How Long Is The Petrified Forest Walk?
Overview of the Petrified Forest National Park
The Petrified Forest National Park is located in northeastern Arizona, about 100 miles east of Flagstaff. Encompassing over 221,000 acres of land, it was established as a national monument in 1906 to protect the large deposits of petrified wood in the area. In 1962, it was designated as a national park (National Park Service, 2022).
The park is divided into two main districts. The Painted Desert in the northern section features scenic vistas and colorful, striped badlands. The southern section contains grasslands and archaeological sites like the ruins of Puerco Pueblo. Over 13,000 archaeological sites have been discovered within the park, providing insight into the early indigenous cultures of the area (National Park Service, 2022).
Some of the notable features of Petrified Forest National Park include:
- Fossilized logs scattered across the landscape, some over 200 million years old.
- Petroglyphs and pictographs carved into rock walls from ancient inhabitants.
- The Painted Desert with banded layers of sediment in vibrant hues.
- Historic structures like the Painted Desert Inn, a national historic landmark.
The park is open year-round, with ranger programs, hiking trails, and scenic drives for visitors to enjoy. Entry fees are $25 per vehicle and $15 for pedestrians (National Park Service, 2022).
The Main Park Road
The main park road at Petrified Forest National Park stretches for 28 miles (45 km) and offers many scenic overlooks and landmarks along the route [1]. The drive typically takes around 1-1.5 hours without stopping. Some of the major stops and landmarks along the main park road include:
Painted Desert Visitor Center – Located at the north end of the park, this visitor center offers information, maps, restrooms, and the Painted Desert Inn National Historic Landmark. This is a good first stop to get oriented to the park.
Tawa Point – A panoramic viewpoint over the Painted Desert badlands with colors of red, orange, and pink.
Newspaper Rock – See a large petroglyph panel etched into a rock wall featuring hundreds of individual images.
Jasper Forest – Walk a short trail through an area dense with petrified wood, especially jasper and agate.
Agate Bridge – See one of the park’s most famous formations, a 100-foot petrified log that once spanned a gully.
Crystal Forest – A short loop trail through a concentration of petrified wood, including amethyst and quartz.
Giant Logs Trail – Walk among some of the largest petrified logs in the park, many over 170 feet long.
Long Logs Trail – Another area to see large petrified logs, some over 150 feet long.
Rainbow Forest Museum – Museum exhibits on the geology and history of the park. Trails branch out to see petrified wood up close.
The main park road offers scenic desert vistas throughout the drive. Stops allow you to take short walks to see the park’s petrified wood up close. [2]
Raindrops Vista Trail
The Raindrops Vista Trail is a 2.3 mile moderately trafficked out and back trail located near Holbrook, Arizona that offers scenic views and is good for all skill levels. The trail is primarily used for hiking, walking, and nature trips and is accessible year-round.
The terrain consists of desert washes and small hills covered in petrified wood fragments. The landscape showcases badland features with colorful bands of bentonite clay. Raindrops Vista is the scenic destination overlook on this hike, which provides panoramic views of the Painted Desert region.
According to the National Park Service, the full Raindrops Vista Trail out-and-back is approximately 2.3 miles long and takes 1-1.5 hours to complete. The trail is rated as moderate, with some inclines along the path up to the vista overlook. The trailhead is located off the main park road, 2.7 miles north of the Route 180 intersection.
The AllTrails reviews characterize this hike as short, scenic, and great for families or those short on time. The trail weaves through badlands and petrified forest terrain before culminating at the Raindrops Vista panoramic overlook, which provides exceptional views. Overall, this is a manageable and highly picturesque hike within the park.
Giant Logs Trail
The Giant Logs Trail in Petrified Forest National Park is 0.5 miles round trip and takes approximately 30 minutes to complete (NPS). This short trail is perfect for viewing some of the park’s largest and most impressive petrified logs along with beautiful badland formations.
The main highlight of the Giant Logs Trail is the massive petrified log nicknamed “Old Faithful.” According to the park, Old Faithful weighs nearly 44 tons! It stands over 10 feet tall and is over 35 feet long (DWHike). The trail also features other giant petrified logs and colorful, eroded landscapes. Many reviewers note this is one of the best short hikes for seeing the park’s most massive petrified wood specimens up close (AllTrails).
With its short distance, abundance of petrified wood, and scenic colors, the Giant Logs Trail is a must-see for visitors wanting to experience some of the most impressive sights in Petrified Forest National Park without a long hike.
Long Logs Trail
The Long Logs Trail is located north of the Rainbow Forest Museum parking area. This 1.6 mile loop trail showcases some of the park’s largest petrified tree specimens, some over 170 feet long.[1] The paved and wheelchair accessible path winds through a shady forest with interpretive signs identifying tree species. Highlights along the way include Old Faithful Log andclang Clang Log.
Old Faithful Log is considered one of the longest intact logs in the park at over 140 feet. It is a Araucarioxylon arizonicum log distinguished by its spiral grain.[2] Clang Clang Log is another massive log so named because it sounds hollow when struck. At one time it was the park’s largest log at 180 feet long before part of it broke off.
The trail is estimated to take around 1-2 hours to complete. Benches are available along the route for resting. Pets are allowed on leash. The Long Logs Trail provides an opportunity to admire the sheer size of ancient tree specimens in a shaded setting.
[1] https://www.nps.gov/places/long-logs-trail.htm
[2] https://www.nps.gov/thingstodo/walk-long-logs-trail.htm
Crystal Forest Trail
The Crystal Forest Trail is a 0.8 mile loop trail that winds through an area dense with petrified wood and multi-hued quartz crystals. The trail showcases beautiful amethyst and crystal formations amongst the petrified logs.
This short trail is considered easy, taking around 15-20 minutes to complete. The path is paved and mostly flat, making it accessible for wheelchair users.
The Crystal Forest Trail highlights the park’s quartz formations and amethyst crystals. Petrified wood found along the trail often contains gorgeous amethyst crystals made of quartz. The violet-purple color comes from trace amounts of iron and manganese within the quartz.
Park visitors marvel at the concentration of petrified wood containing amethyst formations along this trail. The variety of colors from the crystals shining in the sun make this one of the most unique and picturesque hikes in the park.
Agate House
The Agate House is an archaeological site along the Agate House Trail located near the Rainbow Forest Museum parking lot. It features the partially reconstructed remains of a small pueblo built around A.D. 1100 by ancient Pueblo people. The site gets its name from the agate stones found in the walls of the ruins.
The Agate House Trail runs 2 miles round trip and is generally considered an easy hike that takes around 40 minutes to complete (source). The trail features signs with information about the history and culture of the ancestral Puebloans who lived in the area. Hikers will walk through colorful badlands to reach the pueblo ruins, where they can view petroglyphs and get a closer look at the remaining walls of the structure.
Puerco Pueblo Trail
The Puerco Pueblo Trail is a short 0.3 mile loop trail that takes approximately 6 minutes to complete according to AllTrails. The trail is paved and considered easy, making it accessible for most visitors.
The main feature along the Puerco Pueblo Trail are the ruins of a 100-room pueblo that the trail goes directly through. According to the National Park Service, this partially excavated pueblo dates back to the 13th and 14th centuries. Hikers can view the remaining architecture and get a glimpse into what life was like for the pueblo’s inhabitants centuries ago.
In addition to the pueblo itself, the trail features various petroglyphs that provide further insight into the culture of the people who once lived here. The easy paved loop offers a quick but enriching walk ideal for those looking to learn about the area’s Native American history without a strenuous hike.
Blue Mesa Trail
The Blue Mesa Trail is a 1 mile loop trail located near Holbrook, Arizona in Petrified Forest National Park according to AllTrails. This easy trail typically takes around 25 minutes to complete and offers spectacular views of colorful badlands along the way.
As described by the National Park Service, the paved and gravel Blue Mesa Trail is 1.6 km (1 mile) long and starts from the Blue Mesa sun shelter before looping back (NPS). The trail descends from the mesa rim and allows hikers to walk amongst the vibrantly colored landscape of eroded badlands in shades of blue, purple, red and yellow.
According to Utah’s Adventure Family, the Blue Mesa Trail treats visitors to breathtaking views of hoodoos and formations that look like melting wax. While short in length, the scenery along this trail makes it a highlight of Petrified Forest National Park.
Overall Tips for Hiking the Park
When planning your hike through Petrified Forest National Park, keep these general tips in mind for an optimal experience:
Wear comfortable, supportive footwear like sneakers or light hiking boots. The trails can be uneven in parts with loose gravel, so sturdy shoes are a must. Avoid flimsy sandals or flip flops that could lead to foot pain or injury (https://www.nps.gov/pefo/planyourvisit/trails.htm).
Bring plenty of water and snacks. Stay hydrated and fueled, especially during the hot summer months. There are limited food options in the park, so pack what you need. Carry water bottles or a hydration pack (https://lafamilytravel.com/a-quick-guide-to-visiting-petrified-forest-national-park/).
Use sun protection like hats, sunglasses, and sunscreen. The desert sun can be intense with minimal shade on trails. Protect yourself from sunburn and heat exhaustion.
Allow ample time to complete hikes based on listed times and distances. Trails like the 1.6 mile Crystal Forest Trail may take over an hour. Budget extra time to enjoy scenic overlooks and attractions along the way (https://uprootedtraveler.com/one-day-in-petrified-forest-national-park/).
