Photo:
Diego Delso / CC BY-SA 4.0
Petrified Forest protects one of the world’s largest and most colorful concentrations of petrified wood, 200-million-year-old logs turned to quartz, scattered across the banded badlands of Arizona’s Painted Desert. Compact and largely explored from a single scenic road, it rewards the curious with fossils, ancient petroglyphs and a stretch of historic Route 66, all in a high-desert setting that demands sun sense.
This is open high desert, eroded badlands striped in red, grey, purple and blue, dotted with the glassy, jewel-toned remains of an ancient forest. The Painted Desert spreads across the northern park in soft, layered hills, while the south holds the densest log deposits at sites like Crystal Forest and the Rainbow Forest. Grassland, washes and scattered mesas support pronghorn, coyotes, jackrabbits and reptiles.
Spring and fall bring the most comfortable temperatures and the clearest desert light. Summer is hot and sees monsoon thunderstorms with lightning and flash flooding in the washes; winter is cold and can bring snow that dusts the badlands beautifully. The park is day-use only, with gates that open and close daily, so plan around posted hours.
A single 28-mile road connects the two entrances, off I-40 in the north and US-180 in the south, passing the major overlooks, trailheads and both visitor centers. Most visitors drive the road and stop to walk short interpretive trails; there is no shuttle, so a vehicle is essential.
Short, rewarding trails include the Blue Mesa loop through banded badlands, the Crystal Forest loop among petrified logs, and the Giant Logs trail behind the Rainbow Forest Museum. History-minded visitors can see the petroglyphs at Newspaper Rock and the ancestral Puebloan Puerco Pueblo, or photograph the rusted-car Route 66 marker. Experienced hikers can obtain a free permit to backpack into the Painted Desert wilderness.
The desert sun is relentless and there is no water on the trails, so carry plenty, wear sun protection, and start early. In monsoon season, watch for lightning on the exposed badlands and avoid washes when storms threaten. The clay-rich soil turns slick when wet, and wind can whip up dust quickly. Check the forecast and keep an eye on the sky.
A park pass is required, and it is a federal crime to remove petrified wood, buy legally collected pieces from shops outside the park instead. Overnight backpacking needs a free wilderness permit. This page is a general overview, not a live conditions report; always confirm current hours, conditions and permits with the National Park Service before your trip.
Set this declination on your compass, then align it to the map's north lines; it is the angle between true north and magnetic north, refreshed each year.
