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Nestled in the northeastern corner of Arizona lies Petrified Forest National Park, a mesmerizing landscape where ancient forests have turned to stone over millions of years. This 221-square-mile park showcases not only one of the world’s largest concentrations of petrified wood but also vibrant badlands of the Painted Desert, archaeological sites, historic structures, and native grasslands.
Designated as a national monument in 1906 and elevated to national park status in 1962, Petrified Forest represents a crucial piece of Arizona’s public lands legacy. The park serves as both a scientific treasure trove and a recreational destination where visitors can witness Earth’s geological and biological history first-hand. With over 800,000 visitors annually, it stands as a testament to the importance of preserving these unique landscapes for education, recreation, and scientific study.
Unlike many national parks, Petrified Forest offers a distinctive blend of natural and cultural history, where visitors can explore paleontological wonders dating back 225 million years alongside remnants of human habitation spanning over 13,000 years. This guide will help you navigate this remarkable park, highlighting its most impressive features and providing practical information to enhance your visit.
The Painted Desert is a stunning expanse of colorful badlands located in the northern section of the park. The layers of red, orange, pink, and purple sediment create breathtaking scenery, especially at sunrise and sunset. Key viewpoints include:
The Rainbow Forest, located at the southern end of the park, is home to some of the most vibrant and well-preserved petrified wood. The area includes trails and exhibits that explain the process of fossilization and the history of the prehistoric trees. Highlights include:
The Blue Mesa Trail is one of the park’s most iconic hikes, offering a 1-mile loop through the striking blue and purple badlands. The trail descends into the badlands, allowing you to walk among the colorful hills and spot petrified wood scattered across the desert floor. It’s an unforgettable experience for photography and geology enthusiasts.
Rangers offer guided walks, talks, and educational programs that highlight the park’s geology, history, and wildlife. Check the visitor center for the current schedule of activities.
The Petrified Forest Road is a 28-mile scenic drive that connects the north and south entrances of the park. The road passes through diverse landscapes, from the colorful badlands of the Painted Desert to the petrified wood fields in the south. Key stops along the drive include:
The park is home to a variety of desert wildlife. Keep an eye out for:
Petrified Forest National Park is a designated International Dark Sky Park, making it an excellent destination for stargazing. On clear nights, you can see the Milky Way, constellations, and countless stars. The park occasionally hosts astronomy events, so check the schedule for special programs.
Petrified Forest National Park is the only national park with a segment of the historic Route 66 running through it. Stop at the Route 66 Marker, which features an old Studebaker car and interpretive signs about the history of the “Mother Road.”
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Location | Northeastern Arizona, USA, near Holbrook |
| Established | December 9, 1962 (originally a national monument in 1906) |
| Managed By | National Park Service |
| Size | Approximately 221,390 acres (89,000 hectares) |
| Main Attractions | Petrified wood, Painted Desert, Blue Mesa, Crystal Forest, Agate Bridge |
| Geological Significance | Preserves fossilized trees from the Late Triassic period (about 225 million years ago), as well as colorful badlands formations |
| Cultural Significance | Contains over 13,000 years of human history, including ancient petroglyphs, ruins, and remnants of Indigenous cultures |
| Ecosystem | High desert with grasslands, badlands, and riparian zones |
| Wildlife | Includes pronghorn, coyotes, lizards, jackrabbits, and various bird species |
| Nearby Landmarks | Painted Desert, Navajo Nation, Canyon de Chelly National Monument |
| Visitor Activities | Hiking, scenic drives, photography, ranger-led programs, and fossil exhibits |
| Popular Trails | Blue Mesa Trail, Giant Logs Trail, Crystal Forest Trail, and Puerco Pueblo Trail |
| Climate | Hot summers, cool winters, with low annual rainfall |
| Entrance Fee | $25 per vehicle (valid for 7 days; fees subject to change) |
| Accessibility | Visitor centers and some trails are wheelchair accessible |
| Fun Fact | The petrified wood found in the park comes from ancient conifer trees that were buried by volcanic ash and mineralized over millions of years. |
Petrified Forest National Park is located in northeastern Arizona, approximately 26 miles east of Holbrook. The park is uniquely accessible, straddling Interstate 40, with entrances at both the north and south ends. This convenient location makes it an ideal stop for travelers crossing Arizona, offering a rewarding detour for those journeying between Albuquerque and Flagstaff.
The north entrance connects to US Highway 180, while the south entrance connects to Interstate 40 at exit 311. This linear configuration allows visitors to drive through the entire park in one direction, entering at one end and exiting at the other—a journey of about 28 miles that typically takes around 45 minutes without stops. For those with limited time, this makes Petrified Forest one of the more accessible national parks to experience, even as part of a broader road trip.
Public transportation to the park is limited, so most visitors arrive by private vehicle. There is no shuttle service within the park, making a personal or rental vehicle essential for exploring the full extent of its attractions.
The park’s namesake feature, petrified wood, represents one of the most remarkable geological processes visible to the human eye. Around 225 million years ago, during the Late Triassic period, this region was a tropical floodplain covered with towering conifers similar to modern Norfolk Island pines. When these ancient trees fell, they were buried by sediment and volcanic ash. Groundwater rich in dissolved silica then seeped through the logs, replacing the organic material with colorful minerals—primarily quartz—while maintaining the original wood structure down to the cellular level.
The resulting petrified logs display stunning rainbow hues: reds and oranges from iron compounds, blues and purples from manganese, and greens and blacks from carbon and other minerals. Unlike living trees, these stone logs do not decompose, offering a perfect preservation of ancient forests.
The most spectacular concentrations can be found in several areas:
Crystal Forest: A 0.8-mile loop trail through a high concentration of colorful specimens
Giant Logs Trail: Behind the Rainbow Forest Museum, featuring some of the largest logs
Jasper Forest: An overlook providing views of numerous logs scattered across a valley
Long Logs: One of the largest concentrations of petrified wood, with some specimens reaching over 100 feet in length
The northern section of the park showcases the Painted Desert, a vast badland landscape characterized by eroded hills of bentonite clay displaying vibrant bands of red, pink, blue, and purple. These colorful formations are part of the Chinle Formation, deposited during the Late Triassic period. The changing angles of sunlight throughout the day transform the landscape, making early morning and late afternoon particularly spectacular for photography and viewing.
Key viewpoints include:
Painted Desert Rim Trail: A one-mile roundtrip path offering panoramic views
Kachina Point: Home to the historic Painted Desert Inn National Historic Landmark
Chinde Point: A picnic area with sweeping vistas
Pintado Point: Offering some of the most dramatic color contrasts in the badlands
The park contains significant archaeological resources, including over 600 identified archaeological sites spanning more than 13,000 years of human history. Notable sites include:
Puerco Pueblo: The remains of a 100-room village occupied approximately 600-800 years ago, featuring petroglyphs and a partially reconstructed kiva
Newspaper Rock: A concentration of over 650 petroglyphs carved by ancestral Puebloan people
Agate House: A partially reconstructed eight-room pueblo built primarily of petrified wood fragments around 900 years ago
The park also preserves a piece of more recent American history—a section of the historic Route 66. Although the original roadbed is no longer visible, the park maintains exhibits near the Painted Desert Visitor Center commemorating this iconic piece of American culture.
Petrified Forest National Park offers a variety of hiking experiences ranging from easy paved walks to more challenging backcountry routes:
Giant Logs Trail (0.4-mile loop): Behind the Rainbow Forest Museum, featuring some of the largest and most colorful petrified logs
Crystal Forest Trail (0.8-mile loop): Winding through numerous pieces of colorful petrified wood
Blue Mesa Trail (1-mile loop): Descending into the blue-hued badlands with petrified wood scattered throughout
Puerco Pueblo Trail (0.3-mile loop): Exploring the remains of an ancestral Puebloan village with petroglyphs
Painted Desert Rim Trail (1-mile roundtrip): Offering striking views of the colorful Painted Desert
Unlike many national parks, Petrified Forest permits off-trail hiking throughout most of the park. This freedom allows visitors to discover isolated pieces of petrified wood and explore the badlands at their own pace. The Devil’s Playground and Black Forest areas offer rewarding off-trail experiences for more adventurous hikers.
The park’s designated wilderness area covers 50,260 acres and provides opportunities for day hikes or overnight backpacking. Popular wilderness destinations include:
Martha’s Butte: Featuring unique petroglyphs and colorful badlands
Red Basin Clam Beds: Fossil-rich areas rarely visited by tourists
Black Forest: Remote area containing some of the darkest petrified wood in the park
The park offers exceptional photography opportunities throughout the day. The colorful landscapes of the Painted Desert are most vibrant during the golden hours around sunrise and sunset, while the petrified logs display their intricate patterns and colors best in mid-morning and mid-afternoon light. Wildlife photography opportunities include pronghorn antelope, coyotes, and various bird species against the backdrop of striking landscapes.
Though it may appear stark at first glance, the park hosts diverse wildlife adapted to this semi-arid environment. Patient observers may spot:
With minimal light pollution, the park offers excellent stargazing opportunities. On clear nights, the Milky Way stretches dramatically across the sky. The park occasionally hosts night sky programs during the summer months.
The park offers various ranger-led programs throughout the year, including:
The park maintains two primary visitor facilities:
This historic structure near Kachina Point no longer serves as overnight accommodation but houses exhibits on the building’s history, Civilian Conservation Corps, and local Native American arts. The inn’s architecture and restored murals by Hopi artist Fred Kabotie make it a significant cultural attraction.
Designated picnic areas with tables and shade ramadas are available at:
There are no lodging facilities or developed campgrounds within the park. The nearest accommodations are in Holbrook (26 miles west) and Chambers (36 miles east).
Wilderness camping is permitted with a free backcountry permit, available at either visitor center. Campers must hike at least one mile from parking areas or roads and follow Leave No Trace practices.
The park’s dry climate means that humidity is generally low year-round, making even summer heat more tolerable than in more humid regions.
| Month | Average High (°F) | Average Low (°F) |
|---|---|---|
| January | 48 | 21 |
| February | 54 | 25 |
| March | 62 | 30 |
| April | 71 | 36 |
| May | 80 | 45 |
| June | 90 | 54 |
| July | 92 | 62 |
| August | 89 | 60 |
| September | 83 | 52 |
| October | 71 | 40 |
| November | 57 | 28 |
| December | 48 | 21 |
Fee waivers are available for educational groups, and several fee-free days occur throughout the year.
The removal of even small pieces of petrified wood or other rocks, plants, or artifacts is strictly prohibited. This protection is essential as even minor collecting, when multiplied by hundreds of thousands of visitors, would quickly deplete the park’s resources. Visitors seeking souvenirs can purchase legally collected petrified wood from gift shops and authorized dealers outside the park boundaries.
The park operates as a day-use area only, open from approximately 8 AM to 5 PM in winter months and 8 AM to 6 PM during summer. Gates close promptly at posted times, and overnight parking is not permitted except with a backcountry camping permit.
Free backcountry permits are required for all overnight stays in the wilderness area. These permits are available at both visitor centers and must be obtained in person before entering the backcountry.
Leashed pets are welcome on paved roads, parking lots, and developed areas but are not permitted on hiking trails or in the backcountry.
Accessible only with a free permit from either visitor center, this remote area features unusual erosional formations and petrified wood concentrations. Visitors must have GPS navigation skills and a high-clearance vehicle to reach the parking area.
Located in the wilderness area in the northern section of the park, this remote region contains petrified wood with unusually dark coloration. Reaching this area requires a hike of at least 2.5 miles one-way from the Painted Desert Inn.
This seldom-visited area harbors fossil-rich deposits, including the Clam Beds—areas with high concentrations of freshwater clam fossils from the Triassic period.
Arriving at the Blue Mesa area just as the park opens rewards early risers with stunning photography opportunities as the first light illuminates the blue and purple badlands.
The setting sun creates dramatic shadows and enhances the colors of both the petrified logs and the surrounding badlands.
Though visitors cannot collect fossils, special ranger-led programs occasionally allow visitors to assist in documenting newly exposed fossils after erosional events.
Near the Painted Desert Visitor Center, visitors can learn about and walk along a section of the historic Route 66 alignment that once passed through the park.
Two to Three Hours:
Half Day:
Full Day:
Multi-Day:
The park’s high desert environment can present extreme conditions. Summer visitors should bring abundant water (at least one gallon per person per day), sun protection (hat, sunscreen, sunglasses), and light, breathable clothing. Winter visitors should dress in layers to accommodate temperature fluctuations.
During monsoon season (July-August), afternoon thunderstorms can develop rapidly. If lightning is observed, return to your vehicle immediately, as the open landscape offers little natural shelter.
Cell service is limited or non-existent in much of the park. When hiking off-trail or in the wilderness areas, carry a physical map and compass, and know how to use them. GPS devices are recommended for backcountry exploration.
Though large predators are rare, the park is home to various rattlesnake species. Stay alert on trails, avoid reaching into crevices or under rocks, and keep a safe distance from all wildlife.
The park has made significant efforts to accommodate visitors of all abilities:
The park’s fragile desert ecosystem and archaeological resources require particular care:
Petrified Forest National Park faces several conservation challenges:
Despite protection, an estimated ton of petrified wood is still stolen from the park annually. The park employs various methods to combat theft, including education programs, boundary patrols, and strategic placement of law enforcement personnel.
While erosion is a natural process that exposes new fossils, accelerated erosion from climate change threatens both paleontological resources and infrastructure. The park implements erosion control measures and monitors vulnerable areas.
Invasive plants like Russian thistle (tumbleweed) and cheatgrass threaten the native grassland ecosystem. Ongoing management programs work to control these species and restore native vegetation.
The park hosts numerous scientific research projects, from paleontological excavations that continue to uncover new fossil species to archaeological surveys documenting previously unknown cultural sites. These research efforts enhance understanding of the park’s resources and inform conservation strategies.
Visitors interested in contributing to the park’s mission can participate in various volunteer programs:
Petrified Forest National Park offers a remarkable window into Earth’s distant past. Its petrified logs, colorful badlands, and archaeological treasures tell stories spanning millions of years, from towering Triassic forests to the journeys of ancestral peoples to the road-trippers of Route 66.
Whether you have just a few hours to drive through its painted landscapes or several days to explore its wilderness depths, the park rewards visitors with unique experiences unavailable elsewhere in the Southwest. By visiting mindfully and supporting conservation efforts, you help ensure these treasures remain protected for generations to come.
As you plan your exploration of Arizona’s diverse public lands, consider how Petrified Forest connects to other nearby wonders, including Canyon de Chelly National Monument to the northeast, the Navajo and Hopi nations to the north, and the expansive Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest to the south. Each of these places offers distinctive perspectives on the natural and cultural heritage of the American Southwest, creating a tapestry of experiences for the curious traveler.
