The Petrified Forest National Park
&
The Painted Desert
Near Holbrook, Arizona
Hikes, Travels, & Tours
Pictures, Photos, Images, & Reviews.
March 15, 2010
March 15, 2010
 |
| Map Of The Petrified Forest National Park Courtesy: National Park Service. |
|---|
Google Map To Petrified Forest National Park, Arizona.
View Larger Map
 |
| Newspaper Rock. Petrified Forest National Park Near Holbrook, Arizona. Photo Taken March 15, 2010. |
|---|
 |
| Newspaper Rock. Petrified Forest National Park Near Holbrook, Arizona. Photo Taken March 15, 2010. |
 |
| Newspaper Rock. Petrified Forest National Park Near Holbrook, Arizona. Photo Taken March 15, 2010. |
 |
| Newspaper Rock. Petrified Forest National Park Near Holbrook, Arizona. Photo Taken March 15, 2010. |
 |
| The Tepees. Petrified Forest National Park Near Holbrook, Arizona. Photo Taken March 15, 2010. |
 |
| Blue Mesa. Petrified Forest National Park Near Holbrook, Arizona. Photo Taken March 15, 2010. |
 |
| Agate Bridge. Reinforced With Concrete In 1917. Petrified Forest National Park Near Holbrook, Arizona. Photo Taken March 15, 2010. |
 |
| Agate Bridge. Reinforced With Concrete In 1917. Petrified Forest National Park Near Holbrook, Arizona. Photo Taken March 15, 2010. |
 |
| Jasper Forest. Petrified Forest National Park Near Holbrook, Arizona. Photo Taken March 15, 2010. |
 |
| Jasper Forest. Petrified Forest National Park Near Holbrook, Arizona. Photo Taken March 15, 2010. |
 |
| Crystal Forest. Petrified Forest National Park Near Holbrook, Arizona. Photo Taken March 15, 2010. |
 |
| Petrified Wood. Crystal Forest. Petrified Forest National Park Near Holbrook, Arizona. Photo Taken March 15, 2010. |
 |
| Rainbow Forest Museum. Petrified Forest National Park Near Holbrook, Arizona. Photo Taken March 15, 2010. |
 |
| "Old Faithful," Largest Of The Giant Logs At The Rainbow Forest Museum. Petrified Forest National Park Near Holbrook, Arizona. Photo Taken March 15, 2010. |
The Painted Desert & the Petrified Forest are found in one National Park known as the Petrified Forest National Park. This page will start its tour by going into the Petrified Forest after having already visited the Painted Desert and end by entering the northern Petrified Forest National Park Entrance. To see the Painted Desert go to that web page. A link is at the bottom of this page, below. President Theodore Roosevelt created Petrified Forest National Monument on December 8, 1906. Petrified Forest was designated as a national park on December 9, 1962. A Google Earth Map search marks the Painted Desert Visitor Center and Park Headquarters at about: 35o 03' 55.57" N 109o 46' 53.54" W. At about 5,767 feet elevation. A Google Earth Map search marks the Painted Desert - Rainbow Forest Museum at about: 34o 48' 54.64" N 109o 51' 56.75" W. At about 5,479 feet elevation. Having already visited the Painted Desert we have traveled past the Puerco Pueblo and heading south towards Newspaper Rock. This area of giant dark boulders is home to the largest collection of petroglyphs in the park with over 600 individual images etched into the stone. 11. We now arrive at the entrance to Newspaper Rock. Below the lookout point we can see the Newspaper Rocks. Be sure to bring binoculars,since the area below the lookout, where the petroglyphs are located is closed to the public. 12. As we follow the Petrified Forest Road south, we will drive by a region called The Tepees, which is a series of badland formations that resemble indian tepees. These stratified formations provide us with a spectacular display of lavender, pink, white, and steel clay formations that have been etched by water over thousands of years. The Tepees is also a popular area to do a little hiking. 13. After driving about two miles further south on the Petrified Forest Road we will find a turn off going north onto the Blue Mesa loop. Along this paved loop you will see a series of overlooks that provide some spectacular views of what appears to be an alien landscape on a strange planet. This improved paved trail descends for about 100 vertical feet through a series of switchbacks. The area is almost devoid of any plant life, and it providesyour first up close views of the petrified wood, which litters the ground and washes all through this area. If you choose not to hike the trail, as most people choose not to do, an observation deck is located on the southern rim of Blue Mesa, where you can view the trail below. 14. After leaving Blue Mesa, we will turn south on the Petrified Forest Road and drive toward Agate Bridge to the east. Agate Bridge is a 110-foot (34 meter) petrified log that built a natural bridge over an arroyo, or gully. 15. Next we will continue on the Petrified Forest Road and drive toward the Jasper Forest to the west. Jasper Forest is a flat observation area that looks across an endless sea of shattered pieces of petrified wood. 16. Continuing on our southerly journey, we will arrive at the Crystal Forest; located about two miles from the Jasper Forest access road. The Crystal Forest was once home to some of the largest petrified formations in the park. However the logs, which were laden with quartz and amethyst crystals, were dynamited into the shards of stone that you see today. The semi-precious stones were then hauled away. The Crystal Forest Loop Trail is a 3/4 mile walk through the Crystal Forest and it is easy for most people to do. 17. Next as we drive further south on the Petrified Forest Road we come to the Long Logs access road which less than a mile from the south entrance to the Petrified Forest National Monument. Here we will find the Long Logs Trail and Agate House Trail. The total distance of the Long Logs Trail and Agate House Trail is about two miles long. This walk will provide us with views of the largest concentration of petrified wood in the park. As we take the Long Logs Trail easterly and then head north around the interpretive shelter, we will see the desert floor littered, for as far as the eye can see, with the fossilized remains of an ancient forest. The Agate House Trail leads to a partially restored pueblo made out of petrified wood. The Agate House Trail is the longest in the park but it goes through easy terrain. 18. As we continue to drive on the Petrified Forest Road to the southeast, we will come to the Rainbow Forest Museum and the Giant Logs sections of the Petrified Forest National Park. This easy trail is about 4/10 of a mile long trail and has the highest traffic of any of the trails in the park. This trail takes us through another area of large petrified logs, including Old Faithful, the largest tree in the park. Just past the south entrance we travel a short distance to US 180. You can take US 180 west to Holbrook, about 19 miles further, and back to Interstate 40, at exit 285. Holbrook is the closest town to stop in for a meal or overnight accommodations.
Write to:
Park Open: Open year round except Christmas, December 25.
NOTE: Most of Arizona does not observe Daylight Savings Time. Petrified Forest National Park stays on Mountain Standard Time year-round. Be prepared for variable and extreme weather conditions: snow in winter, hot sun in summer with afternoon thunderstorms from Mid June To Mid September. Pets are not allowed on the trails, in the backcountry, in buildings, or tied to objects in the area. They are welcome in the parking areas on a leash. Warning: Summer temperatures may be fatal to pets left in vehicles. How To Get There:
From Phoenix. Driving from Phoenix you have several choices:
2) travel Highways 87 North to Payson, 260 East to Heber, 377 North to Holbrook, and US 180 South to the park (215 miles). From Phoenix. Driving from Albuquerque travel 204 miles west on Interstate 40 to Exit 311.
We have enjoyed this beautiful place since about 1945.
|
If you are planning to visit the Petrified Forest National Park. And if you are coming from outside of Arizona, the nearest major airports are in Phoenix, Arizona and Albuquerque, New Mexico. Once you get to one of the airports, you may want to rent a car and drive to the park. If you fly into the Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport there is a Sky Harbor - Flagstaff flight that can be arranged and there is also a Sky Harbor - Flagstaff shuttle. You could rent a car at Flagstaff and drive to the Petrified Forest National Park. You also could fly into the Albuquerque International Sunport (IATA: ABQ, ICAO: KABQ, FAA LID: ABQ) which is a public airport located 3 miles southeast of the central business district of Albuquerque, New Mexico. You could then rent a car at Albuquerque and drive to the Petrified Forest National Park. There are many hotels and motels in both areas and if you need a place to stay; Priceline.com can arrange that for you. We have some links to Priceline.com on this page since they can arrange all of your air flights, hotels and car. In addition, you may need to purchase some outdoor camping gear and clothing. We also have some links to Altrec.com on this page since they are a good online source for any outdoor camping gear and clothing that you may need. We of course, appreciate your use of the advertising on our pages, since it helps us to keep our pages active.
|
 |  |
| Crossing The Puerco River We Leave The Painted Desert Entering The Petrified Forest | Crossing The Puerco River We Leave The Painted Desert Entering The Petrified Forest |
|---|---|
 |  |
| "Agate House Petrified Forest | Long Logs Trail Petrified Forest |
We Are Proud Of Our SafeSurf Rating!
Click On Any Of The Following Links By Amazon.Com
For Books Or Media About Arizona Tours, No Obligation!
| Painted Desert Web Page
|
| Puerco Pueblo Ruins Web Page
|
| Back To Arizona Tours Page
|
| Back To DeLange Home Page
|