Petrified Forest National Park

Located in the high desert in northeastern Arizona, Petrified Forest National Park is a drivable geologic treasure trove that stretches between Interstate 40 and Highway 180.

To its south, the Rainbow Forest brims with colorful petrified wood. To the north, the Painted Desert features vibrant badlands. Known for its fossils — particularly those from fallen trees that lived during the Mesozoic era — the park also features 11 locales on the National Register of Historic Places.

Preserving 13,000 years of human history, culture and human occupation, nomadic groups arrived after the last Ice Age and have been present ever since. It was also here that — during the Great Depression — the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) was established by Congress in 1933, offering forest management, flood control and conservation jobs for young, unemployed men.

Set along the southern edge of the Colorado Plateau — which is shared with the Grand Canyon, Zion, Bryce and Arches — the Petrified Forest represents ancient environments. Among its wonders is the Painted Desert, colorful badlands, sculpted buttes and flattopped mesas that arose from the Chinle Formation, deposited over 200 million years ago during the Late Triassic Period.

The Flora And Fauna

Part of the greater Painted Desert, with a large swath of semi-arid grassland, the Petrified Forest offers not just fossils, but also a wide range of plant species, including trees and shrubs; mosses, ferns and allies; cacti; grasses, reeds, rushes and sedges; lichens; and a collection of desertadapted wildflowers.

Creatures — which include insects, spiders, birds, reptiles and mammals like bobcats and porcupines — make their presence known based on temperature, the season and time of day (or night).

The Weather

Featuring temperatures that range from above 100 F to well below freezing, this semi-arid grassland receives an average of 10 inches of precipitation from infrequent winter snow and potentially violent summer thunderstorms. The summer monsoon season occurs July through August.

Just like the plants and animals who call the park home, adapting to wildly swinging weather is necessary, so pack and plan accordingly.

Stay on the pulse of weather conditions in Petrified Forest National Park on the park’s website.

THE HIKES, DRIVES AND VIEWPOINTS

BLUE MESA TRAIL

Offering the park’s most fabled viewpoint, the 1-mile Blue Mesa Trail descends into the blue-ish, layered badland hills, an otherworldly landscape set against marshmallowcloud skies.

Crystal Forest Trail Loop

Appreciate the park’s largest concentration of petrified wood on the .9-mile Crystal Forest Trail loop. Journey through an ancient forest, where some 225 million years ago, 200-foot-tall conifers presided over a tropical lowland. Time, climate and geologic forces eventually buried the trees in layers of mud and volcanic ash, leaving massive, fossilized remains.

Painted Desert Rim Trail

Marvel at the rolling hills and vibrant hues of the Painted Desert from the 1.2-mile Painted Desert Rim Trail, which takes you through the rim woodland, following the ridge of the canyon and overlooking the colorful desert.

Petrified Forest Scenic Drive

Take in the sights from your vehicle on 28.6-mile Petrified Forest Scenic Drive, a point-to-point encounter that takes you from one entrance of the park to the other. Follow the edge of a high mesa overlooking the Painted Desert; cross the Puerco River to a landscape studded with sagebrush, sunflowers, saltbrush and Apache plume; past tepee-shaped buttes; over a wash; and overlooking the park’s Jasper and Crystal Forests. Be sure to stop at the Rainbow Forest Museum to stretch your legs.

Giant Logs Trail Loop

Set within the Painted Forest, the .6-mile Giant Logs Trail loop reveals massive, rainbow-like petrified logs colored bright mustard, orange, deep red, ochre and black from iron minerals and blue, purple, brown and black courtesy of manganese minerals. Keep your eyes peeled for Old Faithful, which measures nearly 10 feet across its base.

Historic Blue Logs Trail

Offering a more moderate backcountry hike, the 2.4-mile Historic Blue Logs Trail features limited signage but unforgettable beauty in the form of colorful badlands and petrified wood. It also connects with the stunning Blue Mesa Trail for a longer hike.

LOCATION

Northeastern Arizona

ESTABLISHED

December 9, 1962

AREA

221,390 acres

PRESERVING 13,000 YEARS OF HUMAN HISTORY, CULTURE AND HUMAN OCCUPATION, NOMADIC GROUPS ARRIVED AFTER THE LAST ICE AGE AND HAVE BEEN PRESENT EVER SINCE. IT WAS ALSO HERE THAT — DURING THE GREAT DEPRESSION — THE CIVILIAN CONSERVATION CORPS (CCC) WAS ESTABLISHED BY CONGRESS IN 1933.

ABOUT

The Park

LOCATION

Southern Arizona, flanking

Tuscon

ESTABLISHED

October 14, 1994

AREA

91,716 acres