The Petrified Forest
The Petrified Forest is a 28-mile road through a state-owned park with scenic views and plaques to read along the way.
This park is right off of route 66 and travels through some gorgeous must-see views. There is a $20 entrance fee per vehicle (you can enter on either side of the park). If you are walking in or riding a bike (pedal or motorcycle) there is only a $10 fee.
you may be in there for a few hours. save time to take pictures, hike a little, and stare at the beauty of it all.
While visiting the Petrified forest during Arizona’s monsoon season I was able to see 5 different thunderstorms off in the distance. It was the COOLEST experience!! I can’t even explain how amazed I was at how far out you could see at this place.
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Stops
Tiponi Point
There are several stops you don’t want to miss out on. The first one is the Tiponi Point, which displays beautiful red, orange, and purple hills.
Painted Desert Rim
This next stop gives you a great idea of the vastness of the badlands. You can also take a trail from Tawa point. The hike is a 1-mile round trip (may be a bit longer than a mile), and you have amazing views throughout.
Painted Desert Inn
This historic building was made of petrified wood in the 1920s but was renovated in the 1930s. What used to be an Inn is now used as a museum.
Pintado Point
This point shows you just how far the eye can see. There are also plaques explaining how pollution can make it harder to see at a distance.
Puerco Pueblo
The Puebloan ruins occupy this stopping point. These ruins were built over 600 years ago by the Anasazi people.
The Tepees
The tepees was my absolute favorite place to see. I couldn’t believe how blue the mountains were. From what I could remember, there wasn’t a great stopping place, so we had to park on the side of the road to get a good picture.
There is also a trail you can hike called the Blue Mesa Trailhead. It’s a 1.2-mile hike there. Be sure to bring a lot of water and sunscreen because the trail is exposed to the sun the whole hike.
Agate Bridge
This was one of the most unique stops during our drive. The agate bridge features a 110-foot long piece of petrified log. There wasn’t always a gully underneath, erosion and flooding carved it out. The log used to stand by itself, but in order to preserve it, there was a concrete slab placed under it around the year 1911.
Jasper Forest, Crystal Forest, and Giant Logs
All three of these stopping points are all about petrified wood. There are several easy walking trails you can take to see all the different colors of the wood and learn about how they were crystallized. There is also a gift shop and museum if you want a more in-depth learning experience. Those are located before the giant logs lookout point.
Agate House
You can also check out the Agate house, near the Giant log area. It is a 2-mile round trip and easy hike. If you want to see a house of petrified wood, it’s worth the hike.
Marthas Butte
I’m such a child, I honestly kept making every joke possible about butts when I saw this name. We never did go and see it, but I wish we had. There are several petroglyphs at the base of Marthas Butte. The hike is over 2 miles round trip. You will start at a guard rail that says, “dry wash”. Oh, did I mention the trail is unmarked, so you will have to navigate it yourself. The website Gjhikes.com can provide you with a great guide with a map and a video.
If you ever find yourself in Arizona you will not regret this visit. Make sure you have a whole day to really tour everything, especially if you plan on hiking the trails. Let me know about your experiences if you have already been, or tell me when you plan to go.
Are you planning a trip to Arizona? Check out these other posts.
8 Adventurous Things to do in Sedona
Volcanos in Arizona
What You Should NOT do in Arizona
Antelope Canyon Closure and What to do with Similar Experiences
