10 Best Things to Do in Petrified Forest National Park

Petrified Forest is a small, easy park with a surprising amount of variety: ancient petrified logs, a colorful desert, and Route 66 history. It's also one of the easiest parks to see in half a day, and this is how I'd rank what's worth stopping for.

Best Time of Year to Visit, and Why

I'd go in spring or fall, with March through May and September through November the best months. The weather is mild, and the colors of the Painted Desert are at their best in the low light. Summers are hot and winters can be cold and windy, with occasional snow.

The park is open year-round and rarely crowded, even in peak season.

How Petrified Forest Compares to Badlands

They're both colorful, eroded landscapes, so here's how I'd choose.

	Petrified Forest	Badlands
Headline	Rainbow petrified wood and a painted desert	Spires of striped sandstone and prairie wildlife
Access	One 28-mile road along I-40	A 31-mile loop road along I-90
Wildlife	Pronghorn, lizards, and ravens	Bison, bighorn sheep, and prairie dogs
Time needed	Half a day	One to two days
Best for	A quick, easy stop on a Southwest road trip	A bigger, more dramatic landscape

If I had to pick one, I'd choose Badlands for the drama and the wildlife. I'd choose Petrified Forest if I was already on I-40 and wanted a quick, quiet stop.

Hiking Checklist — Petrified Forest National Park

Sun, wind, and the lack of shade drive my kit here:

1. Water and a picnic — there's very little food or water inside the park.
2. A wide-brim hat and sunscreen — there's almost no shade on the trails.
3. A windbreaker — the wind can be strong at any time of year.
4. Sturdy shoes — the badlands trails are loose and steep in places.
5. A camera with a zoom lens — the colors are best in the low light.
6. A full tank of gas — the park road is long, and there's one gas station inside.

The 10 Best Things to Do in Petrified Forest National Park

1. 1. Walk the Blue Mesa Trail

   A loop through blue-gray badlands with petrified logs. 1 mi loop, moderate, 45 min.

2. 2. Drive the park road

   A 28-mile scenic drive from I-40 to US 180. 2–3 hrs with stops.

3. 3. Stroll Crystal Forest Trail

   A paved loop through the densest concentration of colorful petrified logs. 0.75 mi loop, moderate, 45 min.

4. 4. Walk Giant Logs Trail

   A short loop past some of the biggest logs, including 'Old Faithful.' 0.4 mi loop, moderate, 30 min.

5. 5. Visit the Painted Desert Inn

   A National Historic Landmark on the old Route 66 with murals and a museum. 30–45 min.

6. 6. See the petroglyphs at Puerco Pueblo

   A small loop with the ruins of a roughly 700-year-old village and rock art. 0.3 mi loop, easy, 30 min.

7. 7. Look at Newspaper Rock

   A boulder field covered with hundreds of petroglyphs, viewed through a telescope. 15–20 min.

8. 8. Hike to Agate House

   A walk to a pueblo built from petrified wood. 2 mi RT, moderate, 1 hr.

9. 9. Watch sunset over the Painted Desert

   The colors deepen in the last hour of light. 30–60 min.

10. 10. Stay in a Wigwam Motel teepee

    A classic Route 66 stop in Holbrook, with concrete teepees and vintage cars.

Hours, trail conditions, and services are accurate as of publication but change — always confirm current conditions, road status, and reservation rules at nps.gov/pefo before you go.