15 Best Things to Do in Petrified Forest National Park
What was once a roadside stop off Historic Route 66, Petrified Forest National Park in the heart of the Painted Desert of northern Arizona is one of the most uniquely beautiful National Parks in the country, home to stunning overlooks, secret trails, and of course, petrified trees scattered throughout!
That said, one of my favorite things about Petrified Forest National Park is that many of the best things to see and do are concentrated within a relatively small area—something that is not always true about other nearby parks, like the Grand Canyon or Canyonlands National Park farther north.
For this reason, the day hikes in Petrified Forest are relatively short, the drive through the park only covers about 28 miles (45.1 km), and in my opinion, the best of the park can generally be seen and enjoyed within just a day or two—making it a perfect stop off Interstate 40 for those looking to get out and stretch their legs!
What is the Best Time of Year to Visit Petrified Forest National Park?
In most U.S. National Parks, answering this question is largely centered around snow and seasonal crowds, but in Petrified Forest, both of these considerations are essentially a non-issue.
In fact, if you can catch snow across the northern Arizona desert, consider yourself lucky, as I have only ever seen it once over three visits, given how quickly it typically melts.
That said, Petrified Forest is an amazing year-round destination, with winter temperatures often peaking in the mid- to upper-40s °F (4.4 °C) and summer highs reaching into the upper 90s °F (32 °C).
As for the crowds, it’s not really fair to say there’s a peak season in Petrified Forest—at least not the same as those like the spring break crowds that make their way to other parks, such as Arches and Canyonlands in Moab.
Considering all these thoughts, my number one recommendation is either the spring or fall—specifically March and September—as mild midday temperatures make getting outside much more comfortable than during the hotter summer months or the coldest times of the year from December – February.
Hiking Checklist - Petrified Forest
Obviously, for camping, you will need general backpacking gear. For this reason, I wrote a separate post about what backpacking gear is worth the money, from my experience, and what the best alternatives are to save you money.
Read My Separate Post: Best Ultralight Backpacking Gear
In addition, here is a complete list of must-have things that you will want for any hike in Petrified Forest National Park.
15 Best Things to Do in Petrified Forest National Park
The following list is written in no particular order of best or worst, but as for any adventure in the Southwest, it’s best to plan your trip around the conditions.
What I mean is that the summer season often brings temperatures that can soar well into the upper 90s ºF (32 ºC) and monsoonal thunderstorms can pop up out of nowhere throughout the year! I’ve even experienced lightning storms during the winter in Petrified Forest, which is all to say, make smart decisions and know your limits!
On a different note, you can save time when you arrive by purchasing your National Park pass, along with your other outdoor gear, at REI before traveling to the park!
1. Billings Gap Overlook Trail
Distance: 2.2 miles / 3.5 km
The Billings Gap Overlook Trail is a little-known day hike off Blue Mesa Scenic Road that leads to one of Petrified Forest’s best-kept secrets!
By this, I mean that the hike to the Billings Gap Overlook follows what the National Park Service refers to as a 'social trail,' meaning the hike is not designated or maintained by the agency.
That being the case, the Billings Gap Overlook Trail is one of the least-hiked trails in Petrified Forest National Park—not to mention, it is also one of the easier day hikes in the park, which I encourage you to learn more about in my separate article linked below.
Read My Separate Post: Billings Gap Overlook Trail
2. Nizhoni Point
Nizhoni Point is one of many drive-up viewpoints off the northern loop, meaning the loop north of I-40, which in my opinion is one of the best places to enjoy the rolling badlands that make up the heart of the Painted Desert!
For photographers, places like Nizhoni Point can make for great compositions if you explore the ridges and play around with the landscape—specifically using a longer lens to compress the shot!
Google Maps Directions: Nizhoni Point
3. Crystal Forest Trail
Distance: 0.8 miles / 1.3 km
The Crystal Forest Trail is a beautiful, short loop hike off Petrified Forest Road that I believe is one of the best all-around day hikes in Petrified Forest National Park!
What I mean is that few trails feature as large a collection of petrified wood or are as easily accessible as the loop trail through the Crystal Forest, making this quick and easy adventure one of the best choices for people of all abilities—especially if you only have a short amount of time to visit before getting back on I-40!
Read My Separate Post: Crystal Forest Trail
4. Route 66 Studebaker
Petrified Forest National Park is the only National Park in the U.S. with a portion of Historic Route 66 passing right through!
That said, Route 66 is ingrained in the park’s history because it’s how travelers used to visit Petrified Forest in years past, and it’s why the historic Painted Desert Inn is located where it is today!
However, this all goes without saying that only traces of the Mother Road can actually be found in Petrified Forest today, but even so, I highly recommend stopping at the 1932 Studebaker pullout, to see and learn most about what the historic highway meant to the United States in its early automobile history.
Google Maps Directions: Route 66 Pullout
5. Puerco Pueblo Trail
Distance: 0.3 miles / 0.5 km
The Puerco Pueblo Trail is one of the easiest hikes in Petrified Forest National Park, and it’s the best trail to see up close what living in the Southwest used to be like for Native Americans centuries ago!
To learn more about this, I highly recommend hiking the short, kid-friendly trail to all visitors, as the whole adventure takes very little time to see before moving on to other areas of the park.
On that note, I also recommend checking out my separate article linked below, as the petroglyphs shown in the photo below are a little trickier to spot than you may initially think!
Read My Separate Post: Puerco Pueblo Trail
6. Tawa Trail
Distance (One Way): 1.2 miles / 1.9 km
The Tawa Trail is the go-trail adventure for travelers on I-40 looking to get out, stretch their legs, and see a little bit of Petrified Forest and the Painted Desert without paying the National Park entrance fee!
To this point, the Tawa Trail is the perfect adventure for those who only have a short time to visit Petrified Forest National Park before getting back on the road, which I encourage you to learn more about, including how to hike the trail for free, in my separate article linked below.
Read My Separate Post: Tawa Trail
7. Painted Desert Rim Trail
Distance (One Way): 0.5 miles / 0.8 km
The Painted Desert Rim Trail is a beautiful, easy day hike that winds its way between the joint Tawa–Painted Desert Rim Trailhead and the Painted Desert Inn, above some of the prettiest formations in the Painted Desert below the trail!
That said, the Painted Desert Rim Trail is listed immediately after the Tawa Trail because the two are often seen as sister hikes, being that both are commonly combined into one longer 3.4-mile (5.5 km) adventure.
By this, I mean that the end of the Tawa Trail is the start of the Painted Desert Rim Trail, meaning that all 3.4 miles (5.5 km) to the historic Painted Desert Inn can be enjoyed without ever having to pay to enter the park!
Read My Separate Post: Painted Desert Rim Trail
8. Ice Cream (Painted Desert Inn)
Whether you’re coming off a long cross-country roadtrip on I-40 or finishing one of the many beautiful trails in Petrified Forest, there’s nothing quite like visiting the Painted Desert Inn for a double scoop of ice cream on a hot summer day!
Before visiting, know that as of my most recent visit, the ice cream parlor in the Painted Desert Inn operates as a cash-only business, meaning that you may be turned away if you don’t come prepared prior to entering the park!
Google Maps Directions: Painted Desert Inn
9. Blue Mesa Scenic Drive & Trail
Distance: 1.0 miles / 1.6 km
The Blue Mesa is both a beautiful 3.4-mile (5.5 km) scenic drive and a short, easy trail off the main loop! That said, whether you decide to do one or both, I feel I can confidently say that the entire Blue Mesa area is, without a doubt, one of the best and most beautiful places in Petrified Forest National Park!
I believe this because there is so much to love about the Blue Mesa, including a number of roadside lookouts, the Blue Mesa Trail linked below, the Historic Blue Forest Trail mentioned below, and the Billings Gap Overlook mentioned above!
This is all to say that visiting the Blue Mesa is easily one of the best things to do in Petrified Forest National Park and across the Painted Desert!
Read My Separate Post: Blue Mesa Trail
10. Historic Blue Forest Trail
Distance (Roundtrip): 2.6 miles / 4.2 km
The Historic Blue Forest Trail is to the Blue Mesa Trail like the Tawa Trail is to the Painted Desert Rim Trail, mentioned above.
What I mean is that both the Historic Blue Forest Trail and the Blue Mesa Trail are like sister hikes and can be combined or hiked separately through some of the most beautiful badland formations off the Blue Mesa!
That said, I personally find the Historic Blue Forest Trail to be the better and prettier of the two, but I highly recommend reading my separate article if you’re interested in seeing what it takes to combine the two day hikes into one.
Read My Separate Post: Historic Blue Forest Trail
11. Jasper Forest Trail
Distance: 2.4 miles / 3.9 km
To most, Jasper Forest is nothing more than a scenic overlook. However, beyond the overlook, there is a lesser-known day hike known as the Jasper Forest Trail that descends the cliffs off the mesa, following the old 1930s-era Jasper Forest Road through one of the most beautiful collections of petrified wood found anywhere in the park, an area that once was called the 'First Forest.'
Today, what remains of the road is known as the Jasper Forest Trail, and it can be one of the more vague and confusing hikes in Petrified Forest National Park.
This is why I highly recommend reading through my separate article before venturing out into this remote and often untrafficked part of Petrified Forest.
Read My Separate Post: Jasper Forest Trail
12. Newspaper Rock
"Newspaper Rock" is a common name across the southwestern United States, referring to areas with an unusually high amount of petroglyphs left behind by the ancestral Puebloans or other Native Americans who once lived in the area.
In Petrified Forest, the story is no different, as petroglyphs can be found in areas all across the park. However, none are as large or as intricate as Newspaper Rock, located about 11.9 miles (19.2 km) south of the Painted Desert Visitor Center.
Google Maps Directions: Newspaper Rock
13. Long Logs & Agate House Trail
Distance: 2.6 miles / 4.2 km
The Long Logs–Agate House Trail is a unique day hike on the far southern end of Petrified Forest National Park that combines two separate trails into one slightly longer adventure!
That said, the Agate House is arguably the most accessible archaeological feature in Petrified Forest National Park that visitors can experience up close, making both the House and the Long Logs Loop Trail a great joint day hike to enjoy some of the best the Historic Rainbow Forest District has to offer!
Read My Separate Post: Long Logs & Agate House Trail
14. Painted Desert Inn
Whether you simply stop in for the ice cream or come by trail along the Painted Desert Rim, the Painted Desert Inn is truly a must-see when visiting Petrified Forest National Park!
I believe this because the historic inn dates back to the early 1920s, well before the full Route 66 was completed in 1938.
That said, the inn, along with the Route 66 pullout, is one of the best places in Petrified Forest to learn about how the old Mother Road shaped the park’s history—much of what visitors can still experience today!
Google Maps Directions: Painted Desert Inn
15. Giant Logs Trail
Distance: 0.6 miles / 1.0 km
The Giant Logs Trail is one of Petrified Forest’s easiest and most iconic day hikes, as the short loop features the park’s most famous petrified log, known as 'Old Faithful!'
This 'giant log' is said to be to Petrified Forest what Old Faithful is to Yellowstone National Park!
In any case, the Giant Logs Trail is a very easy day hike, and what most don’t know is that the Giant Logs Trail is one of the better places to watch sunset in Petrified Forest National Park, considering that the hike back in the dark is so short!
Read My Separate Post: Giant Logs Trail
15 Best Things to Do Near Petrified Forest National Park
It’s no secret that Petrified Forest National Park is not very convenient to a number of other destinations in the Southwest, like White Sands, Black Canyon of the Gunnison, among countless other places!
However, there are a number of great things to see and do in the area, both near Petrified Forest and within a half-day’s drive!
1. Mesa Italiana Restaurant
Across the West, there’s no shortage of places to sit down for a burger and fries, and that’s exactly why I love little hidden gems like the Mesa Italiana Restaurant in Holbrook, about a 20-minute drive from the Painted Desert Visitor Center.
This little Italian hole-in-the-wall has a huge menu with options to make everyone in your group happy, and if you’ve just spent a long day exploring the park, don’t worry about cleaning up before coming. They’ll be happy to have you, as they’re accustomed to seeing park visitors!
Yelp: Mesa Italiana Restaurant
2. Wigwam Motel
Does the Cozy Cone Motel ring a bell?
Well, if the 2006 Disney-Pixar movie Cars brings a little nostalgia, then the real-life Cozy Cone will surely do the same!
Located right outside the park in Holbrook, Arizona, the real-life Wigwam Motel is where the movie got its inspiration.
That said, rooms at the Wigwam Motel can be popular, but as long as you book in advance, they can also make for quite an affordable place to stay when visiting Petrified Forest National Park!
Wigwam Motel
3. Butterfield Stage Co. Steak House
The Butterfield Stage Co. Steak House is arguably the best dine-in restaurant near Petrified Forest National Park!
Think medium-rare prime rib or a T-bone steak cooked to perfection, and this is exactly what you can expect at this cowboy-style saloon off Historic Route 66, located just minutes away from the Wigwam Motel mentioned above!
4. Antelope Canyon Tour
Antelope Canyon is a renowned slot canyon in the small town of Page in northern Arizona that is beloved by travelers from across the world!
That said, Antelope Canyon, and everything that Page, Arizona has to offer, is only a 3-hour, 30-minute drive away from the Painted Desert Visitor Center in Petrified Forest National Park!
If it’s your first time visiting, you may be asking one of the biggest questions regarding both Upper and Lower Antelope Canyon, which is: What tour is better?
Answering this question is exactly why I wrote a separate article, where I share my honest side-by-side comparison of both canyons, as I have been fortunate to visit Page and Antelope Canyon many times!
Read My Separate Post: Upper vs. Lower Antelope Canyon
Lower Antelope Canyon
My Print - Upper Antelope Canyon
Upper Antelope Canyon
5. Horseshoe Bend
Distance (Roundtrip): 1.5 miles / 2.4 km
It’s certainly not fair to talk about Page without mentioning the iconic Horseshoe Bend and the short trail just up the road!
Horseshoe Bend is one of the best things to do in Page, Arizona, and it’s truly a must-see if you’re already making the trip to the area to see Antelope Canyon.
That said, I personally love hiking the Horseshoe Bend Trail for sunset, as the west-facing viewpoint above the Colorado River is, without a doubt, one of the best year-round sunset hikes in northern Arizona!
Read My Separate Post: Horseshoe Bend Trail
6. Big Lake Sand Cave
Distance: 0.2 miles / 0.3 km
Going along with the previous two, the Big Lake Sand Cave is another hidden gem in Page, Arizona, as it’s located in a very unsuspecting location right on the edge of town.
To learn more, including my thoughts on the best time of day to visit the Shell Gas Station Cave, I recommend checking out my separate article linked below.
Read My Separate Post: Big Lake Sand Cave Trail (Shell Gas Station)
7. Four Corners
Four Corners Monument is not often a convenient stop when driving across the Southwest, but if you happen to be making your way between Petrified Forest, Moab, Mesa Verde National Park or even Albuquerque, then I highly recommend making the trip out of the way to Four Corners!
This quick stop may be just to 'say you did it,' but even still, I think that Four Corners makes for a nice place to get out of the car, stretch your legs, and simply break up a long day on the road.
Google Maps Directions: Four Corners Monument
8. Arches & Canyonlands National Park
In this part of the country, everything can feel spaced out from one another, but the Grand Canyon, Petrified Forest, and the parks in Moab are three places that make for a great roadtrip when put together!
This is why, if you enjoyed reading everything I’ve written about Petrified Forest, I recommend checking out my separate articles about both Arches and Canyonlands National Park, where I share the same inside information about everything there is to see and do on all sides of each park.
Read My Separate Posts: Arches National Park / Canyonlands National Park
9. Grand Canyon National Park
As if the Grand Canyon needs its own introduction, know that Grand Canyon Village on the South Rim is only a three-hour drive from Petrified Forest National Park.
That said, I’ve written an entirely separate article about Grand Canyon National Park, which includes my favorite sunrise and sunset spots, day hikes, backcountry adventures below the rim, and great insider advice regarding what to expect when visiting both sides of the canyon!
Read My Separate Post: Grand Canyon National Park
10. Havasupai Trail
Distance (One Way to The Confluence): 16.7 miles / 26.9 km
Elevation Change: ~3,300 ft. (1,006 m)
The Havasupai Trail—much like the Rim-to-Rim Trail in Grand Canyon National Park—is, without a doubt, one of the best backpacking adventures in the Southwest U.S.!
However, Havasupai is truly one of the most exclusive backcountry adventures there is, because of how challenging it can be to secure one of these elusive permits.
This is exactly why I wrote such a long and detailed post about the entire Havasupai Trail, the permits, and all the separate day hikes—including The Confluence—which is why I highly recommend checking out my separate article if you’re planning to visit or want to know how to visit Havasupai in the future!
Read My Separate Post: Havasupai Trail
11. Sedona, Arizona
Sedona, and everything there is to see and do within the beautiful Red Rock Ranger District of the Coconino National Forest, is only a 2-hour, 30-minute drive from the Painted Desert Visitor Center.
That said, I’ve written a detailed guide covering the best things to see and do in Sedona—including the best sunrise and sunset hikes, hidden caves, and great places to eat—linked below!
Read My Separate Post: Best Things to Do in Sedona, Arizona
12. Ice Lake & Columbine Lake Trail
Distance (Ice Lake): 8.8 miles / 14.1 km
Distance (Columbine Lake): 8.3 miles / 13.4 km
The Ice Lake Trail and Columbine Lake Trail are two stunning day hikes in the San Juan Mountains of southwestern Colorado that, at first glance, might seem out of the way compared to all the amazing adventures in and around Petrified Forest. In reality, however, both trails—located off the scenic Million Dollar Highway—are actually more convenient than they may initially seem!
This is why I could not recommend going out of the way to visit either of these stunning alpine lakes more, as the turquoise-blue waters of both lakes are truly worth the detour, especially if you already have plans to drive north of the park and into Colorado!
Read My Separate Posts: Ice Lake Trail / Columbine Lake Trail
My Print - Columbine Lake
13. Million Dollar Highway (U.S. Route 550)
The Million Dollar Highway is one of the most beautiful scenic drives in all of North America, standing alongside others like the Beartooth Highway, the Avenue of the Giants, and the Icefields Parkway!
The 70.5-mile (113 km) highway connecting Ouray to Durango is most famous for an incredibly narrow, windy 23.4-mile (37.7 km) stretch between Ouray and Silverton, where the Ice Lake and Columbine Lake Trails are located.
That said, the entire drive through the heart of the San Juan Mountains is one of the best things to do when visiting the southwestern part of Colorado—especially when the Aspens begin to change color in the fall!
Google Maps Directions: Million Dollar Highway
14. San Juan Adventure Tours
Whether you’re visiting the Southwest during the warmer summer months or for the world-class skiing come winter, there are a number of year-round guided tours in the San Juan Mountains near Black Canyon of the Gunnison that are worth considering!
Some of the most notable include the renowned Telluride Via Ferrata, which is truly a one-of-a-kind experience in the fall, or the Ouray Ice Park, where visitors without any knowledge or skills in the sport can learn the basics with some of the amazing local guides!
15. Mt. Sneffels Trail
Distance (Roundtrip from Upper TH): 2.2 - 2.8 miles / 3.5 - 4.5 km
Mt. Sneffels is one of the most beautiful and sought-after 14ers near Petrified Forest National Park!
This is because the climb to the summit of the 14,155-ft (4,314 m) peak isn’t particularly difficult compared to others, as it can be a very short climb from Yankee Boy Basin or incredibly scenic climb if you choose the Blue Lakes Trail.
Either way, I highly recommend considering this amazing adventure up one of Colorado’s most beautiful 14ers, but I also suggest checking out all the details in my separate article, in order to see if you’re up for the fun but steep Class 3 challenge!
Read My Separate Post: Mt. Sneffels Trail
