Petrified Forest Guide: Best Hikes, When to Visit & Where to Stay

Petrified Forest National Park in northeastern Arizona preserves one of the world's largest and most colorful concentrations of petrified wood -- ancient trees that fell in rivers and floodplains approximately 225 million years ago during the Late Triassic Period, were buried under sediment, and over millions of years had their organic material replaced cell by cell with silica minerals, turning them to stone. The logs lie scattered across a landscape of painted badlands, their surfaces gleaming with crystals of quartz, amethyst, citrine, and jasper in shades of red, orange, yellow, purple, and black. Some are shattered into neat cross-sections as if sliced by a saw; others stretch intact for more than 100 feet. They are not just beautiful -- they are windows into a world that existed 160 million years before the first dinosaurs went extinct.

The park encompasses 230 square miles straddling Interstate 40 in the high desert of the Colorado Plateau. It contains far more than petrified wood. The Painted Desert, in the park's northern section, displays mile after mile of banded badlands in lavender, red, white, gray, and blue -- sedimentary layers of the Chinle Formation exposed and sculpted by erosion. Ancestral Puebloan ruins, including the 100-room Puerco Pueblo, and more than 600 petroglyphs at Newspaper Rock document thousands of years of human habitation. The park also protects significant paleontological resources, including fossils of early dinosaurs, giant amphibians, and ancient reptiles. It is a place where time is made visible in layers of stone and color.

Best Hikes

Blue Mesa Trail -- A 1-mile loop that descends into the Blue Mesa badlands, walking among petrified logs embedded in the blue, purple, and gray banded hills. The trail drops approximately 150 feet via a paved path into the heart of the formations. The colors are most vivid after rain. Interpretive signs explain the geology. This is the most scenic short trail in the park. Difficulty: easy to moderate (the climb back up is steady). Allow 45 minutes to 1 hour.

Crystal Forest Trail -- A 0.75-mile paved loop through one of the densest concentrations of petrified wood in the park. The logs here contain particularly colorful crystals -- amethyst, smoky quartz, and citrine -- visible in the cross-sections. The trail is flat and accessible. Difficulty: easy. Allow 30-45 minutes.

Giant Logs Trail -- A 0.4-mile paved loop behind the Rainbow Forest Museum at the park's south entrance. The trail passes Old Faithful, one of the largest petrified logs in the park at nearly 10 feet in diameter. Interpretive signs explain the petrification process. Difficulty: easy. Allow 20-30 minutes.

Painted Desert Rim Trail -- A 1-mile trail along the rim of the Painted Desert between Tawa Point and Kachina Point (the Painted Desert Inn). The trail is unpaved but flat, with continuous panoramic views of the banded badlands stretching to the horizon. The Painted Desert Inn, a National Historic Landmark, is worth visiting for its murals by Hopi artist Fred Kabotie. Difficulty: easy. Allow 30-45 minutes.

Long Logs and Agate House Trail -- A 2.6-mile round trip combination trail in the southern section. The Long Logs portion passes the park's greatest concentration of large petrified logs. The Agate House spur leads to a partially reconstructed Puebloan structure built entirely from petrified wood. Difficulty: easy. Allow 1.5-2 hours.

Wilderness Hiking (Painted Desert Wilderness) -- The park's 50,000-acre Painted Desert Wilderness has no maintained trails but is open to cross-country hiking and backcountry camping (free permit required). Hikers descend from the rim into the badlands and explore a surreal landscape of eroded hills, petrified wood, and fossilized bone. Navigation skills, adequate water, and preparation for temperature extremes are essential. Difficulty: moderate to strenuous (due to navigation and terrain). Allow a full day.

When to Visit

March-May -- Spring is arguably the best season. Temperatures are mild (highs in the 60s to 70s), wildflowers may bloom if winter rains were adequate, and crowds are moderate. The light is excellent for photography. Wind can be strong, particularly in March and April.

June-August -- Summer brings hot temperatures (highs in the 90s, occasionally exceeding 100) and afternoon thunderstorms. The storms can produce spectacular cloud formations and lightning over the Painted Desert. Morning visits are recommended to avoid the heat. The park is moderately busy with summer travelers, many stopping on cross-country drives along I-40.

September-November -- Fall is excellent. Temperatures moderate, crowds thin, and the clear autumn air enhances the colors of the Painted Desert. October is particularly pleasant, with highs in the 60s and 70s.

December-February -- Winter is cold (highs in the 40s, lows in the teens and 20s) but sunny, with occasional snow dustings that make the petrified logs and badlands especially photogenic. The park is very quiet. All roads and trails remain open.

Where to Stay

There is no lodging or camping within the park. The park has no campgrounds (except wilderness backcountry camping by permit). All visitors must base themselves in nearby towns.

Holbrook, Arizona -- The nearest town, approximately 26 miles west of the park's south entrance on I-40. Holbrook offers budget motels, including the iconic Wigwam Motel (where you sleep in a concrete teepee), along with chain hotels and basic restaurants. It is the most practical base.

Petrified Forest/Painted Desert KOA -- A private campground near the park's north entrance on I-40, offering tent sites, RV hookups, and cabins.

Winslow, Arizona -- About 60 miles west on I-40, Winslow offers additional lodging options. The beautifully restored La Posada Hotel, designed by architect Mary Colter for the Fred Harvey Company in 1930, is one of the finest historic hotels in the Southwest and well worth the extra drive.

Gallup, New Mexico -- About 70 miles east on I-40, Gallup offers a wider range of hotels and restaurants. It serves as a gateway to Navajo and Zuni lands and has a vibrant Native American arts scene.

Getting There

By Air -- Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX) is the nearest major airport, approximately 200 miles and 3.5 hours southwest. Albuquerque International Sunport (ABQ) is about 260 miles and 4 hours east. Flagstaff Pulliam Airport (FLG) has limited service and is about 115 miles west.

By Car from Flagstaff -- Take I-40 east approximately 115 miles to the park's north entrance (Exit 311) or south entrance (via US-180 from Holbrook). The drive takes about 1.5 hours.

By Car from Albuquerque -- Take I-40 west approximately 260 miles to Exit 311. The drive takes about 4 hours.

Through the Park -- A 28-mile park road connects the north entrance (off I-40) to the south entrance (off US-180). Most visitors drive this road end to end, stopping at overlooks and trails. The drive alone takes about 45 minutes without stops; allow 2-4 hours with stops.

Essential Tips

Entrance fees are $25 per vehicle for a 7-day pass. The America the Beautiful Annual Pass ($80) is accepted.

Do not take petrified wood. Federal law prohibits removing any natural or cultural objects from the park, including even small fragments of petrified wood. The temptation is real -- the pieces are beautiful -- but the consequences include fines up to $325 for a first offense and potential felony charges for larger amounts. The park receives "conscience packages" regularly from visitors who took wood and later felt guilty. Buy legally collected petrified wood from shops outside the park if you want a souvenir.

The park closes at sunset. Unlike most national parks, Petrified Forest has gates that close after dark. The north and south entrances lock at the posted closing time (which varies seasonally). If you are in the park after closing, you risk being locked in and cited. Check closing times at the entrance station.

Carry water and sun protection. The high desert offers little shade, and summer temperatures are intense. There are no water sources on trails.

Newspaper Rock is a must-see. This cliff face near the Puerco Pueblo overlook displays more than 650 petroglyphs carved by Ancestral Puebloans. Bring binoculars to see the details -- the petroglyphs include spirals, animals, human figures, and geometric designs.

Allow 2-4 hours minimum. Though the park can technically be driven through in an hour, you will want to stop at overlooks, walk the trails, and explore the museum. A half-day visit is reasonable; a full day allows for backcountry exploration.

Nearby Attractions

Painted Desert -- While the park protects a portion of the Painted Desert, the colorful badlands extend far beyond the park boundaries. Views from the park's overlooks along the northern section are the most accessible.

Meteor Crater -- About 65 miles west near Winslow, this 50,000-year-old impact crater is nearly a mile across and 550 feet deep. It is the best-preserved meteorite impact crater on Earth and is privately owned with a visitor center, museum, and rim trail.

Homolovi State Park -- Near Winslow, this state park preserves several Ancestral Puebloan village sites dating from the 1200s to 1400s. The Hopi people consider these sites ancestral, and the park interprets the connection between past and present Pueblo cultures.

Canyon de Chelly National Monument -- About 120 miles north in the heart of the Navajo Nation, Canyon de Chelly contains spectacular cliff dwellings, including the White House Ruin, set within deep red sandstone canyons. The canyon floor is Navajo land, and guided tours offer access to areas beyond the self-guided White House Trail.