Rainbow Forest
Area Petrified forest area with colorful fossilized wood
In Petrified Forest National Park, the Rainbow Forest area offers accessible trails amid colorful badlands and abundant petrified wood, with viewpoints and paleontological interest for hikers and amateur geologists.
Rainbow Forest is an area of petrified wood and badlands within Petrified Forest National Park in northeastern Arizona. It is noted for concentrations of fossilized tree trunks that are visible at surface exposures.
The site contains trails and viewing areas that pass among stands of petrified logs and colorful sedimentary outcrops, with interpretive signage and nearby park facilities. Many of the visible specimens are large, silicified tree trunks preserved in situ or partly exposed by erosion.
The wood fossilized during the Late Triassic, about 225 million years ago, when trees were buried by sediment and subsequently mineralized. The land containing Rainbow Forest was incorporated into the protected area now designated as Petrified Forest National Park.
The Rainbow Forest area sits in the southern section of Petrified Forest National Park in northeastern Arizona, adjacent to the park road and close to the park’s southern visitor facilities and museum.
- Site type: A well-preserved concentration of fossilized tree trunks and colorful sedimentary badlands located inside the park.
- Visitor access: Served by short interpretive trails and the nearby Rainbow Forest Museum for orientation and exhibits.
What to See #
- Big Tree: Large petrified trunk exposed on a short trail in the Rainbow Forest area; commonly cited example of fossilized conifer wood from the Late Triassic.
How to Get to Rainbow Forest #
Petrified Forest National Park is on Interstate 40 in northeastern Arizona, about 55 miles east of Flagstaff. Take exit ramps to the park’s visitor center/entrances; the Rainbow Forest area is near the southern part of the park. The town of Holbrook lies nearby along I‑40 and provides services and lodging.
Tips for Visiting Rainbow Forest #
- Start at the Rainbow Forest Museum and Trail early in the morning for the best light on petrified logs and to avoid mid-day visitor groups.
- Bring a good camera with a telephoto; many of the park's fossils and painted desert vistas photograph better than they do in person.
- Stay to see Painted Desert vistas from overlooks near the northern park road-sunrise and late afternoon give the best colors.
Best Time to Visit Rainbow Forest #
Visit in spring or autumn for comfortable hiking and the best light on the painted and fossilized landscapes; summer can be hot.
Weather & Climate near Rainbow Forest #
Rainbow Forest's climate is classified as Cold Desert - Cold Desert climate with warm summers (peaking in July) and cold winters (coldest in January). Temperatures range from -6°C to 34°C. Very dry conditions with minimal rainfall.
January
January is the coolest month with highs of 9°C and lows of -6°C. Light rainfall.
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February
February is cold with highs of 13°C and lows of -4°C. Light rainfall.
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March
March is cold with highs of 16°C and lows of -2°C. Light rainfall.
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April
April is cool with highs of 21°C and lows of 1°C. Light rainfall.
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May
May is cool with highs of 26°C and lows of 6°C. Light rainfall.
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June
June is mild with highs of 32°C and lows of 11°C. The driest month with just 8 mm.
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July
July is the warmest month with highs of 34°C and lows of 15°C. Moderate rainfall (36 mm).
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August
August is mild with highs of 32°C and lows of 15°C. The wettest month with 43 mm of rain.
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September
September is mild with highs of 29°C and lows of 11°C. Moderate rainfall (34 mm).
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October
October is cool with highs of 22°C and lows of 4°C. Light rainfall.
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November
November is cold with highs of 15°C and lows of -2°C. Light rainfall.
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December
December is cold with highs of 10°C and lows of -6°C. Light rainfall.
