Between Flagstaff and Albuquerque is an ancient forest frozen in time. Petrified Forest National Park encompasses 220,000 acres in Arizona. The trees of the once-dense forest collapsed due to natural occurrences. 225 million years ago, the forest became buried and covered in groundwater and volcanic ash. The ash and water began seeping into the logs. This process turned the wood into stone or “petrified wood.” Elements like iron and manganese seeped into the logs, depositing metals and leaving distinct colors in the wood.
Today, the national park averages over 640,000 visitors each year. Mild temperatures make spring an optimal time to visit the park and see the petrified trees and vivid colors. Visitors often stay overnight in Holbrook, about twenty minutes from the national park.
Tourists can drive along the 28-mile road within the park to get an overview of the area with viewpoints along the way. Hikers can explore the park on their own or with a ranger-guided tour.
Blue Mesa and Giant Logs are shorter trails in the park, perfect for families with young children. The winding Blue Mesa Trail is a one-mile loop just off the main park road.
Petrified wood and dazzling colors fill the Blue Mesa section of the Painted Desert. The area is known for its vast overlook, fossil-filled layers, and blue bentonite clay. A paved trail takes visitors through the blue, purple, gray, and peach-banded badlands.
The Giant Logs Trail features the highest concentration of petrified logs, including “Old Faithful,” the largest petrified tree in the area.
The park also has plenty of long wilderness trails for avid hikers, including “Devil’s Playground” and “Pilot Rock.”
The “Giant Forest” Trail has the largest petrified wood logs, while the crystal forest sparkles. The Crystal Forest is a ¾ mile trail. Clear quartz and amethyst crystals in the trees create the sparkle.
Travelers can see dinosaur footprints and other numerous fossils of plants and animals in the landscape. The park restricts hiking in some fragile regions, but visitors still have plenty of options to explore. There are more than 800 archaeological sites at the park, including petroglyphs and ancestral pueblo ruins. The "Puerco Pueblo" site displays the remnants of a 100-room pueblo that dates back over 600 years.
The historic Painted Desert Inn, built in 1924, now operates as a museum within the park. There are also two visitor centers at the park: one in the north and one in the south. Both centers have restrooms, exhibits, gifts, and snacks.
While Arizona has three national parks, Petrified Forest offers visitors a unique landscape to explore. It’s also an easy day trip from Albuquerque.
There are two entrances to the Park. The north entrance is off of I-40 at exit 311. The south entrance is off of Highway 180, south of Holbrook. The park is open daily from 8 am to 5 pm. The entrance fee is $25 or $80 for the “America The Beautiful” pass. For more information, visit www.nps.gov.
Travelers can see dinosaur footprints in the landscape.
Petrified wood and dazzling colors fill the Painted Desert.