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About

Petrified Forest National Park is located in northeastern Arizona in the United States and covers approximately 346 square miles (896 sq km). Established as a national monument in 1906 and redesignated as a national park in 1962, the park protects one of the world’s largest and most colorful concentrations of petrified wood.

It lies east of Flagstaff and near the western edge of the Painted Desert. Nearby protected areas include Grand Canyon National Park to the northwest and Canyon de Chelly National Monument to the northeast. Petrified Forest National Park preserves an extraordinary landscape where ancient forests, colorful badlands, archaeological sites, and geological wonders reveal a fascinating chapter of Earth’s history.

Petrified Forest National Park is best known for its vast deposits of petrified wood, some dating back thousands years. Visitors are often amazed by massive fossilized logs scattered across the landscape, their original wood replaced by colorful minerals over thousands of years. Iron, manganese, quartz, and other minerals created vibrant shades of red, orange, yellow, purple, and blue within the stone.

Popular attractions include Crystal Forest, Giant Logs Trail, Blue Mesa, and Newspaper Rock. Scenic drives and hiking trails allow visitors to explore landscapes that feel almost otherworldly. The park provides a unique opportunity to witness the transition of living forests into stone through natural geological processes.

The geography of Petrified Forest National Park reflects a rich combination of desert landscapes and ancient geological formations. The park contains portions of the Painted Desert, a region famous for its colorful layers of clay, siltstone, mudstone, and volcanic ash. Erosion has sculpted the terrain into mesas, buttes, badlands, and rolling hills that display striking bands of color.

Elevations range from approximately 5,300 to 6,200 feet (1,615 to 1,890 meters). The landscape was once part of a lush tropical environment during the Late Triassic Period when rivers carried massive trees across floodplains. Today, desert grasslands, sagebrush, juniper, and hardy shrubs dominate the vegetation, creating a stark contrast to the ancient forest preserved beneath the surface.

Wildlife within Petrified Forest National Park has adapted to the region’s semi-arid environment. Mammals include pronghorn antelope, mule deer, coyotes, bobcats, black-tailed jackrabbits, and numerous smaller rodents. Birdlife is diverse, with species such as golden eagles, prairie falcons, ravens, western meadowlarks, and red-tailed hawks commonly observed throughout the park.

Reptiles including rattlesnakes, horned lizards, and whiptail lizards thrive in the desert habitats. Seasonal wetlands and grasslands support migratory birds and pollinators, contributing to the park’s ecological diversity. Although often associated primarily with fossils, the park continues to support a vibrant modern ecosystem.

Petrified Forest National Park plays a critical role in protecting one of the most significant fossil records from the Triassic Period. The park preserves fossilized trees, ancient reptiles, early dinosaurs, and other prehistoric organisms that help scientists understand life so many years ago. It also protects archaeological sites connected to Indigenous peoples who have lived in the region for thousands of years. Conservation efforts focus on preserving fragile fossil resources and maintaining the integrity of the Painted Desert ecosystem.

The park is often compared to Badlands National Park and Dinosaur National Monument because of its scientific importance and striking geology. Yet its combination of colorful petrified wood, painted desert landscapes, and ancient fossil resources makes it truly unique. Today, Petrified Forest National Park stands as one of America’s most remarkable geological treasures, preserving a vivid window into the distant past.

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Petrified Forest National Park
Petrified Forest National Park
Petrified Forest National Park
Petrified Forest National Park
Petrified Forest National Park
Petrified Forest National Park
Petrified Forest National Park
Petrified Forest National Park
Petrified Forest National Park
Petrified Forest National Park
Petrified Forest National Park
Petrified Forest National Park
Petrified Forest National Park
Petrified Forest National Park
Petrified Forest National Park
Petrified Forest National Park

Things to See

Most visitors come to capture glimpses of the terrain and see the abundant landscapes that feature petrified forests.  The petrified trees are certainly a highlight of the park.

Painted Desert

The Painted Desert extends beyond the boundaries of the Petrified Forest, but the national park boundaries do include a good portion of the painted desert.  The desert is comprised of layers of mudstone, shale, and siltstone.  The sediments are rich in iron and manganese which account for the variation of colors across the hills.

The whole desert is about 120 miles (190 km) long and 60 miles (100 km) wide.  Only a portion of the desert is in the national park, but a visit to Petrified Forest allows you to experience facets of the painted desert as well.  The varying colors and rolling hills and mesas create magnificent landscapes.

Popular

Popular

Petrified Forest National Park, renowned for its colorful fossilized trees and vast landscapes of the Painted Desert, also provides a habitat for diverse wildlife adapted to its unique environment, offering visitors a glimpse into the resilience of life in this stark yet beautiful setting.

Pronghorn The fastest land mammal in North America, Pronghorns grace the open grasslands, their speed a remarkable adaptation to life in the wide expanses of the park.

Raven Highly intelligent and adaptable, Ravens are a common sight, their black silhouettes soaring above the park or cleverly scavenging near visitor areas.

Bobcat Elusive Bobcats, with their distinctive tufted ears and spotted fur, roam the park’s wilderness, a testament to the adaptability and diversity of predator species.

Coyote Iconic symbols of the American Southwest, Coyotes can often be heard at dusk or seen roaming the park, embodying the wild spirit of Petrified Forest.

Jackrabbit With their long ears and powerful legs, Jackrabbits are built for the desert environment, capable of incredible bursts of speed to escape predators.

Kangaroo Rat Nocturnal Kangaroo Rats thrive in the park, their remarkable ability to survive without drinking water making them perfectly suited to the arid conditions.

Horned Lizard Often called “horny toads,” Horned Lizards are masters of camouflage, their body shape and coloration blending seamlessly into the park’s terrain.

Western Diamondback Rattlesnake A symbol of the desert’s danger and beauty, Western Diamondback Rattlesnakes command respect, their distinctive rattle a warning to tread carefully.

Golden Eagle Soaring above the park’s landscapes, Golden Eagles are a magnificent sight, their keen eyesight scouting the ground below for rabbits and other prey.

Collared Lizard Vibrant Collared Lizards, with their striking colors and distinctive collars, can be seen basking on rocks, adding a dash of color to the desert scenery.

Petrified Forest National Park’s wildlife, from the swift Pronghorn to the cryptic Horned Lizard, showcases the resilience and beauty of life in the desert, inviting visitors to explore and appreciate the natural world in one of America’s most unique landscapes.

Hard as a Rock

Hard as a Rock

Petrified Forest National Park is home to one of the world’s largest and most colorful concentrations of petrified wood, with tens of thousands of fossilized logs scattered across its landscape.

These ancient trees, dating back over 200 million years to the Late Triassic Period, have been preserved through a process of mineralization, where organic material is replaced with minerals such as quartz, resulting in stunning displays of colorful crystalized wood.

The most popular spot to see petrified trees in Petrified Forest National Park is the Rainbow Forest, which is home to the park’s largest and most impressive collection of petrified wood specimens.

Here, visitors can walk among the fallen logs, marveling at their vibrant colors and intricate patterns, and learn about the process of petrification through exhibits and interpretive displays at the Rainbow Forest Museum.

Additionally, the Giant Logs Trail and the Crystal Forest Trail are popular hiking trails that offer opportunities to see petrified trees up close and learn about their ancient origins

Things To Do

Engaging Petrified Forest National Park

Hiking

Hiking

Scenic Driving

Scenic Driving

Petrified Forest National Park Trails

Hiking is one of the most popular activities in the park and the best way to experience much of what the park has to offer.  Although there are lookouts along the scenic drive through the park that provides panoramic views of the area, hiking is the more meaningful way to engage the wilderness.

The park has seven maintained trails that vary in length from under half a mile (0.8 km) to around 3-miles (4.8 km).  Backpackers can secure a permit for remote wilderness hiking and overnight stays in the park.

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Crystal Forest Trail

This is a short ¾ mile (1.2 km) paved trail with a few steeper elevation changes.  It gives a nice glimpse into the petrified trees of the area.

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Giant Logs Trail

This short 0.4-mile (0.6 km) trail provides views of some of the largest of the petrified forest remains.  It is a must for those who want to see the petrified trees.

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Long Logs Trail

This is a 0.5-mile (0.8 km) roundtrip trail that is rated it easy.  It features the longest petrified tree in the park at 116-feet (35.3 m).  It rests right alongside the trail which also provides views of the picturesque badlands.

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Blue Mesa Trail

This is a 1-mile (1.6 km) roundtrip trail with a moderate rating.  The trail makes a fairly steep descent down into the badlands below the Blue Mesa.  It provides views of the mesa and striations and colors of the hillside.

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Painted Desert Wilderness Trail

This is a more strenuous trail with switchbacks and elevation changes as you explore the badlands, grasslands, and portions of the Painted Desert.  This also requires navigational skills and the ability to retrace your steps back.

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Painted Desert Rim Trail

Rating: Easy

Distance and Elevation Gain: 1 mile round trip with minimal elevation gain

Description: This trail offers panoramic views of the Painted Desert’s stunning colors and vastness. Running along the rim, the trail connects Tawa Point to Kachina Point, providing opportunities for breathtaking vistas and photography. The ever-changing light conditions create a dynamic landscape, highlighting the beauty of the desert’s deep hues and layered formations.

Park Protection

Petrified Forest National ParkPetrified Forest National Park was created to protect one of the world’s largest and most colorful concentrations of petrified wood, along with significant fossil resources, badlands, grasslands, and desert ecosystems in northeastern Arizona. The park preserves an extraordinary record of life from the Late Triassic Period, including fossilized plants, reptiles, and early dinosaurs that lived more than 200 million years ago. Its modern ecosystems provide habitat for pronghorn, coyotes, golden eagles, and numerous desert-adapted species.

The park is internationally renowned for its vast deposits of brilliantly colored petrified logs, created when ancient trees were gradually replaced by minerals while retaining their original structure. These fossils provide one of the most important windows into prehistoric ecosystems anywhere in the world. Together, Petrified Forest National Park safeguards globally significant fossil resources, unique geological landscapes, native grasslands, and an unparalleled record of ancient life on Earth.

FAQ’s

What is Petrified Forest known for?

Petrified Forest National Park, located in northeastern Arizona, is known for its remarkable fossilized wood, vibrant painted desert landscapes, and rich archaeological heritage.

The park preserves one of the largest and most colorful concentrations of petrified wood in the world, with logs dating back over 200 million years to the Late Triassic Period. These ancient trees have been preserved through a process of fossilization, where organic material is replaced with minerals, resulting in stunning displays of colorful crystalized wood scattered across the desert landscape.

In addition to its petrified wood, the park is renowned for its breathtaking badlands scenery, characterized by colorful layers of sedimentary rock, eroded buttes, and deep gullies.

Visitors to Petrified Forest National Park can explore a network of hiking trails that wind through the painted desert, offering opportunities to marvel at the vibrant hues of red, orange, purple, and blue that adorn the landscape.

The park also contains significant archaeological sites, including ancient petroglyphs and the remains of ancestral Puebloan villages, providing insights into the human history of the region. Overall, Petrified Forest National Park offers visitors a chance to experience the wonders of geology, paleontology, and archaeology in a stunning desert setting.

What is the main reason people visit Petrified Forest National Park?

Petrified Forest National Park is primarily visited for its extraordinary deposits of petrified wood, colorful badlands, ancient fossils, archaeological sites, and unique desert landscapes.

Located in northeastern Arizona, the park protects one of the world’s largest and most colorful concentrations of petrified wood, much of which dates back thousands of years to the Late Triassic Period.

Visitors come to see fossilized logs transformed into stone, explore the Painted Desert, learn about prehistoric ecosystems, hike scenic trails, and experience one of the most geologically significant landscapes in North America.

What animals can visitors hope to see in Petrified Forest National Park?

Petrified Forest National Park supports approximately 40 mammal species and more than 20 reptile species. The park’s grasslands, badlands, desert scrublands, and washes provide habitat for a variety of wildlife adapted to the arid Southwest.

Some of the most notable animals found in Petrified Forest National Park include:

  1. Pronghorn
  2. Coyote
  3. Bobcat
  4. Gray Fox
  5. Kit Fox
  6. American Badger
  7. Raccoon
  8. Striped Skunk
  9. Long-tailed Weasel
  10. Black-tailed Jackrabbit
  11. Desert Cottontail
  12. Antelope Jackrabbit
  13. White-tailed Antelope Squirrel
  14. Rock Squirrel
  15. Gunnison’s Prairie Dog
  16. Deer Mouse
  17. Brush Mouse
  18. Pocket Mouse
  19. Kangaroo Rat
  20. Pocket Gopher
  21. Meadow Vole
  22. Northern Grasshopper Mouse
  23. Desert Shrew
  24. Big Brown Bat
  25. Hoary Bat
  26. Silver-haired Bat
  27. Pallid Bat
  28. Mexican Free-tailed Bat
  29. Townsend’s Big-eared Bat
  30. California Myotis
  31. Long-legged Myotis
  32. Fringed Myotis
  33. Yuma Myotis
  34. Western Small-footed Myotis
  35. Mule Deer (occasional)
  36. Porcupine
  37. Ringtail
  38. Mountain Lion (rare)
  39. Various Rodent Species
  40. Various Small Mammals
  41. Prairie Rattlesnake
  42. Gopher Snake
  43. Coachwhip
  44. Long-nosed Snake
  45. Western Whiptail
  46. Greater Short-horned Lizard
  47. Ornate Tree Lizard
  48. Plateau Fence Lizard
  49. Desert Spiny Lizard
  50. Ornate Box Turtle

What birds can visitors hope to see in Petrified Forest National Park?

Petrified Forest National Park is home to more than 200 bird species. The park lies along important migration routes and provides habitat for both resident and migratory birds.

Some of the most popular birds seen in Petrified Forest National Park include:

  1. Golden Eagle
  2. Bald Eagle
  3. Red-tailed Hawk
  4. Swainson’s Hawk
  5. Ferruginous Hawk
  6. Cooper’s Hawk
  7. Sharp-shinned Hawk
  8. Prairie Falcon
  9. American Kestrel
  10. Great Horned Owl
  11. Burrowing Owl
  12. Western Screech-Owl
  13. Common Raven
  14. Clark’s Nutcracker
  15. Pinyon Jay
  16. Woodhouse’s Scrub-Jay
  17. Black-billed Magpie
  18. Mountain Chickadee
  19. Juniper Titmouse
  20. White-breasted Nuthatch
  21. Red-breasted Nuthatch
  22. Rock Wren
  23. Canyon Wren
  24. Bewick’s Wren
  25. Mountain Bluebird
  26. Western Bluebird
  27. Townsend’s Solitaire
  28. American Robin
  29. Cedar Waxwing
  30. Loggerhead Shrike
  31. Horned Lark
  32. Black-throated Sparrow
  33. Sagebrush Sparrow
  34. Chipping Sparrow
  35. White-crowned Sparrow
  36. Dark-eyed Junco
  37. Western Meadowlark
  38. Yellow Warbler
  39. MacGillivray’s Warbler
  40. Wilson’s Warbler
  41. Western Tanager
  42. Black-headed Grosbeak
  43. Bullock’s Oriole
  44. Hairy Woodpecker
  45. Downy Woodpecker
  46. Northern Flicker
  47. Ladder-backed Woodpecker
  48. Say’s Phoebe
  49. Western Kingbird
  50. Greater Roadrunner

Is Petrified Forest National Park worth visiting?

Yes, Petrified Forest National Park is absolutely worth visiting and is one of the most unique geological parks in the United States.

The park offers colorful badlands, remarkable fossilized trees, prehistoric fossils, archaeological sites, scenic drives, and opportunities to explore landscapes that reveal thousands of years of Earth’s history. Visitors often find themselves surprised by the beauty of the Painted Desert and the vivid colors preserved within the petrified logs.

The primary hesitation is that many travelers underestimate the park because of its relatively small size, not realizing how much geological and historical significance it contains.

What is the best time to visit Petrified Forest National Park?

The best time to visit Petrified Forest National Park is from March through May and September through November.

Typical conditions include:

  • Spring: 35–80°F (2–27°C)
  • Summer: 55–95°F (13–35°C)
  • Fall: 35–80°F (2–27°C)
  • Winter: 20–60°F (-7–16°C)

During these periods:

  • Temperatures are comfortable for hiking.
  • Scenic visibility is excellent.
  • Wildlife is active.
  • Crowds are generally moderate.

Summer can bring afternoon thunderstorms during the Southwest monsoon season.

How many days do you need to visit Petrified Forest National Park?

Most visitors should plan for 1 to 2 days.

  • Half day: Scenic drive and major viewpoints.
  • 1 day: Main overlooks, petrified wood sites, and short hikes.
  • 2 days: Additional trails, archaeology sites, and photography opportunities.
  • 3+ days: Extensive hiking and deeper geological exploration.

A full day is sufficient for most visitors to experience the park’s primary attractions.

How do you get to Petrified Forest National Park?

Petrified Forest National Park is located in northeastern Arizona along Interstate 40 between Holbrook and Gallup.

The closest airports include:

  • Flagstaff Pulliam Airport – approximately 2 hours away.
  • Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport – approximately 3.5 to 4 hours away.
  • Albuquerque International Sunport – approximately 3 hours away.

Most visitors follow this route:

  1. Fly into Phoenix, Flagstaff, or Albuquerque.
  2. Rent a vehicle.
  3. Travel via Interstate 40.
  4. Enter through either the north or south entrance.

North Entrance – Painted Desert

The northern entrance provides access to:

  • Painted Desert Visitor Center
  • Painted Desert overlooks.
  • Historic Route 66 exhibits.
  • Visitor information and services.

This is the preferred entrance for visitors traveling eastbound from Flagstaff.

South Entrance – Rainbow Forest

The southern entrance provides access to:

  • Rainbow Forest Museum
  • Major petrified wood deposits.
  • Fossil exhibits.
  • Hiking trails.

Many visitors enter through one entrance and exit through the other.

Scenic Park Road

The park’s main scenic drive stretches approximately 28 miles (45 km) between the north and south entrances.

Major stops include:

  • Painted Desert
  • Blue Mesa
  • Crystal Forest
  • Agate Bridge
  • Newspaper Rock
  • Puerco Pueblo

Travel Times

Typical travel times include:

  • Holbrook to the north entrance: approximately 25 minutes.
  • Flagstaff to the park: approximately 2 hours.
  • Albuquerque to the park: approximately 3 hours.
  • Phoenix to the park: approximately 3.5–4 hours.
  • Driving through the park with stops: approximately 3–5 hours.

Because the park is directly accessible from Interstate 40, it is one of the easiest national parks in the Southwest to visit.

Who is involved in protecting and supporting Petrified Forest National Park?

Several organizations help protect and support Petrified Forest National Park:

  • National Park Service – manages Petrified Forest National Park.
  • Western National Parks Association – supports education, interpretation, and research programs.
  • National Park Foundation – supports projects throughout the National Park System.
  • Friends of Petrified Forest National Park – supports preservation and educational initiatives.
  • Indigenous communities including the Hopi Tribe, Navajo Nation, and Zuni Pueblo, who maintain deep cultural connections to the region.

What is petrified wood?

Petrified wood forms when buried trees are gradually replaced by minerals, particularly silica, over millions of years. The process preserves the original structure of the wood while transforming it into stone.

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