Agnostik
National Park · AZ

Petrified Forest National Park

Park Hours: 8am to 5pm, MST. Don't forget that Arizona does not observe Daylight Savings. Petrified Forest is best known for its Triassic fossils. It's like having two parks in one, an ecosystem over 200 million years old with plants and animals now represented in the surreal landscape of the Painted Desert. There is also a living park with its own denizens adapted to a demanding environment.

nps.gov ↗

Photos

Sunlit Painted Desert hills of the Petrified Forest National Wilderness Area
Sunrise and sunset are favorite times to view the colorful Painted Desert of the Petrified Forest National Wilderness Area
Sunset lights up the Painted Desert Inn National Historic Landmark west side.
Sunset lights up the Painted Desert Inn National Historic Landmark west side.
Sunlight highlights the colorful petrified wood of Agate House
Agate House was built over 900 years ago out of pieces of petrified wood
Masonry wall foundations are all that are left of a hundred room pueblo
Masonry wall remnants are all that are left of a hundred room pueblo.
Two visitors walk the Blue Mesa Trail between blue, purple, and grey badlands.
Visitors enjoy the otherworldly walk along the Blue Mesa.
many petrified logs lay on the ground and on eroded pedestals of clay
Jasper Forest has some of the most colorful logs in the park.
A beam of light touches a petroglyph at Puerco Pueblo on the summer solstice
A petroglyph at Puerco Pueblo interacts with the sunlight on the summer solstice.
a petroglyph pecked into sandstone that represents a mountain lion
This ancient petroglyph of a mountain lion has become an icon of the park.
Researchers dig for fossils in the badlands
Researchers dig for fossils in the badlands.
yellow and other colors in a piece of brightly colored petrified wood
Iron oxide is one of the many trace minerals that create the color of petrified wood.
Dark blue sky filled with stars over banded badland.
Petrified Forest is now an International Dark Sky Park!

Activities

  • Arts and Culture
  • Cultural Demonstrations
  • Auto and ATV
  • Scenic Driving
  • Astronomy
  • Stargazing
  • Biking
  • Road Biking
  • Camping
  • Backcountry Camping
  • Horse Camping (see also Horse/Stock Use)
  • Compass and GPS
  • Geocaching
  • Orienteering
  • Food
  • Dining
  • Picnicking
  • Guided Tours
  • Self-Guided Tours - Walking
  • Self-Guided Tours - Auto
  • Hands-On
  • Citizen Science
  • Hiking
  • Backcountry Hiking
  • Front-Country Hiking
  • Off-Trail Permitted Hiking
  • Horse Trekking
  • Horse Camping (see also camping)
  • Horseback Riding
  • Junior Ranger Program
  • Wildlife Watching
  • Birdwatching
  • Park Film
  • Museum Exhibits
  • Shopping
  • Bookstore and Park Store
  • Gift Shop and Souvenirs