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.

Petrified Forest National Park stretches along Interstate 40 in northeastern Arizona and is most easily accessed by car. The park’s visitor centers and overlooks are reached directly from I‑40; from Flagstaff expect a drive of about 100-120 miles east (roughly 1.5-2 hours). From the nearby town of Holbrook the drive is shorter (about 30-40 minutes).

There is little to no regular public transit into the park, so visitors normally drive or join a guided tour; follow I‑40 and the park signage to the visitor centers and parking areas, then explore by foot on park trails.

• Start at one of the park visitor centers-Rainbow Forest (south) or Painted Desert (north)-to pick up maps, current road/trail conditions and ranger advice before driving the scenic loop through the park.
• Do the major stops early in the day: petroglyph and long panoramic viewpoints are best with morning light and before desert heat or afternoon clouds build.
• Plan your route in advance and use the designated pullouts and marked trails; the park is spread along US‑40 (and the park road), so a planned driving sequence avoids backtracking and crowded photo spots.