One of the highlights of the variegated moonscape of the Four Corners region of the Southwest, Petrified Forest National Park protects the largest, most spectacular tract of petrified wood in the nation, as well as the barren, Technicolor dreamscape of the Painted Desert. A visit here offers a surreal departure into land rich in cultural, geologic, and spiritual history.Millions of years ago, at a time when dinosaurs were still roaming the earth, the wood scattered across this mile-high desert of northeastern Arizona became petrified Travel Guides in USA. What petrifies a forest? The short answer: Over time, water saturated with minerals infiltrates organic matter, eventually turning it to stone. A 27-mile scenic drive with more than 20 overlooks gives nearly a million visitors a year—most on their way to or from the Grand Canyon—a quick look at this fascinating landscape. But away from the roads are 93,533 acres of wilderness, with multicolored badlands, 225-million-year-old fossils, petroglyphs and ruined pueblos, and mesas offering up panoramic views of this strange landscape. Get out there and you’ll almost certainly have it all to yourself—fewer than 1,000 people a year explore the Petrified Forest National Park back country.
History of Petrified Forest National Park
Petrified Forest National Park 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.
How to Get There
If you are traveling west on I-40, exit into park. When leaving the south end of park, the road joins US 180. Follow US 180 for 19 miles to Holbrook and back to I-40. If you are traveling east on I-40, take the US 180 exit in Holbrook. The south entrance is 19 miles farther. After driving through the park, leave via I-40. Airport: Flagstaff. There is also a small airport in Holbrook.
When to Go
Year-round. Summer’s dramatic thunderstorms enhance the beauty of the landscape. Fall, with its milder weather, also attracts many visitors. Winter on the Colorado Plateau can be cold with brief snowstorms, but moderate afternoon temperatures are not uncommon. The area blooms colorfully in spring; winds can be high.Petrified Forest National Park is Adventures Place For Vacations.
How to Visit
Many of the features at Petrified Forest National Park are on a scale best appreciated by leaving the car. Plan enough time to walk among the fossil logs and Painted Desert badlands. For a half-day visit, follow the park road from the Rainbow Forest Museum toward Pintado Point. If you can stay longer, include a walk to Agate House, take the trail into the Blue Mesa badlands, and consider a hike in the Petrified Forest National Wilderness Area.