Wandering into a Forest of Pure White Mushrooms | Utah
In the desolate Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, there is a area of pure white hoodoos. Unlike the typical red landscapes in the surrounding area, the Wahweap Hoodoos, also known as the White Ghost Hoodoos, stand out for their ghostly white color.
I came across someone's sharing on Instagram and immediately added Utah to my itinerary. Standing in front of these hoodoos was truly breathtaking. Whether large or small, each hoodoo features a darker flat top on top of its white, snow-like body. The white mushroom-like bodies are made of Entrada sandstone from 160 million years ago, very soft and resembling powdered sand. The darker flat tops are made of Dakota sandstone from 150 million years ago, with a harder texture. Over millions of years of erosion, the soft Entrada sandstone gradually formed these distinctive white spires.
The hoodoos are divided into three areas, with Group 3 being the most spectacular. There are two ways to reach this area:
Option One: Hike The Wahweap Hoodoos Trail, a round trip of 10.4 miles. Details can be found on Alltrails.
Option Two: Google search "White Ghost Hoodoo" and drive a high-clearance off-road vehicle on unpaved gravel roads for 12 miles (Cottonwood Canyon Rd/Rd7010/Rd7050) to the trailhead by the riverbed. Park before the wilderness study area and hike 1 mile along the dried riverbed to reach the Wahweap Hoodoos Group 3. Do not attempt this route in rainy conditions or if there is standing water, as the vehicle can easily get stuck.
⚠️ Important notes ⚠️
The road is impassable when wet! Summer weather can be unpredictable, so carefully assess the risk of rain.
There is almost no signal along the road, and we didn't encounter anyone throughout our journey. It's advisable to download offline maps in advance.
We tried asking about road conditions at the Kanab Visitor Center, but the staff wasn't very clear. They mentioned there hadn't been any rain in a week and driving should be fine. It's best to inquire at the visitor center before setting off.
There is no shade along the entire route, so be sun-safe, and be cautious of high temperatures during summer. 🔥
We're not sure if this is only in June, but when we walked along the riverbed, there were many insects that caused painful bites.
The white sandstone is very soft, so it's important for visitors to be careful and protect them."
