Petrified Forest National Park: A Hidden Gem in Northern Arizona

If you get some kicks on Route 66 in Arizona, you will pass through part of a beautiful national park that flies under the radar. Petrified Forest National Park is located in the northeast corner of Arizona along the famous east-to-west route. The park is perfect for those who enjoy sightseeing, photography (especially night landscape shots), hiking, and/or backpacking. This park is especially known for its fossils, which are around 225 million years old. Of course, the fossilized fallen trees are what most travelers set out to see.

Petrified Forest National Park: Everything You Need To Know

What Sets Petrified Forest National Park Apart

We happened to visit this park on a very wet and rainy day. This initially caused us frustration as people who love to get out and hike. However, this is one of those parks that remain beautiful even when you have to drive. Such was the case for us.

This park, to us, really sparkled in the rain. The traffic was extremely low (similar to Guadalupe Mountains), so we could meander through it at our own pace, stopping for any photo opp we wanted. Every major site is available for viewing off the main road cutting through the park. This artery can be accessed from I-40 (Route 66) and US Route 180. The entrance you use will depend on which direction you want to head. The headquarters and museum are located off the I-40 exit.

The main road runs north to south. We missed the southernmost edge of the park since they were doing construction on a small part of the road while we were there. Don’t feel bad for us, though. Look at the photos. We had the best time.

Why should you go to Petrified Forest National Park?

Have you ever felt like visiting another planet? I thought so. Look no further than your U.S. National Park service to hook you up. So many of the landscapes protected federally are vastly different from what we see daily – the Badlands, White Sands, and Death Valley are great examples. Petrified Forest National Park is no exception to that claim. The one thing different about this park is how the landscape is frozen in time.

I mentioned above that the park is known for its fossils. Nowhere is this more evident than at Blue Mesa. The Painted Desert and petrified logs show how the earth has changed over millions of years. I encourage you to do like I do and stop, breathe, and imagine the prehistoric beasts trouncing across the landscape millions of years ago.

Are fossilized trees not your thing? That’s OK. There are plenty of vertebrate and other invertebrate fossils for your viewing. One oversized creature includes a prehistoric croc-like monster. The park museum will happily educate you on the fossilization process of everything from trees to phytosaurs. Well worth the visit.

3 Can’t-Miss Spots in Petrified Forest National Park

1. Painted Desert Inn

2. Blue Mesa Overlook

3. The Namesake of the Park – Petrified Wood

Details about Petrified Forest National Park

Since the park is so easy to access and is relatively small, this is a great day trip. The park entrance is less than two hours from Flagstaff. This means you can easily include it while in town to visit other famous sites like the Grand Canyon or Antelope Canyon.

The big difference you’ll notice here is it is almost a guarantee that you won’t be jockeying around other viewers for your pictures. Take a relaxing day away from the chaos and go see the wonderful palette of colors Petrified Forest offers you.

Final Thoughts on Petrified Forest National Park

Let me offer you my thoughts in closing. I wouldn’t make a push for people to visit here if I didn’t truly find it stunning. Clear your camera’s memory card, fill the gas tank and get here. It’s not just about the photos, though. Slow down and stare. The landscapes that stretch to a seemingly endless horizon will captivate you if only you let them.