Petrified Forest National Park is a United States National Park that is located in eastern Arizona, in the Southwest region of the United States. The park takes its name from the remnants of ancient trees which have been transformed into brilliantly colored minerals through a series of geological processes.

History

Petrified Forest was set aside as a national monument in 1906 to preserve and protect the petrified wood for its scientific value. The monument became a national park in 1962, and legislation passed in 2004 more than doubled the park's area from 93,533 acres to 218,533 acres. Petrified Forest National Park features one of the world's largest and most colorful concentrations of petrified wood, the multi-hued badlands of the Chinle Formation known as the Painted Desert, historic structures, archeological sites, and displays of 225 million year old fossils. The park is now recognized as protecting the best representation of the Late Triassic Period in the world, and on average paleontologists discover about two new animal species each year.

Landscape

The park features one of the world's largest and most colorful concentrations of petrified wood, the multi-hued badlands of the Chinle Formation known as the Painted Desert, and displays of 225 million year old fossils.

Flora and fauna

The park includes a grassland ecosystem and the badlands of the Painted Desert. The terrain changes quickly as you travel through the park, from the vistas of the Painted Desert, into the grassland of a large plateau, through grand geologic formations, and arrays of richly colored petrified wood. Animal life at Petrified Forest includes amphibians, birds, insects, spiders, mammals, and reptiles. Birds, lizards and some rodents are seen most frequently, though seasons and weather play a large role in determining what animals are active. Nocturnal animals include kangaroo rats, woodrats (also called packrats) and most other small desert rodents, skunks, foxes, bobcats, bats and owls. Animals that can be seen during the day include pronghorn, mule deer, coyotes, porcupines, desert cottontails, black-tailed jackrabbits, squirrels, hawks, snakes, lizards, golden eagles, and many songbirds.

Climate

The park has summer daytime average temperatures in the 90s F and summer overnight temperatures in the 60s F. Winters are mild, frequently freezing overnight but warming by mid-afternoon to an average of 40 F. Park closures for weather are possible but not frequent.

Get in

By car
An automobile is the only feasible way of getting to the park. Petrified Forest National Park is located off of Interstate 40 in northeastern Arizona, 259 miles from Phoenix and 204 miles west of Albuquerque. Westbound Interstate 40 travelers should take exit 311, drive through the park and connect with Highway 180 at the south end. Highway 180 north returns to Interstate 40 via Holbrook. Eastbound Interstate 40 travelers should exit at Holbrook and travel on Highway 180 south to the park's south entrance. Drive north through the park to return to Interstate 40.

Activities

 • Hiking. Most of the overlooks offer short loops trails, providing the visitor with a more intimate encounter with the natural features of the area. The Blue Mesa trail, the Crystal Forest trail, and the Long Logs trail are highlights.
 • Horseback riding. Horses are allowed into the wilderness areas of the park. Trailers can be parked at the Painted Desert Inn, and water for horses is available at the service station near the Painted Desert Visitor Center. No water for horses is available in the wilderness area.
 • Photography. The brilliant shapes and colors in the park's landscape make excellent photographic subjects. Light can be extremely harsh during mid-day, so it is best to enter the park as soon as the gates open in order to capture the best photographic conditions.
 • Backpacking. The wilderness areas of the park provide backpackers with an escape from civilization. Access is from the trailhead near the Painted Desert Inn, but be aware that you must carry water as none is available in the wilderness areas.

Shopping

There are stores just outside the park which sell petrified wood souvenirs. These specimens were (or were supposed to have been) collected outside the park boundaries. This is why rangers will ask about possession of petrified wood when you enter the park. Additional souvenirs may be purchased at the gift shops located near the Painted Desert Visitor Center or the Rainbow Forest Museum. Both of these areas also offer bookstores selling books of local interest.

Get out

 • Canyon de Chelly National Monument. 97 miles north of the park, this monument lies within Navajo Nation and contains numerous sites that are sacred to the Navajo people.