Our next stop on our Utah Road Trip was Fish Lake National Forest to see the Pando Aspen Clone. This was primarily our only reason for stopping here, but we are so glad we did. It was truly a beautiful area and we fell in love!
What is the Pando Aspen Clone
The Pando Aspen Clone is said to be one of the largest living organisms. It is also one of the largest trees known to mankind. It has over 40,000 stems which just look like individual trees to us. The clone of aspen trees is all interconnected at the root system, where it shoots up new trees from. This is a little different than your typical tree. Your typical tree will drop a seed usually in the form of an acorn or something like that. That seed then begins to grow from the ground where it was dropped. The aspen clone spreads over 106 acres all from the same root system. Some of the trees have been dated to be over 130 years old.
Why go see the Pando Aspen Clone
Other than the fact that it is truly beautiful to see and you get to see Fish Lake National Forest. Sadly, the tree is showing some signs that it is not regenerating at the speeds it once was. It is believed that animals like mule deer and cows are eating the saplings before they can regenerate. There are groups like Friends Of Pando who are working to educate the public on the tree. We actually got to meet one of them while we were there. He saw us walking and was kind enough to stop us and point us in the right direction and tell us a little about the tree.
They have also placed really tall fences around different parts of the tree to keep deer and cows out so Pando can work on regenerating. We noticed that there is a ton of young new trees growing in the fenced areas, so it looks like it is working.
Best Time of Year to Visit
We went in mid-September and all the leaves were still green. There were a few trees that looked like they were beginning to turn yellow. If you are wanting to see the aspens with their vibrant yellow leaves, I would recommend October. Whether the leaves are green or yellow, it will be absolutely beautiful. Every time the sun comes out from behind a cloud and lights them up you will be in complete AWE!
Be mindful that you do go up a little mountain and have an elevation change to get to Fish Lake National Forest and the Pando Clone. Because you are at a little higher elevation it was about 10-15 degrees cooler.
Even though we didn’t stay long, we are so glad we stopped! Part of the reason I love seeing these things and sitting and admiring them is that I know they may not be around forever. Seeing all their wonder and learning about them, truly lights me up and leaves me in awe! And I know it will for you too! If you are looking for other stops on a Utah Road Trip, check out our Itinerary here.
