It’s like Badlands meets a rainbow forest meets a desert.
Despite have a name that sound like an out-of-door ghost house , the only thing to fear aboutPetrified Forest National Parkis the FOMO you ’ll have from overlooking thisunderrated Arizona gem . Unlike othertree - centric parksin the National Park System , this is a outback desert terrain with behemoth boulder - sized log scattered across the land . In fact , the name “ forest ” is a misnomer in this desiccate land of wind - drag in badlands , fossilized bones , blow over petroglyph , and petrify wood , twinkling in the Arizona Lord’s Day .
Located in the sleepy northeasterly part of the commonwealth , this is the only interior parkland in America that ’s literally bisect by Route 66 , making it the most quintessential road trip park you never knew you require . Plus , being dwarf by thatother Arizona national park , Petrified Forest is relatively quieter — with about 4 million few visitors than the Grand Canyon — but it ’s especially enthralling . With a dusty , desolate backdrop redolent of a picture fromCars , this 221,390 - acre parking area is a sleeper strike for geologists , paleontologists , and Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree - hugger — despite the fact that the resident physician trees have been dead for 200 million eld .
Whereas once mighty tree remain firm as marvellous as redwood in tropical , dinosaur - dwelling jungle , they ’ve long since succumbed to the superpower of Mother Nature . preserve in time , these Tree were fell by raging rivers hundreds of trillion of yr ago , then inhume under sediment , and tardily crystalized by volcanic ash tree and silica .
Rebecca L. Latson/Moment/Getty Images
Nowadays , remainder of Arizona ’s tropic past have long since dwindle down , leaving behind gigantic petrified logs that have been almost totally transformed into solid quartz . Serious desert bling bling , the logarithm get their kaleidoscopical play from iron , carbon , and atomic number 25 , imbuing them tints of purple and royal green .
It may not take care like much at first , but this nictitation - and - you’ll - miss - it parking area is home to one of the turgid collections of petrified forest on Earth , perfectly preserved relics of a prehistoric era where river once ride and terrify reptilians once lurch . Composed of several smaller “ forests , ” like Rainbow Forest and Painted Desert , the park is pour with lustrous logs strew across Bad Lands and butte . Home to gentle hiking trails , Jurassic - level fossils , and ancient petroglyphs , Petrified Forest is like a road trip clip capsulize to a bygone era . Here ’s what to cognise about visiting .
When to visit Petrified Forest National Park
Unlike Grand Canyon National Park , which ensure more than 4 million annual visitors , Petrified Forest sees a short 600,000 visitant each twelvemonth , making this one low - key park where you do n’t really take to worry about bunch , traffic , or a lack of trailhead parking spaces . The only affair you really need to grapple with when mapping out a stop consonant at Petrified Forest is weather . This is Arizona after all — a state whose scorching forecasts are decidedlynotlow - headstone .
Thanks to its high natural elevation , around 5,800 feet , the park is n’t as searingly hot as much of the rest of the state , but July and August can still see temps soar well into the 90s . And due to the fact that you ’re that much tight to the Dominicus , you ’ll feel the burn . This being the desert , things cool off dramatically after sundown , plump down to the modest 50s even at the summer vizor . While summertime is prime meter for the park , your good stakes to amaze the warmth is to arrive early — unlike most home common , Petrified Forest has designate common hr of 8 am–6 phase modulation , and there ’s a genuine logic gate on the independent park route ( keep in mind that Arizona does not observe daylight rescue clip ) .
Although the common sees very little precipitation , July and August are the month when afternoon storms are most potential , which would be refreshing if it were n’t for the fact that rain turns the sandlike landscape into one big slippery clay pit . wintertime gets shockingly cool by most Arizona standard , with highs in the mid-40s . Spring can be windy but juiceless , and dusk still get some of those tapered thunderstorms , but with well cooler temperatures .
Juan Carlos Munoz/Shutterstock
The ultimate road trip park
With Route 66 conveniently weaving right through the green , making Petrified Forest the only national common with a section of the Americana main road , this is one parking area that ’s specially perfect for route trips .
The main artery is the Park Road that meanders for 28 miles from thePainted Desert Visitor Centerin the northward to theRainbow Forest Museumon the southerly end . Not only straightforward and easy , the route is one of the most epic and enchanting scenic drives in any national park , with numerous pullouts to park and lummox . You ’ll also find several short and easy tramp trails going from the outlook spots heading into the quiet wilderness . Of the park ’s seven point trails , none are more than three miles , and they ’re all dog - favorable .
Start with a halt at the visitor center , where exhibits and an prefatory moving picture show you how these once - soar tree transform into the jewel boulders they are today . Driving to the south , premier pit stops includePuerco PuebloandNewspaper Rockfor petroglyphs and indigenous lore .
Juan Carlos Munoz/Shutterstock
You ’ll also find must - do trails likeBlue Mesa , which is a prime case of calibre over quantity — a unforesightful paved loop begin atop a ridge of blue - tinct badlands before descending into the desert disperse with shimmering petrified Ellen Price Wood . For even more wow , stop at theGiant Logs Trail , home to the largest fall Tree in the park , including Old Faithful , a log so large that it ’s as broad as an R.V. .
While designated lead are thin , visitant are capable to venture into the park ’s 50,000 acres of backcountry wild , tramp and tenting wherever your heart desires ( as long as you ’re at least a mile from the route ) .
Channel your inner Laura Dern
Sure , you could go see the newJurassic Worldmovie , or you may just live your best Jurassic life in Petrified Forest ( without the peril of being chased by velociraptor ) , home to genuine - passel fossils and some intimidatingly epic account .
When these tree diagram once stood some 200 - metrical unit tall , in a sub - tropic wilderness that face nothin like present - day Arizona , the region was located further toward the Equator . It once swarm with dinos so fierce and huge — includingcrocodile - like incubus animal — they would make theJurassic Parkfranchise count like a Nickelodeon cartoon . Of the park ’s insightful museum , the Rainbow Forest Museum at the southern end contains fossils and exhibit that distinguish the story of the region ’s Jurassic - level past .
About 200 million years after , the “ woods ” was once again abuzz with fresh resident . Evidence exists of indigenous people living here for millennium , leaving behind preserve remnants like rock ‘n’ roll - carved petroglyphs at sites like Newspaper Rock .
Flickr/Andrew Kearns
To delve even deeply into Native American lore , thePuerco Pueblo Trailis a hop and skip to a once - boom village that abide around the year 1300 , comprised mostly of wood and mud . The most inviolate of the parking area ’s departed small town , Puerco Pueblo still has multiple open - aviation room anchor by an inner center that once served as a communal , ceremonial gathering property .
Where to stay near Petrified Forest National Park
Around here , accommodate is even more thin than the hike trails . Aside fromcamping in the primitive backcountry , there are no campgrounds in the park , and staying overnight in an R.V. or otherwise is not allowed — the gates on the Park Road close at 6 p.m. , and that mean it ’s time to go . To bivouac , you ’ll need to adopt awilderness permit , which is gratis , from either visitant center on the day you plan on roughing it .
Outside of the common , campgrounds — for both RVers and tents — can be found at nearby national commons web site likeCanyon de Chelly National MonumentandChaco Culture National Historical Park , as well as inApache - Sitgreaves National Forest , and state Rosa Parks likeBlue Water State Park , Homolovi State Park , andLyman Lake State Park .
For hotels , the nearest town to Petrified Forest is Holbrook , where you ’ll receive all your run - of - the - pulverisation pick at mostly affordable rate . Unlike some national parks , where nearby restaurant options are surprisingly abundant , Petrified Forest is not a gastronome Eden . Holbrook is comprised mostly of chains , salve for a few straightforward mommy - and - pop daub likeTom & Suzie ’s DinerandSombreritos Mexican Food . But you ’re route tripping here for the fossilized trees , after all , not the haute culinary art .
Steven Love/EyeEm/Getty Images
William Cushman/Shutterstock
Matthew Swartz/EyeEm/Getty Images
Flickr/Andrea Lai
