Petrified Forest National Park

At Petrified Forest National Park in northeastern Arizona, you'll walk among rainbow-colored logs that crystallized 225 million years ago. Step into the red-rock badlands where ancient petroglyphs tell stories from 13,000 years ago, and drive along the only preserved section of Historic Route 66 within America's national parks. In the Painted Desert, layers of pink and purple stone create a landscape that changes color with each hour of sunlight.

Getting to the Park

The park lies 26 miles east of Holbrook, with entrances from Interstate 40 and Highway 180. A 28-mile road connects the north and south entrances. Stop at the Painted Desert Visitor Center (north entrance) or Rainbow Forest Museum (south entrance) to pick up maps and learn about the park's geology through interactive exhibits.

Walking Through Ancient Forests

Walk the one-mile Crystal Forest Trail to see hundreds of petrified logs scattered across the desert floor. These trees turned to stone when silica-rich water seeped into their wood, creating quartz logs with red, yellow, and purple bands from mineral deposits. Behind Rainbow Forest Museum, take the Giant Logs Trail to see "Old Faithful," a 116-foot petrified log with a 9.5-foot diameter.

Exploring the Painted Desert

The northern section reveals badlands where erosion has exposed layers of red, pink, and purple rock. Drive from Tawa Point to Pintado Point, stopping at overlooks to photograph the changing colors. Visit the 1920s Painted Desert Inn, now a museum where Hopi artist Fred Kabotie's murals decorate the walls.

Ancient Settlements and Rock Art

Walk through Puerco Pueblo, where 100 rooms once housed families between 1250 and 1380 CE. Look for the petroglyphs at nearby Newspaper Rock - over 650 ancient carvings mark the dark stone surfaces. Take the Agate House Trail to an eight-room pueblo where ancient builders used pieces of petrified wood as building blocks between 1050 and 1300 CE.

Wildlife and Natural History

Watch for pronghorn antelope and coyotes in the grasslands, and bring binoculars to spot some of the 200 bird species. In spring, mariposa lilies and summer asters bloom across the desert. Beyond the petrified wood, you might spot fossils of early dinosaurs and phytosaurs - crocodile-like creatures that lived here when this high desert was a tropical forest.

Planning Your Visit

Enter the park between 8 AM and 5 PM (MST) any day except Christmas. Remember that Arizona doesn't observe Daylight Savings Time. Choose from seven maintained trails ranging from 0.3 to 2.6 miles - all are paved or graveled and welcome leashed pets. While you can't camp inside the park, Holbrook has several motels and restaurants for overnight stays.