State Parks and National Parks

Petrified Forest National Park

Time and the elements have conspired to create the colorful geologic formations and petrified logs and fossils of the 93,533-acre Petrified Forest National Park.

A 28-mile scenic drive through the park has frequent places to pull over and admire the distinctive park features.

The wilderness backcountry offers extensive cross-country hiking, backpacking and camping opportunities. Free backcoutry camping permits are available at visitor service areas. There is no water in the wilderness, so plan to pack in needed supply.

Eight scenic overlooks on the park road provide sweeping views of the Painted Desert. Access to the Painted Desert Wilderness is provided behind the Painted Desert Inn Museum at Kachina Point, a National Historic Landmark.

The park road winds through badland hills and grassland flats, crosses the Puerco River and passes Native American cultural sites and large concentrations of petrified logs.

Several trails pass by petrified wood concentrations, prehistoric dwellings and "blue badlands," an area of banded, cone-shaped hills.

Photo credits in order: Courtesy of Petrified Forest National Park. Courtesy of Petrified Forest National Park. Courtesy of the National Park Service.