The Toadstool Hoodoos are an easy hike in Southern Utah noted for curiously shaped rocks
I had quite the day! After seeing the Coral Pink Sand Dunes and the Dinosaur Tracks of Kanab, I turned my sights East and followed Highway 89 through Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument. Along the way, I hiked the popular but worthwhile Toadstool Hoodoos. Although there's no much solitude on this trail, seeing the hoodoos is phenomenal!
Directions to the Toadstool Hoodoo Trailhead
Unlike a lot of the destinations in Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument, this one is easy to get to and doesn't require 4-wheel drive. The trailhead is well marked and just off Highway 89. From Kanab, Utah and the junction of Highway 89 and Highway 89A, it is a straight 44.6 mile drive East. If you're coming from the east, its a 25-30 minute drive from Page, Arizona. Its exactly 26.5 miles from the Glen Canyon Dam visitor's center. From either direction, the drive is a magnificent foray into canyon country and colorful cliff walls. Here's a general map of the area-
Toadstools Hoodoo Hike
Although the parking area is easily found, the trail itself is a bit nebulous. An obvious path leads North from the parking lot and generally follows a nameless wash. A few signs mark the way to prevent erosion but in general I found several diverting trails. Given that the trail is inside of a canyon, its hard to get lost but its also hard to gauge distance. You'll probably run into some inexperienced hikers asking how far to the hoodoos.
Depending on how sidetracked you get, its about half a mile to the first hoodoos. This is the largest one and looks almost like Thor's Hammer. I spent 20 minutes meandering around it, trying to get the best photos.
The established trail ends at this large hoodoo but don't stop there. There's a ledge behind this hoodoo that hides several others, nearly resembling that of Stonehenge-
There's a third grouping of hoodoos I discovered just west (or left if looking at the cliffs) from the main grouping. I stumbled upon it while meandering about and it was my favorite grouping of the three. There's several herd paths that lead to this grouping but no signs nor directions- please use the map above for further reference.
These hoodoos were just under the cliff walls and ranged from two stories high to just barely knee high. I've read the scientific and geological context of hoodoo formation but one can't shake a mystical feeling to their presence.
Like many people visiting, I spent the better part of two hours photographing. I came at sunset, like everybody else but I wished I had more time to explore more the back country. Places like this typically have a few easily hiked sights for the tourists and more elusive locations off the map.
After it got dark, I headed back to the car and drove to Page, Arizona. Along the way I passed by dozens of hikes that I'll have to come back for in the future!
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