Note: While this hike is only 1.6 miles roundtrip, it’s a south-facing route with little to no shade. Be sure to bring plenty of water and sunscreen if you’re hiking here in the summer!
After signing the trail register, walk through the cattle gate and continue north towards the badlands ahead. A brown post marks the trail up the wash; yuccas, sagebrush, and patches of cryptobiotic soil dot the benches.
Around 0.4 mile, you climb out of the wash to bypass a small pouroff, contouring along the right slope until the trail drops back to the sandy bottom. The drainage forks, and a well-defined trail leads up towards the Entrada Sandstone hills.
The trail climbs to the top of a knoll, where it opens into a landscape of hoodoos, alcoves, and balanced rocks. These “toadstools,” or hoodoos, form because Dakota Sandstone boulders perch atop pedestals of softer Entrada Sandstone. As the Entrada erodes away, the harder Dakota forms a cap, and leaves a rock column sheltered from water and wind.
Wander among the unworldly towers, but avoid touching and climbing on these fragile formations. Return the way you came.
From Kanab, Utah: Drive east on Hwy 89 for 44.5 miles. Slow down when you pass the Paria Contact Station, and watch for a wooden BLM sign marked “The Toadstools.” Turn left into the parking area on the north side of the road, which is in the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument.
From Page, Arizona: Drive west on Hwy 89 for 27 miles. Look for the BLM sign and turn right into the parking area on the north side of the road.
Many of the hikes and destinations featured on the Colorado Plateau Explorer are located in remote areas or near rural communities with limited healthcare resources. Counties in southern Utah have closed campgrounds, RV parks, hotels, and Airbnbs in an effort to avoid straining local healthcare systems. We hope you'll use the Colorado Plateau Explorer to plan your trip for the future. These magnificent lands will be here waiting for you then.
We are challenging his reductions in court. Learn more about Trump's monumental mistake ›
Keep tabs on monument lands that were stripped of protection. We'll send you emails with opportunities to weigh in on proposed plans and projects that affect Grand Staircase and other public lands across the plateau.
From blister supplies to water filters, we break down the gear you need to hike and backpack in Grand Canyon National Park.
Read More
On International Women's Day, learn about some of the artists, scientists, and river runners who made history in the Grand Canyon.
Read More
Don't let a little snow keep you from exploring the Grand Canyon. Here's everything you need to know for a winter trip to the big ditch.
Read More