Hiking the Billings Gap Overlook Trail in Petrified Forest National Park
Distance: 2.2 miles / 3.5 km
The Billings Gap Overlook Trail in Petrified Forest National Park falls under what the National Park Service calls a 'social trail.'
In short, a 'social trail' is a trail that is neither designated nor maintained by the agency, as they are commonly created by the hiking community.
That being said, the Billings Gap Overlook Trail is a great day hike because few, if any, park visitors hike the trail on a daily basis, meaning that you’re almost guaranteed to enjoy the trail without the crowds that can be found in other areas around the park, like the Crystal Forest Trail.
Furthermore, the Billings Gap Overlook itself features expansive northeast-facing views of the Blue Mesa, making the trail an all-around great sunrise and sunset adventure.
Billings Gap Overlook Trailhead Parking
Parking for the Billings Gap Overlook Trailhead is located about 2.5 miles (4.0 km) up Blue Mesa Scenic Road. This is also the third turnout off the scenic drive.
With that in mind, if you’ve driven as far as the Blue Mesa Trail, you’ve missed the Billings Gap Trailhead and will need to loop back around.
Google Maps Directions: Billings Gap Overlook Trailhead
Hiking Checklist - Petrified Forest
Here is a complete list of must-have things that you will want for any hike in Petrified Forest National Park.
Hiking the Billings Gap Overlook Trail
The Billings Gap Overlook Trail begins at this unmarked trailhead at the southeastern side of the parking area.
Here, the roughly 1.1-mile (1.8 km) out-and-back trail simply traverses the northern cliffs of the Blue Mesa out to the easternmost point above Billings Gap.
For the most part, the Billings Gap Overlook Trail is fairly straightforward, but there are a handful of spots that tend to be more vague than others, as few visitors in Petrified Forest venture out on this undesignated adventure.
This is especially true on the loop trail at the very end.
As I’m sure the photos of the trail make it obvious, but the Billings Gap Overlook Trail has essentially no elevation change, making it one of the flattest and easiest hikes in all of Petrified Forest National Park.
Billings Gap Loop Trail
This is where the Billings Gap Overlook Trail splits into the loop around the easternmost point of the Blue Mesa.
That being said, most visitors tend to stay to the left because this section of the loop is far easier to follow than the trail that returns back to this point on the right.
Billings Gap Overlook
This is the Billings Gap Overlook at the northeasternmost point of the Blue Mesa.
In any case, there are numerous beautiful viewpoints along the cliffs of the loop, but be careful, as many spots in this soft-soil landscape are unstable.
This is where the Billings Gap Overlook Loop became the most vague, and in my experience, staying on the 'trail' was what proved to be the most difficult.
However, as long as you’re working your way back to the north (right), you will eventually run into the main trail that leads back to the beginning.
Billings Gap Loop Junction
This is where the Billings Gap Loop Trail returns to the main trail.
Overall, the Billings Gap Overlook Trail is a great and beautiful day hike, especially if you hike the trail for sunrise or sunset!
I say this because the soft golden light on the desert landscape is, by far, the most beautiful time of day to hike in Petrified Forest, as opposed to midday when the harsh light can wash out the best of the colors on the Blue Mesa.
