Toadstool hoodoo is only one of many hoodoos in Grand Staircase—Escalante National Monument. What makes this one perhaps slightly more curious than the others is the fact that on the background of grayish-white layers of sandstone, except for the top, the hoodoo is bright red, just like a layer of Jurassic-era sandstone that cuts mercilessly through the surrounding grey.
Start at the trailhead, walk through the fence, and follow the trail markings. There are a few possible paths but all end at Toadstool Hoodoo; you basically can’t get lost. The short hike starts almost on the mixed eolian and alluvial sand deposits that are visible on the other side of the road, then immediately takes you through a shallow canyon carved by a small stream that flows basically only during flash-flood events following sudden, bigger rains. As you walk up the streambed, you’ll be surrounded by gorgeous layers of Carmel-formation sandstone. Brown, grey, orange, yellow, black; the off-white sandstone carries a breath of all these colours.
When you make it to the hoodoo, the first thing you notice may be the bright red colour of the Jurassic Entrada sandstone. A layer of this sandstone hugs the whole area. If you look up and continue past the hoodoo, you’ll also see the Dakota Formation. The hoodoo itself eroded from the Entrada sandstone, more susceptible to the forces of wind and water than the layers above and below.
If you walk closer to the small cliffs up ahead, you’ll find a few smaller hoodoos. Take a walk around; the area is full of incredible geology!
To return to your car, simply follow the trail back to the trailhead. As previously stated, there are no other trails to take you elsewhere in the immediate area.
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