Visit a geologic treasure chest in the high desert of Northern Arizona.
Located near the town of Holbrook, Petrified Forest encompasses both sides of Interstate 40 in Northern Arizona. Visitors to the drive-through park enter at the north section off I-40 or the south section off Highway 180. Colorful remnants of petrified logs decorate this expansive landscape that stretches for miles in every direction. Find plenty of pull-outs to view these ancient remnants up close and look for the Painted Desert Visitor Center and the Rainbow Forest Museum to learn more about the park’s peculiar rocks and to see paleontological displays of the animals that once roamed this scenic wonderland.
Scenic Trails
The 28-mile Main Park Road winds past viewpoints and features trailheads that take visitors into the middle of this otherworldly landscape. Short and easy hikes, many on paved trails, get visitors up close to ancient trees that have transformed from wood into quartz. Pick up the Giant Logs Trail behind the Rainbow Forest Museum and stroll a half-mile loop to see some of the largest and most colorful logs in the park. The Long Logs Trail features an ancient log jam and is one of the longest accessible trails in the park at just over a 1.5-mile loop. Longer, more rugged trails lead through the vibrantly colored landscapes and add unusual geologic features like badlands and hoodoos to the petrified deposits.
Ancient Civilizations
The magical work of nature is not the only attraction on display here. Visitors can also see the remains of Puerco Pueblo, a 100-room compound occupied by Ancestral Puebloan people some 600 years ago. It’s one of many archaeological sites in the park that also include Agate House, an 8-room pueblo built of petrified wood and occupied between 1050 and 1300. Continue the tour farther north to experience firsthand the spectacular scenery and cultural traditions of the Navajo Nation and Hopi Tribe.
The Painted Desert
The petrified wood deposits showcase a spectrum of colors found in iron, carbon and manganese. Those colors also appear in the sedimentary rock formations of the Painted Desert, located within the forest. As with all outdoor experiences in Arizona, stay on the trails to not disturb the natural landscapes and leave no trace by packing out only what you pack in.
