the overall fossil quality is better there than on the BLM land.

Prices at U-dig Fossils (as of April 2021):

2 Hours – Ages 7 to 16: $19 Age 17 and older: $33

4 hours – Ages 7 to 16: $33 Age 17 and older: $49

8 hours – Ages 7 to 16: $58 Age 17 and older: $90

Ages 6 and under are free with a paying adult

Personally, I think 2 hours is plenty of time to fossil hunt. Especially when you are in a paid quarry where there are more fossils.

AMENITIES

There are no bathrooms or water on BLM land. The closest amenities are about an hour away in Delta, UT. However, the U-dig quarry does have toilet facilities if you pay to find fossils.

THINGS TO BRING

Bucket
Shovel
Pickaxe or hammers
Lots of water, especially in the summer months
Snacks
Sunscreen, no shade in the area
Spare tire, just in case
If going to U-dig Fossils they will provide all the tools you need to find fossils.

DETAILS

During the social distancing of COVID-19 our family found out about a place to hunt for trilobites and fossils in Utah for free! So much fun!

This area is on BLM land, about 1-hour outside of Delta Utah. It is literally in the middle of nowhere, but don’t worry, I have directions, maps and GPS coordinates below. The last 45 minutes of the drive is on a dirt road. We take our mini-van everywhere and it did just fine on the dirt and gravel. Keep your eyes out for wild horses. We saw a few on the drive!

How to Find Fossils

The location for fossil hunting is in a ravine where the side of a hill has been visibly cut out by a tractor. There are mounds of rock where the side of the hill has been removed, exposing layers of shale.

There are a few different methods to find fossils

1) Simply pick up pieces of shale that is already broken and inspect to see if you find a fossil. This is how we found the majority of ours.

2) Break apart the shale with your hands to find fossils in between the layers of hardened mud.

3) Using a shovel, hammer or pickaxe you can chip away at shale that is either still attached to the hill or larger pieces that are on the ground.

We spent only an hour looking and found many plant fossils, one full trilobite and several imprints of trilobite fossils. A couple of my kids spent most of the time just climbing up the shale hill, only spending a few minutes looking, and they still found a few fossils.

A bit of patience is required to find quality fossils. Our 10 year old had this patience and was able to find a whole trilobite.

This is a great family adventure because it is fun and easy for the entire family. My kids love learning about rocks, minerals and fossils so it was so fun to be our own paleontologists and geologists for the day instead of just seeing fossils in a museum.

PROS & CONS

PROS

Fairly easy to find fossils
Fun place to explore
Free!!
Paid quarry near-by

CONS

Long drive on a mildly bumpy dirt road
No amenities nearby unless going to private quarry

DIRECTIONS

We went fossil hunting about 60 minutes west of Delta, Utah. The GPS coordinates are 39.345756,-113.275586. You can also follow my map below.

From Delta, head west on Highway 6 (also called Highway 50). You will turn north on a dirt road called Death Canyon Road. You will then follow this for about 45 minutes. Off Death Canyon Road you will see a fork in the road to the right, head to this fork and then take a left at this fork. The area we searched for fossils is about 0.1 miles off of this fork.

MAPS

To BLM Land

U-Dig Fossils

To get to the U-Dig Fossils private quarry, stay on Death Canyon Road for another mile after the BLM quarry. There will be signage to direct you when to turn for the quarry.

MORE INFO

As I was looking at other blogs about trilobite hunting afterward, I found that there is another BLM quarry about 1 to 2 miles from where we were hunting that looks awesome. I wish I would have known about it before we went. Follow this link for info and directions to the additional location. Also, here is the approximate GPS coordinates: Lat: 39 Deg 21′ 29″ N and Long: 113 Deg 15′ 58″ W.