Toadstool Hoodoos TrailIf you are in the Lake Powell region of Utah and Arizona, I highly recommend a quick stop at the Toadstool Hoodoos trail. This trail is about 1.8 miles round trip with an elevation change of only about 100 feet. The trail offers excellent views of the unique desert landscape in this area.
The trailhead is located off Highway 89; 45 miles east of Kanab and 12 miles west of Big Water, Utah. There are no fees to access the trailhead and it is open year-round. The trail is dog-friendly if your furry friends are on a leash. As tourism increases to the area, preserving the fragile sandstone formations is very important. The first mile of the trail follows a flood drainage path and is fairly level. Before you know it, you will have a short climb to a rock plateau. Visitors are treated to other-worldly views. Hoodoos tower over the red rock landscape like massive mushrooms.
Toadstools are made up of Dakota sandstone and Entrada sandstone. Over thousands of years, erosion has carved away at the soft Entrada sandstone, leaving behind the much harder Dakota sandstone on top.
Along the back wall of the rock plateau, the weather has eroded the sandstone away to create unique alcoves.
Visitors are free to explore the unique area but refrain from touching the sandstone formations. They are fragile and can easily crumble. Drones are not allowed on the Toadstool's Trail, but photographers can still get epic views from the ground.
The best time to hike this trail is in the spring or fall. There is very little shade and summer temperatures can reach extreme temperatures. Make sure to dress in layers and bring plenty of water. It is recommended to bring at least one liter of water per person, for each hour of hiking, and avoid hiking during the middle of the day. The Toadstools Trail is one of many in the Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument. The monument spans 1.9 million acres. Back in the 1870s, geologist Clarence Dutton first conceptualized this region as a huge stairway. Ascending out of the bottom of the Grand Canyon into the sky, with the cliff edge of each layer forming giant steps. Looking at these steps is like looking back in time to millions of years of geologic history. Happy trails!
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