Let me tell you, at first glance these badlands might appear barren and lifeless, but I suggest you to look closely when you are here and discover this land which was once playground of dinosaurs and many other animals and plants from Triassic Period.
I need to confess that the map of this park is one of the simplest maps compared to other National Parks I have been. So accurate and almost one way. You can check out the official map in https://www.nps.gov/
To be honest Petrified Forest was not in the plan on this summer road trip because its summer its Arizona, you know what I mean! But when you are driving on highway 40 going towards Nevada and you see National park right in front of you and your dream of ticking off one more NP from your list, then I couldn’t say NO. And I am very glad with the decision, I knew it will be full of history and information but I didn’t expect Petrified to be this pretty.
Painted Desert Visitor Center: We entered from this visitor center, it has all the information you need, from there follow the 28-mile park road for a journey of discovery.
Painted Desert Inn: Originally built in 1920s this is Pueblo Revival Style home which is full of history.
Painted Desert Overlooks showcase spectacular views of the multi-hued landscape.
Tawa Point: Trail leads 1.2 miles one way from Tawa Point through tranquil grasslands to the Painted Desert Visitor Center.
Route 66 Alignment: A 1932 Studebaker shows where a section of the original Route 66 crossed the park.
Puerco Pueblo: This 0.3 mile loop trail highlights petroglyphs and ancestral Puebloan homes occupied 1250-1380 CE. This is the stop where you can see how natives used to live in this forest.
Newspaper Rock: displays more than 650 petroglyphs, some over 2,000 years old.
Blue Mesa: features a 3.5 mile loop drive. A steep, 1-mile trail enters the vibrant badlands with equally colorful petrified wood.
Agate Bridge: features sweeping views and a 110-foot long petrified log bridge which is like more than millions years old. I really felt like I time travelled for a moment.
Jasper Forest: has a panoramic view of an area with a high concentration of petrified wood.
Crystal Forest: is a paved, 0.75-mile loop trail through a badlands landscape with many intact petrified logs. They have literally turned crystals and they are so pretty. Couldn’t believe my eyes, had to touch them. But don’t you take them home, they have more meanings right here!
Pictures in between:
When you are here, try to play with your imagination. This was rich-green luscious forest with abundance to food and water for so many kinds of creatures. This was their home. This is the proof that earth is always changing. Let’s be more gentle to mother nature and enjoy the process of this change.
What did I miss:
Rainbow Forest Museum and Visitor Center (from south entrance) has information, a park film, fossil exhibits and skeletons, bookstore, trail access, and restrooms. This was close due to pandemic.
Giant Logs Trail: 0.4 mile loop to see some of the largest petrifies logs in the park.
Long Logs Trail: 1.6 mile loop leads where some specimens are over 180 feet long.
Agate House Trail: 2 miles roundtrip to see a seven-room pueblo constructed of petrified wood.
