Wahweap Hoodoos Trail

Tag along for a scenic drive across the desert plain to the trailhead for the Wahweap Hoodoos in the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. We first traveled this route in 2012, and were unable to return (via this route) until recently due to road closures within the GSENM.
We first noticed the BLM road had reopened in October, 2021, with no real idea to how long it was closed or why, however, a friendly BLM contractor implied it was closed for excavations and wilderness studies.
This video only provides two directional details, first, which BLM road to take from Cottonwood Canyon Road, and which direction to take from the trailhead once you reach the end of the road. Both pieces of info are readily available with a quick google search.
Trip Report:
Oct. 2021: Fantastic, a few ruts here and there along with some minor drainage washouts that required a slower speed. We did this trip on motorcycles and did not see any other people.
Feb. 2022: Great for a 4x4 with decent clearance. The washouts were a bit deeper, and the ruts (as you'll see in this video) were plentiful. On this trip to the Wahweap Hoodoos, we went about 2 weeks after the most recent significant snowfall. While we did not encounter much mud, it did appear the road was quite muddy in the previous few days. We did this trip in two 4x4 rigs and saw only one other vehicle on the road.
The trailhead (just before the road ends at Wahweap Creek) is only about a mile from the first set of Wahweap Hoodoos. The creek was flowing and you will likely need to cross it a few times due to encroaching cliffs.
During the road closure, the best way into this part of the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument was to hike up Wahweap Creek from the area above Big Water, Utah. This "new" access allows for a fun 11.5 mile drive and a much shorter hike.
The video starts at Cottonwood Road, additional trailhead info and pics of the Wahweap Toadstools appears at 36:00, with the return trip (almost to BaseCamp37) starting two minutes later.
The Wahweap Hoodoos are a unique geological formation located in the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument in southern Utah, USA. Hoodoos are tall, thin spires of rock that have been shaped by erosion over millions of years.
The Wahweap Hoodoos are composed of Entrada sandstone, a type of rock that is easily eroded by wind and water. The hoodoos are shaped like towering pillars, with some standing over 200 feet tall. They come in a variety of shapes and sizes, with some having intricate patterns and designs etched into them by the forces of nature.
The hoodoos are located in a remote area and require a moderate hike to access. Visitors are rewarded with stunning views of the surrounding landscape and the unique formations themselves. The area is a popular destination for hikers, photographers, and geology enthusiasts who are drawn to the unusual beauty of the Wahweap Hoodoos.
Forgive the nomenclature, we tend to interchange the terms Toadstools and Hoodoos. It seems the former term is used mainly for the formations adjacent to US 89, just east of the Paria River Crossing.
Video Details:
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Played back at the same fps
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[@sophiew1023]

are you able to reach the hoodoos via cottonwood canyon road now? I thought it was closed to vehicular traffic.

[@virtualpacific-northwest7253]

Cottonwood Canyon will be closed from time to time due to weather related road conditions. Even though, the turnoff to Wahweap Hoodoos is only about 2k of the graded gravel portion of Cottonwood Canyon Road, the route beyond (to the hoodoos) will have vicious mud if Cottonwood Canyon is closed. In other words, don't be fooled into thinking the overall route is good because the first portion if Cottonwood is passable.