Southern Utah east of Kanab has many wonders. The “Toadstools” are probably the easiest to hike to and provide great short day hike opportunities. Fall and spring are great times to check out the Paria Toadstools. Toadstools are simply hoodoos and there are many examples of toadstools near the Paria Contact Station operated by the BLM located about 40 miles east of Kanab Utah on highway 89.
The official trailhead is located just 1.5 miles east of the Paria Contact Station along Hwy 89 with the trailhead right off the highway. A short hike up a meandering little wash will bring you within view of the first toadstool. The trail climbs onto a red mudstone shelf where the iconic Toadstool stands with its large cap stone and slender pedestal. This is only one of many toadstools that stand silently in the sun. The creation of these hoodoos is remarkable when one thinks about the processes of time and erosion that it takes.
The capstones are of a much harder sandstone or conglomerate rock which at one time rested on a much softer mudstone. As erosion progressed the harder stone protected the soft stone under it and also compressed it making this area erode more slowly therefore over time the hard cap stone appeared to “rise” out of the surroundings. Actually the surroundings simply washed away. Some of the toadstools are red with a brown capstone others are white or gray. If one follows the shelf to the left (west) and hikes around some brown mudstone formations they can find a small grotto that has several toadstools that are white with the brown capstone.
The extra hike is well worth it and looking further to the west a keen eye will make out other hoodoos that can be reached by hiking up other small canyons. Exploring these other areas will provide more solitude and surprises nearly at every new grotto along the higher cliff bands.
While exploring this area using a few different access points I have discovered 50 to 80 pinnacles, hoodoos, towers, and toadstools. The intrepid explorer will find some of these marvels that few will ever see. The landscape is truly otherworldly. This is one of the outstanding characteristics of the lands in Utah. Happy hiking!