Located in Northeastern Utah, less than an hour south of Vernal, Fantasy Canyon is a managed area filled with natural -primarily gray and brown- sandstone that rises dramatically from clay beds, exposing uniquely shaped formations. It may not have the warm red colors of most Southwest parks, but its color and strange clusters of rocks make this place unique.<\/p>\n
Fantasy Canyon is a small family-friendly attraction that offers a different scenery to enjoy and a great space to explore some of the most unusual geologic features worldwide. This Canyon can be seen up close on a short 0.6-mile loop trail that takes around 30 minutes to walk.<\/p>\n
This area was officially documented by paleontologist and explorer Earl Douglas, who recognized this site as \u201cThe Devil\u2019s Playground\u201d or the \u201cHades Pit.\u201d Earl\u2019s photographs were published in 1909 \u201cThe Columbian Magazine.\u201d Most of the Fantasy Canyon surroundings consist of rounded hills, flare sagebrush, and small rocky outcrops.<\/p>\n
The main erosional direction is horizontal; Most areas resemble piles of irregularly stacked planks or bones, but rocks also erode along vertical joints to form thin pinnacles. This combination of erosional direction has created innumerable complex and intricate shape forms, including narrow structures extending up and down from the bedrock. You can also find fossilized shells and thin bands of magnetite -a shiny black mineral-. Also, the colors of the sandstone look richer around sunrise and sunset.<\/p>\n
Some areas can get very windy and dry, so if you visit, ensure you carry plenty of liquids, sunscreen, hats, and refreshing snacks to protect yourself from the elements. Fantasy Canyon is considered a remote location, so you may lose your cell service in some areas; this is why you should be prepared. Also, remember that these formations can be very fragile, so don\u2019t break pieces, and be careful when walking up close to them.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Located in Northeastern Utah, less than an hour south of Vernal, Fantasy Canyon is a managed area filled with natural -primarily gray and brown- sandstone that rises dramatically from clay beds, exposing uniquely shaped formations. It may not have the warm red colors of most Southwest parks, but its color and strange clusters of rocks…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[12],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1967","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-things-to-do-in-vernal"],"yoast_head":"\n