Pine Park, Utah
A Virtually Unknown Park with Unique Geology
Categories: Family Friendly, Hiking, Utah
Pine Park is a tiny little recreation area in far western Utah, far from pretty much anything other than Beaver Dam State Park in Nevada. I really wish I could post some informative links about the history of the park or the geology but it seems to be virtually unknown to the internet. Do you know what that means? IT’S EMPTY AND SECLUDED UNTIL NOW!!!! I think the simplest description would be to say that Pine Park is a small and unvisited version of Turkey’s Cappadocia Region. For Americans, a comparable place might be Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument in New Mexico or even Colorado’s Wheeler Geologic Area
It’s a two hour drive to get to Pine Park from St. George and a 10 mile detour off the Crestline Road out of Enterprise. I heard that the park used to be more popular but for whatever reason visitation has fallen off enough that the bathroom facilities were removed about 10 years ago and the campground is no longer maintained. The area is part of the headwaters of Beaver Dam Wash and has at least one spring that is a good water source for those wishing to camp.
![](https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/PinePark2-4.jpg 1300w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/PinePark2-4-480x285.jpg 480w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/PinePark2-4-768x455.jpg 768w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/PinePark2-4-800x474.jpg 800w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/PinePark2-4-570x338.jpg 570w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/PinePark2-4-370x219.jpg 370w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/PinePark2-4-722x428.jpg 722w)
The main basin is immediately accessible from the road.
![](https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/PinePark2-1.jpg 1300w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/PinePark2-1-480x304.jpg 480w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/PinePark2-1-768x486.jpg 768w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/PinePark2-1-800x506.jpg 800w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/PinePark2-1-570x360.jpg 570w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/PinePark2-1-370x234.jpg 370w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/PinePark2-1-722x457.jpg 722w)
Maree climbs atop a pile of half carved sea shells.
![](https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/PinePark2-2.jpg 1300w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/PinePark2-2-480x293.jpg 480w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/PinePark2-2-768x469.jpg 768w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/PinePark2-2-800x489.jpg 800w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/PinePark2-2-570x348.jpg 570w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/PinePark2-2-370x226.jpg 370w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/PinePark2-2-722x441.jpg 722w)
The perfect place to build a castle.
![](https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/PinePark-6.jpg 1600w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/PinePark-6-480x262.jpg 480w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/PinePark-6-768x419.jpg 768w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/PinePark-6-800x436.jpg 800w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/PinePark-6-570x311.jpg 570w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/PinePark-6-370x202.jpg 370w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/PinePark-6-722x393.jpg 722w)
Kona doing her Godzilla impersonation.
![](https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/PinePark2-3.jpg 1300w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/PinePark2-3-480x288.jpg 480w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/PinePark2-3-768x460.jpg 768w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/PinePark2-3-800x479.jpg 800w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/PinePark2-3-570x342.jpg 570w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/PinePark2-3-370x222.jpg 370w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/PinePark2-3-722x433.jpg 722w)
The stark white serrated rock formations are eroded ash deposits on the edge of a massive caldera 20 miles long and 10 miles wide. This wasn’t even understood until the 1990’s and is still being studied but it looks like a collapse or something occurred close to 12 million years ago and some of the deposits are 1,000 feet thick. There are several other large and unrecognizable calderas in the area.
Shortly after we arrived we had whole place to ourselves and wandered around the surreal rock formations for more than an hour before we decided to do the long drive back and look at some ghost towns. As i mentioned before, the “park” is part of the headwaters of Beaver Dam Wash and that stream flows through a canyon nearby, but to visit the canyon will involve a bit of a walk and much more time.
![](https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/PinePark-9.jpg 1600w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/PinePark-9-480x288.jpg 480w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/PinePark-9-768x461.jpg 768w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/PinePark-9-800x480.jpg 800w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/PinePark-9-570x342.jpg 570w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/PinePark-9-370x222.jpg 370w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/PinePark-9-722x433.jpg 722w)
Triangular towers, often wearing little “hats” are a common feature in eroded ash deposits.
![](https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/PinePark-10.jpg 1600w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/PinePark-10-480x320.jpg 480w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/PinePark-10-768x512.jpg 768w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/PinePark-10-800x534.jpg 800w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/PinePark-10-570x380.jpg 570w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/PinePark-10-370x247.jpg 370w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/PinePark-10-722x481.jpg 722w)
![](https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/PinePark2-5.jpg 1300w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/PinePark2-5-480x303.jpg 480w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/PinePark2-5-768x484.jpg 768w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/PinePark2-5-800x505.jpg 800w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/PinePark2-5-570x360.jpg 570w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/PinePark2-5-370x233.jpg 370w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/PinePark2-5-722x455.jpg 722w)
We made our way through patches of forest and sage and the towers and ridges continued well up the hillside.
![](https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/PinePark-16.jpg 1600w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/PinePark-16-480x308.jpg 480w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/PinePark-16-768x493.jpg 768w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/PinePark-16-800x514.jpg 800w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/PinePark-16-570x366.jpg 570w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/PinePark-16-370x238.jpg 370w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/PinePark-16-722x464.jpg 722w)
The main basin is a wonderland of surreal rock formations.
![](https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/PinePark2-7.jpg 1300w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/PinePark2-7-480x320.jpg 480w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/PinePark2-7-768x512.jpg 768w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/PinePark2-7-800x534.jpg 800w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/PinePark2-7-570x380.jpg 570w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/PinePark2-7-370x247.jpg 370w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/PinePark2-7-722x482.jpg 722w)
After we’d had our fill we decided to follow the wash out and see where it led us.
![](https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/PinePark2-8.jpg 867w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/PinePark2-8-480x720.jpg 480w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/PinePark2-8-768x1152.jpg 768w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/PinePark2-8-800x1200.jpg 800w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/PinePark2-8-570x855.jpg 570w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/PinePark2-8-370x555.jpg 370w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/PinePark2-8-722x1083.jpg 722w)
For a moment the the wash slots up and almost pinches off.
![](https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/PinePark2-10.jpg 1300w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/PinePark2-10-480x320.jpg 480w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/PinePark2-10-768x512.jpg 768w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/PinePark2-10-800x534.jpg 800w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/PinePark2-10-570x380.jpg 570w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/PinePark2-10-370x247.jpg 370w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/PinePark2-10-722x482.jpg 722w)
Red/Gray lava rocks contrasted with the stark white stone of this gulley.
![](https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/PinePark2-11.jpg 1300w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/PinePark2-11-480x320.jpg 480w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/PinePark2-11-768x512.jpg 768w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/PinePark2-11-800x534.jpg 800w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/PinePark2-11-570x380.jpg 570w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/PinePark2-11-370x247.jpg 370w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/PinePark2-11-722x482.jpg 722w)
A twisted tree grows into the rock. The extra support is probably the only thing keeping it from being washed away.
![](https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/PinePark2-12.jpg 1300w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/PinePark2-12-480x320.jpg 480w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/PinePark2-12-768x512.jpg 768w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/PinePark2-12-800x534.jpg 800w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/PinePark2-12-570x380.jpg 570w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/PinePark2-12-370x247.jpg 370w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/PinePark2-12-722x482.jpg 722w)
The spring.
![](https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/PinePark2-13.jpg 1300w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/PinePark2-13-480x320.jpg 480w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/PinePark2-13-768x512.jpg 768w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/PinePark2-13-800x534.jpg 800w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/PinePark2-13-570x380.jpg 570w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/PinePark2-13-370x247.jpg 370w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/PinePark2-13-722x482.jpg 722w)
There are no facilities or signs in the park but I assume this is the campground.
![](https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/PinePark2-14.jpg 1300w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/PinePark2-14-480x267.jpg 480w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/PinePark2-14-768x428.jpg 768w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/PinePark2-14-800x446.jpg 800w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/PinePark2-14-570x317.jpg 570w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/PinePark2-14-370x206.jpg 370w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/PinePark2-14-722x402.jpg 722w)
Afterwards we headed off towards other adventures.