Petrified Forest National Park
4.8(14K)google
4.6(18)yelp
GeologyFossils
Overview
Famous for its massive and colorful deposits of highly mineralized petrified wood, this prehistoric landscape transports visitors back over 200 million years to the Late Triassic epoch. Beyond the brilliant rainbow-hued quartz fossil logs, the park features the vibrant badlands of the Painted Desert, ancient Native American petroglyphs at Newspaper Rock, and historical archaeological structures that reflect millennia of fascinating human adaptation.
Practical Info
Suggested Duration3-5 hours
Best TimeSeptember–November in autumn or March–May in spring, when temperatures are mildest. It's highly recommended to visit the north-side Painted Desert overlooks in the late afternoon, when the sunset makes the hills' red-pink layers even more dreamlike
Getting ThereLocated in northeastern Arizona; I-40 leads directly to the park's north gate (Exit 311), or you can enter the south gate from US-180. Driving the entire scenic road across the park is the most perfect way to tour it
Travel Tips
- This has one of the world's largest and most brilliant concentrations of colorful Late Triassic petrified wood, while the north side of the park also perfectly blends in the colorfully layered "Painted Desert"
- It is strictly forbidden to pick up or take away any petrified-wood fragment in the park, no matter its size
- Rangers conduct strict checks when you leave the park, and violators face extremely heavy legal fines
- The park's only main road runs 28 miles from north to south, passing the famous historic Route 66 intersection along the way, where a vintage old car is preserved for visitors to photograph
Reviews
Positive
- So incredible! Those things that look like wood are actually hard, cold agate and crystal to the touch—nature is truly amazing. The self-drive loop is very well developed and takes almost no effort
- The Painted Desert to the north has an extremely open view; those red-and-white badland hills are distinctly layered in the sunlight, and a casual snapshot is a landscape masterpiece
- A single main road cuts through the park with all highlights right off the pavement; the trails are short and paved, perfect for road trips and families.
- Management is strict; rangers do a thorough check of vehicles upon entering and exiting to prevent fossil theft, which makes you feel secure.
Heads up
- The wind and sand in the park are terrifying; when it's windy you can barely even open the car door. Also, there's a serious lack of shade and food supplies here, so be sure to bring enough food and water
- For preservation, some trails are fenced off completely, forcing tourists to watch from afar, which takes away some interactive fun.
- The park closes strictly at 5 PM and clears everyone out; the operating hours are too short, completely preventing sunset or night photography.
- There are barely any decent dining options inside—only a gift shop selling basic microwavable food that is both tasteless and pricey.