Petrified Forest National Park | Holbrook

Petrified Forest National Park, located in northeastern Arizona between Holbrook and Navajo, is a landscape of otherworldly beauty and rare geological and paleontological significance. The park is named for its massive deposits of petrified wood-fallen trees that turned to stone over millions of years-but its wonders go far beyond. Visitors encounter colorful badlands, ancient fossils, remnants of Native American civilizations, historic Route 66 sites, and wide-open high desert vistas.

Overview

Location: Between I-40 and U.S. Route 180, primarily in Apache and Navajo Counties.

Size: Over 230 square miles (about 146,000 acres).

Elevation: Ranges from 5,400 to 6,200 feet.

Designated: First established as a National Monument in 1906; became a National Park in 1962.

Geology and Fossils

The park is famous for its extensive collection of petrified wood dating back to the Late Triassic Period-roughly 225 million years ago. These fossilized logs were once part of a vast subtropical forest. Over time, fallen trees were buried by volcanic ash and sediment. Silica-rich water seeped into the logs and slowly replaced organic material with quartz, forming brilliant, multicolored stone. The result is a surreal forest of crystalized tree trunks scattered across the desert.

In addition to petrified wood, the park contains numerous other fossils, including:

Early dinosaurs

Giant amphibians

Ancient crocodile-like reptiles

Ferns and seed ferns

The Chinle Formation, the park’s dominant geological feature, reveals multi-colored stratified sediment layers that create stunning “painted” badlands, especially visible in the Painted Desert section of the park.

Key Sections and Scenic Areas

1. Painted Desert

Located in the northern portion of the park, this vast expanse of eroded badlands is characterized by soft hills colored in red, pink, orange, purple, and gray.

Notable overlooks include Tiponi Point, Tawa Point, and Pintado Point.

Painted Desert Inn: A restored 1920s adobe-style building with murals by Hopi artist Fred Kabotie. It serves as a museum and visitor information center.

2. Puerco Pueblo

A partially excavated Ancestral Puebloan village with nearly 100 rooms, occupied between 1250 and 1380 CE.

Nearby petroglyphs depict animals, spirals, and symbolic figures etched into desert varnish-coated rock surfaces.

3. Newspaper Rock

Over 650 petroglyphs carved into basalt boulders, some dating back over 2,000 years.

The viewing area offers telescopes for close-up views of this intricate prehistoric rock art.

4. Blue Mesa

Known for its starkly beautiful landscape of bluish and lavender-hued hills.

A 1-mile paved loop trail leads through badlands, petrified wood fragments, and layered rock formations.

5. Crystal Forest

Features one of the densest concentrations of petrified wood.

A 0.75-mile paved trail allows close-up views of logs glinting with quartz crystals.

6. Jasper Forest

Scenic viewpoint showcasing an open basin filled with colorful, fossilized logs.

Once home to some of the largest petrified trees in the park.

7. Agate Bridge

A petrified log spanning a natural wash. A concrete support built in the early 1900s keeps the log intact.

8. Rainbow Forest

Located near the south entrance.

Home to the Rainbow Forest Museum and nearby Giant Logs Trail, where some of the largest petrified trees in the park are found, including the 10-foot-wide "Old Faithful" log.

Hiking Trails

While many features are accessible by car, several short and moderate trails allow deeper exploration:

Blue Mesa Trail – 1 mile, moderate, with excellent views of blue-striped badlands.

Giant Logs Trail – 0.4 miles, easy, paved loop featuring enormous fossilized trees.

Crystal Forest Trail – 0.75 miles, easy loop with a high concentration of petrified logs.

Puerco Pueblo Trail – 0.3 miles, easy, with access to ruins and petroglyphs.

Long Logs and Agate House Trails – 2.6 miles round trip; the Agate House is a partially reconstructed Native structure built from petrified wood.

Flora and Fauna

Despite its arid climate, the park supports a wide variety of desert-adapted life:

Plants: Sagebrush, rabbitbrush, junipers, wildflowers (especially in spring and monsoon season), and native grasses.

Wildlife: Mule deer, pronghorn antelope, coyotes, jackrabbits, horned lizards, snakes, hawks, ravens, and during the rainy season, amphibians like spadefoot toads.

Visitor Centers and Services

Painted Desert Visitor Center (North Entrance off I-40):

Orientation films, exhibits, bookstore, restrooms, gas station, and food.

Rainbow Forest Museum (South Entrance off US-180):

Displays on geology, fossils, and paleontology. Starting point for the Giant Logs Trail.

Route 66 Connection

A preserved 1930s-era car and remnants of the old Route 66 alignment are visible inside the park. A series of telephone poles marks the path of the historic highway, adding a nostalgic layer to the park's cultural story.

Regulations and Preservation

Collecting is strictly prohibited. Petrified wood must not be removed or disturbed-doing so is illegal and punishable by fine.

Photography is encouraged, but visitors are asked to stay on marked trails and avoid climbing on logs or delicate rock formations.

Camping: There are no campgrounds inside the park, but backcountry camping is allowed with a free permit. Nearby developed campgrounds are available in Holbrook and surrounding areas.

Best Time to Visit

Spring (March–May) and Fall (September–October) offer mild temperatures and colorful desert blooms.

Summer can be hot (often exceeding 90°F), with sudden monsoon storms from July to September.

Winter is typically quiet, with cooler temps and occasional snow adding beauty to the colorful landscape.

Summary

Petrified Forest National Park is one of the most visually stunning and scientifically important places in the American Southwest. It offers a fascinating combination of prehistoric wonder, Native American history, scenic beauty, and nostalgic Americana. Whether you're stopping for a few hours or exploring it in depth, the park promises an unforgettable journey through time-one that stretches hundreds of millions of years into the past.