Why Petrified Forest National Park Is Worth a Visit

Petrified Forest National Park in Arizona is one of those places that doesn’t get as much attention as it should. I get it. Most visitors to the state are here for the Grand Canyon or the spiritual vortexes in Sedona. 

You may not think you have time for wood, stone, or whatever the heck petrified wood actually is.

I’m here to tell you that you do have the time for the park’s rainbow of colors and fantastical landscapes. I did, and I regularly spend several hours scrolling my social media for celebrity look-alike contests.

Let’s get into the basics of the science behind this special place and why Petrified Forest National Park is worth the visit on Arizona trips.

Is Petrified Forest National Park worth it?

Petrified Forest National Park is worth a visit as one of the best places to see well-preserved examples of petrified wood.

It’s also worth a trip for its otherworldly landscapes. The national park boasts its own badlands within the colorful Painted Desert. 

READ MORE: I’m sure you’ve heard about Badlands National Park. That one’s pretty great, too.

How Much Time You Need for Petrified Forest

You should spend at least a few hours at Petrified Forest. The distance from the north end to the south end of the park is just 28 miles, but you’ll want to spend some time on a hiking stop or two along your route if you’re able.

One day allows you to see both sides in a more leisurely way.

Park hours may be more limited than what you’re used to if you’ve visited national parks open 24 hours per day.

The National Park Service does close the gates at this one, so you’ll want to be out of the park by 5-6pm, depending on the time of year. 

The reason for the night closures is an important one. It’s to prevent theft of the petrified wood.

Note: If you’re traveling with your pets, Petrified Forest is dog-friendly. We were able to bring Kimmy on our trip and she had a great time. Just make sure you bring plenty of water for you and your pup and follow Leave No Trace Principles.

Why is Petrified Forest a national park?

Petrified Forest is a national park because the geological features you see today need protection. The park also serves as a habitat for desert creatures who don’t mind the harsh conditions of the Painted Desert.

The Petrified Forest is famous for its extensive deposits of petrified wood. What you’ll see here dates back to the Triassic Period, or the start of the age of the dinosaurs. That was about 225 million years ago if you believe the science. (I do!)

Petrified wood is a type of fossilized wood where the organic matter within the tree has been replaced by minerals. In the case of Petrified Forest National Park, the wood is made up of almost solid quartz.

That’s what gives it its colors. If you’re here during magic hour on either end of sunrise or sunset, this stuff can sparkle as if it was produced by leprechauns at the end of a rainbow. Those colors are actually impurities in the stone. 

That’s about as heavy as it’ll get on the science here.

READ MORE: Love fossilized anything? Get to know Iowa’s Devonian Fossil Gorge.

Things to Do at Petrified Forest National Park

You don’t need multiple days in the park, but that’s part of why we liked this one. It’s more approachable than some of the bigger parks, and you’ll still learn a lot while you’re here.

All visitors must pay the entrance fee upon arrival at the park unless you hold an America the Beautiful pass. It’s a great investment if you’re visiting multiple parks throughout the year.

Let’s take a closer look at what’s so cool about Petrified Forest.

Start at the Painted Desert Visitor Center.

You’ll find the park’s main visitor center just beyond the Petrified Forest National Park sign at the north entrance station. This is the most popular end of the park to start at, and it’s what we did on our trip.

If you’re not in a rush, pop by the visitor center for a modest exhibit and park brochures and to have a chat with a ranger about your itinerary planning. This is also where you’ll access Tiponi Point, one of the most scenic spots in the park, and Tawa Point.

Walk the Painted Desert Rim Trail.

This easy 1.1-mile trail that starts at the Painted Desert Visitor Center takes you to some great viewpoints, like Kachina Point.

You’ll pass Chinde Point, Pintado Point, Nizhoni Point, and a few others as you walk the gravel. 

We skipped some of the signage as it gets a little repetitive, but this hike won’t take you long either way.

Stop by the Painted Desert Inn.

This historic landmark was once a hotel catering to Route 66 travelers. Today, it’s a museum that has been restored to its former glory. 

We weren’t able to go inside as it was closed throughout the pandemic when we visited, but there’s no additional fee if you’d like to take a look.

Snap photos of the Route 66 1932 Studebaker.

Stop by one of the most photographed abandoned vehicles in the country as you continue your road trip along Petrified Forest Road, the main park road. This one is marked as “Route 66” on your maps, but you’re unlikely to miss it.

Outside of its allure as one of the best photo spots in the park, the 1932 Studebaker parked here marks the only stretch of Route 66 that runs through a national park. It’s a nostalgic reminder of road trips back in the day. 

Learn about Puerco Pueblo.

An easy 0.3-mile trail takes you through the remains of Puerco Pueblo, a series of old structures from the ancestral Pueblo people. What you’ll see here is over 700 years old, so be respectful of where you climb and what you photograph.

See Newspaper Rock.

Newspaper Rock is an overlook of over 600 petroglyphs. We were lucky enough to meet a ranger here who could tell us what we were looking at through the available viewfinders. 

Another traveler was very excited to find a “lizard guy” on one of the stones, so that’s something for you to look forward to if that’s of interest.

Explore the Blue Mesa.

This area of the park is likely what you were expecting when you planned a trip here in the first place. You’ll know you’re getting close as you pass the Tepees, the zebra-colored mountains that signal something incredible is coming.

The Blue Mesa makes up the park’s badlands. If you’re driving, you’ll find several Blue Mesa viewpoints along the Blue Mesa Scenic Road. 

Note: I highly recommend getting out of the car if you’re able to get a closer look at both the scenic landscape and your first real glimpses of petrified wood.

Start with the Blue Mesa Trail. This is a one-mile trail that you may even have to yourself despite what you’ll get about the trail’s popularity. While it’s short, the return trip up is somewhat steep.

This is also where you can pick up the more moderate Blue Forest Trail. The historic Blue Forest Trail is a total of three miles that has been winding travelers through this landscape in some form or another since the 1930s.

We skipped this one as it was getting close to closing time in the park. From what we could see of it from above, it’s a fantastic way to get to the essence of the park.

See Agate Bridge.

The Agate Bridge is a popular introduction to the southern end of the park. The bridge here is actually a piece of a petrified log that crosses from one end of the Agate Mesa to the other.

Fun fact: Pillars underneath the attraction were added in 1903, then reinforced with concrete in 1911, then reinforced again with a concrete beam in 1917. This was to keep visitors who insisted on taking their pictures while standing on the bridge safe. 

While other spots in the park have taken some of the bridge’s limelight over the years, this remains one of the essential stops in Petrified Forest National Park.

Hike in the Jasper Forest.

The Jasper Forest boasts one of the highest concentrations of petrified wood in the park. Take in that vastness from the Jasper Forest Overlook or hit the 2.5-mile trail that starts at the parking lot there. 

Fun fact: This stop used to be called the “First Forest” because it was the first place visitors were introduced to petrified wood if they were traveling from the Adamana train station.

If you’re here to hike, the path isn’t super obvious. You’ll be following an old road that was closed down when the theft of petrified wood out of the park was an issue. 

It’s still worth heading down into this unique environment to get to know those stumps on a more intimate level.

Walk through the Crystal Forest.

Walk another loop of about 0.8 miles to see a more sparkly variety of petrified logs. This area of the park is named after crystals found on deposits within the wood.

You’re unlikely to see many visitors here despite the technicolor landscape. The stop below is more popular.

Visit the Rainbow Forest Museum.

This museum acts as the visitor center on the south part of the park. Pop in to learn more about the geology of the park or use this as a base for some of the easiest strolls in the park.

This is where you’ll connect to the Long Logs Trail, a half-mile loop that is home to, predictably, some of the park’s longest longs.

This is also where you’ll find the Giant Logs Trail. I bet you already have an idea of what you’ll find here. Don’t miss Old Faithful while you’re hitting this 0.4-mile loop. He’s almost 10 feet wide at his base. 

Finish at the Agate House.

The Agate House is an example of petrified wood used in home construction. This site is what remains of an eight-room pueblo built by the ancestral Puebloan people.

While there weren’t many artifacts found here, the size suggests it was used by one family.

Try to get some close-ups of the innovative work done here, then think about the fact that researchers think the home was built between 1050 and 1300. That’s some amazing stuff.

When to Visit Petrified Forest National Park

The best months to visit the Petrified Forest are when the wildflowers bloom from March through October. July and August are the hottest months, but it’s much cooler here than the rest of Arizona. You may get some summer showers during those months.

We visited in February and found it quite comfortable in light jackets. Winter visits mean even fewer crowds in this underrated park.

More Attractions Near Petrified Forest National Park

With more time in the area, the quirky town of Holbrook is worth some time. I mean, you’ll probably spend a night there at the end of the day, so it’s also pretty convenient.

Start at the Wigwam Motel, the inspiration for the Cozy Cone Motel in Cars. Yes, you can stay there. I didn’t want to relive the Route 66 days enough to book a room there myself, but it’s an option for you if you like that sort of thing.

Here are a few more options when you’re done with Holbrook and the Petrified Forest:

• Winslow: This Route 66 town under an hour from the park is known for its connection to the song “Take it Easy” by the Eagles. If you’re already on a Route 66 adventure, it’s worth a drive through town.
• Hubbell Trading Post National Historic Site: Visit this 19th-century trading post about an hour north of the park to learn more about the buying and selling of goods within the Navajo Nation.
• Meteor Crater Natural Landmark: See the impact site formed by a meteorite collision nearly 50,000 years ago at this landmark about an hour and 15 minutes from the park. Start at the visitor center to get some background.

Where to Stay When Visiting Petrified Forest

The closest town to Petrified Forest National Park is Holbrook. You’ll find a variety of budget-friendly options from the expected chain accommodations in the Navajo County town.

As I’ve already mentioned, the Wigwam Motel is an option if you want to experience a real throwback. Despite its humble appearance, guests seem to like it for the kitsch factor alone. Prices are similar to more traditional accommodations in town.

We stayed at the La Quinta Inn & Suites on our visit as we were traveling with our dog. We haven’t stayed in a La Quinta that has charged us a pet fee yet, and we’ve likely done at least a dozen now. It was clean, quiet, and comfortable, so it suited our needs just fine.

If you don’t have the same needs, browse the map below for highly-rated properties in and around Holbrook:

If you’re interested in camping near Petrified Forest National Park, you’ll need a free backpacking wilderness permit first. From there, you’ll be able to spend a night in the Petrified Forest National Wilderness Area at least half a mile from your car.

There are more traditional private campgrounds outside of the park.

Petrified Forest National Park is worth seeing.

There aren’t many places you can see this many examples of petrified wood, a feature that people from all over the country have been visiting since the creation of Route 66.

It’s also worth a trip to see the colors of the Painted Desert and Blue Mesa. This park is very photogenic, and it’s worth adding a bit of time to your Arizona road trip to make it happen.

Heck, it’s worth adding a stop at the park to a New Mexico road trip, too, thanks to its proximity to the New Mexico border.

Planning a road trip out this way? Check out these guides:

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• A Guide to the Best California Road Trips

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