About Petrified Forest National Park

Featuring a colorful desert landscape with significant deposits of petrified wood from the late Triassic period, Petrified Forest National Park is an Arizona treasure. Highlights include the Painted Desert badlands that cover the northern area, Blue Mesa Road Loop, and Newspaper Rock, covered with ancient petroglyphs.

Hikers, photographers, and nature lovers will want to spend as much time as possible among the natural wonders of the Petrified Forest, including Crystal Forest, Black Forest, and Rainbow Forest. The Painted Desert offers a multitude of trails for visitors to explore the striated mounds of sedimentary rock. Many travelers opt to combine guided tours with visits to other attractions in Arizona, such as the Grand Canyon or Monument Valley.