Petrified Forest National Park

Petrified Forest National Park in northeastern Arizona conserves one of the largest and most accessible concentrations of Late Triassic petrified wood and adjacent painted badlands. The park was established as a national park in 1962 to protect fossil wood, fossil-rich strata and scenic desert landscapes.

Extensive fossilized logs and stumps exposed at sites with boardwalk access, colorful badlands in the Painted Desert and interpretive exhibits that explain the region’s Triassic ecosystems. Roadside overlooks, short loop trails and longer backcountry routes give multiple viewing options across the park’s varied terrain.

Protection and scientific study of the park’s fossils have been ongoing since its early designation as a protected area; management focuses on preserving paleontological resources and providing public interpretation. The park also preserves traces of historic Route 66 that pass through its boundaries.

The park lies in northeastern Arizona, traversed by Interstate 40 and located near the town of Holbrook; it is east of Flagstaff and serves as a roadside-accessible unit of the National Park Service.

• Protection Rules: The park contains abundant Late Triassic petrified wood and painted badlands; visitors must not remove any fossils or petrified wood, as removal is illegal.
• Photography Tip: Best light for photographing colors in the Painted Desert is early morning or late afternoon, when shadows enhance the banding and textures.

What to See #

• Painted Desert: Badland and painted-stone landscapes of the Painted Desert featuring colorful layered sediments and scenic overlooks along the park road.
• Petrified Wood Areas: Exposures of Triassic-era petrified wood in places such as Blue Mesa and the Crystal Forest, with boardwalks and trails allowing close viewing of fossilized logs and stumps.
• Visitor Centers and Museums: Sites and small museums that interpret the park's paleontological finds and human history, including exhibits on local fossils and prehistoric ecosystems.