Petrified Forest National Park

Understand

History

Petrified Forest was set aside as a national monument in 1906 to preserve and protect the petrified wood for its scientific value. The monument became a national park in 1962, and legislation passed in 2004 more than doubled the park's area from 93,533 acres to 218,533 acres.

Petrified Forest National Park features one of the world's largest and most colorful concentrations of petrified wood, the multi-hued badlands of the Chinle Formation known as the Painted Desert, historic structures, archeological sites, and displays of 225 million-year-old fossils. The park is now recognized as protecting the best representation of the Late Triassic Period in the world, and on average paleontologists discover about two new animal species each year.

Landscape

The park features one of the world's largest and most colorful concentrations of petrified wood, the multi-hued badlands of the Chinle Formation known as the Painted Desert, and displays of 225 million-year-old fossils.

Flora and fauna

The park includes a grassland ecosystem and the badlands of the Painted Desert. The terrain changes quickly as you travel through the park, from the vistas of the Painted Desert, into the grassland of a large plateau, through grand geologic formations, and arrays of richly colored petrified wood.

Animal life at Petrified Forest includes amphibians, birds, insects, spiders, mammals, and reptiles. Birds, lizards and some rodents are seen most frequently, though seasons and weather play a large role in determining what animals are active. Nocturnal animals include kangaroo rats, woodrats (also called packrats) and most other small desert rodents, skunks, foxes, bobcats, bats and owls. Animals that can be seen during the day include pronghorn, mule deer, coyotes, porcupines, desert cottontails, black-tailed jackrabbits, squirrels, hawks, snakes, lizards, golden eagles, and many songbirds.

Climate

The park has summer daytime average temperatures in the 90°Fs and summer overnight temperatures in the 60°Fs. Winters are mild, frequently freezing overnight but warming by mid-afternoon to an average of 40°F. Park closures for weather are possible but not frequent.

Visitor information

• Park website

Get in

By car

An automobile is the only feasible way of getting to the park, located off of Interstate 40 in northeastern Arizona, 106 mi east of Flagstaff and 178 mi west of Albuquerque. Westbound Interstate 40 travellers should take exit 311, drive through the park and connect with Highway 180 at the south end. Highway 180 north returns to Interstate 40 via Holbrook. Eastbound Interstate 40 travellers should exit at Holbrook and travel on Highway 180 south to the park's south entrance. Drive north through the park to return to Interstate 40.

By plane

Flagstaff Pulliam Airport has commuter service to Phoenix on American Airlines.

Albuquerque International Sunport is a full-service airport served by most major US airlines.

By train

The nearest city with an Amtrak station is Gallup, New Mexico, about 1 hour east of the park on Interstate 40. It is served by the Southwest Chief Chicago - Los Angeles route.

Fees and permits

Entrances fees are valid for seven days, allowing unlimited re-entry for the week. Fees as of 2020 are:

• $15 - Bicycle and walkers/per person
• $20 - Motorcycle (flat fee)
• $25 - Auto/7-day pass to Petrified Forest National Park
• $45 - Petrified Forest National Park Annual Pass

Get around

Petrified Forest National Park is open to the public every day of the year except for Christmas Day (December 25). Park access is prohibited at night without a permit. Park hours are:

• 7AM to 7PM MST (Summer)
• 7AM to 6PM MST (Spring & Fall)
• 8AM to 5PM MST (Winter)

Unlike most western states, Arizona does not observe Daylight Savings Time, remaining on Mountain Standard Time year-round. However, many visitors arriving from the Navajo Reservation (which does observe DST) travel with their clocks set an hour off. Check the time to make sure you don't accidentally get locked in at night.

By car

A car is the easiest way of getting around in the park, with the 28 mile (45 km) park road allowing visitors to travel through the park from end to end without backtracking. Eastbound travelers should enter at the south off Highway 180, and exit at the north onto Interstate 40. Westbound travelers should enter at the north at Exit 311 off Interstate 40, and exit at the south onto Highway 180.

By bicycle

Bicycles are permitted only on the established paved roadway and cannot be used on paved or dirt trails or off road at any time. In addition, if planning to see the park from a bicycle be aware of the potential for extreme heat, thunderstorms, or high winds and plan accordingly.

Stay safe

The primary dangers in the park are from the weather. Summer storms can bring lightning, high winds and flash floods, while the heat can cause dehydration and heat stroke. Avoid open areas during storms, and drink plenty of water (at least one gallon per day). Always be prepared for rapidly changing weather conditions; from July through August expect afternoon monsoon thunderstorms, while from October through April expect cold temperatures and possibly snow. High winds are also common, and can bring blowing sand that makes hiking unpleasant if not dangerous.

Go next

• Canyon de Chelly National Monument - 97 mi north of the park, this monument lies within Navajo Nation and contains numerous sites that are sacred to the Navajo people.
• Mogollon Rim - is an escarpment defining the southwestern edge of the Colorado Plateau, running for 200 miles (320 km) across northern Arizona.

Continue your journey along Route 66:

• East (into New Mexico): Gallup (80 miles, 130 km); Grants and El Malpais National Monument (150 miles, 240 km).
• West: Holbrook (20 miles, 32 km); Winslow (55 miles, 90 km); Meteor Crater (80 miles, 130km); Flagstaff (115 miles, 185 km).