Ted's Hiking World Red Toadstools
near Big Water, Utah

April 15, 2011

Having spent the night in Page, Arizona, and having some extra time on this, the second of a planned ten-day excursion, I retrace some mileage westward in the early morning to visit this little place.

A descriptive sign and visitor register identify the roadside trailhead near the Paria Ranger Station.  It is about a three-quarter-mile walk on packed dirt up to the edge of a cliff.

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The route meanders in and out of the dry wash

Also known collectively as Wahweap Hoodoos, the toadstool-like formations in the Rimrocks area are composed primarily of red sandstone.  Nearby, another site called the White Toadstools features mostly white-colored columns with red tops.

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Red Toadstool

Behind the tall guy are some shorter companions.  One is white; the others are red.

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Interracial family

There is a little ridge to cross in order to continue my exploration.  It proves to be somewhat more challenging than expected; but I am not the first one to go this way, and careful footwork saves the day.

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Easier to go around, but more fun to go over

I have seen no flowers today — just some strange little stick-like plants sprouting from the caked mud.  No other toadstools are around here, either.

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Desert Trumpet Buckwheat

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A dead-end path *
Cryptobiotic soil at work

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Toadstool Manor

I opt for a shortcut back, but soon a cliff stymies my progress.  Rather than retrace any steps, I opt to descend the least difficult of several potential escape routes.  A short stretch of hands-on scrambling does the job.

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This route looks okay so far *
Oops!  The trail is way down there

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The route becomes more interesting as it leads up and over the slickrock


§: This fun diversion took little more than an hour.  A recommended alternative would be the more photogenic collection of White Toadstools, the trailhead for which is located just a mile or so east of here.  A visit there would entail a much longer hike, because the former access road has been closed.

Scenery *
Difficulty *
Personality *
Solitude *

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