On the way from Moab to Springdale, Utah (Arches to Zion) we took a detour to visit one of the world’s oldest and most massive living organisms: The Pando Aspen Clone. Located in the Fremont River Ranger District of the Fishlake National Forest, the Pando is a single clonal organism consisting of an estimated 50,000 genetically identical trees spanning 106 acres and sharing a single root system.

On the day we were there, the Forest Service website reported road conditions for a majority of the forest roads as “May be impassable due to snow conditions”. Indeed, we witnessed a few roads that were still snow and ice covered. Fortunately, we were able to drive through to the Pando and eat lunch in the parking lot of the still closed campground located between Fish Lake and the clone. Fish Lake is a high alpine lake with an elevation of approximately 8,800 feet and it was 43 degrees on the day we visited! We were happy to eat in our rig with no one in sight.

The drive up to the lake was beautiful despite the gray skies.

As you can see from the photos, the aspen trees had yet to leaf, depriving us of the very restorative and special effect of the quaking giant clone. Anyone who has spent time among aspen trees will know the mesmerizing and peaceful sound of the rustling leaves. We vowed to return one day (optimally in the fall) to camp within the clone at the Doctor Creek Campground.

Should you decide to visit someday, the Pando is located 1 mile southwest of Fish Lake on Utah Route 25.

Thanks for joining us on our journey to this very special grove of trees.