On the way from the “Capitol Reef National Park” to the “Bryce Canyon National Park”, a rough 110 mile drive, the state park at Escalante is a place to see some petrified wood.
This once was real wood, which under special circumstances became petrified. Like in all petrification processes, the organic material is gradually replaced by minerals, before the organic material can be decomposed. Similar to exhibits of dinosaur bones in plain nature, also this petrified forest is presented under the open sky, the way it was found. Again a bit surprising, but really nice, give that such remaining of the distance past usually have to be observed in a museum and are captured behind safety glass. None of which is present here and one is free to touch those trees – though nothing is to be collected of course.
