Hiking the Giant Logs Trail in Petrified Forest National Park
Distance: 0.6 miles / 1.0 km
The Giant Logs Trail is one of the most popular trails in Petrified Forest National Park, largely on account of its short distance, relatively mild elevation changes, and its close proximity to the Rainbow Forest Museum and Long Logs-Agate House Trail.
Furthermore, the Giant Logs Trail is a great trail to hike, whether it’s your first stop when coming to Petrified Forest from the south entrance or the last thing you do before leaving the park.
All said, I highly recommend walking the easy and kid-friendly Giant Logs Trail, which can be especially beautiful from the scenic overlook at sunset!
Giant Logs Trailhead Parking
Parking for the Giant Logs Trail is located in the Rainbow Forest Historic District in the southern part of Petrified Forest National Park, about 2.4 miles (3.9 km) north of Highway 180.
With that in mind, the Rainbow Forest Historic District is not only the parking area for the Giant Logs Trail, but it also serves as the parking lot for the Long Logs-Agate House Trail and the Rainbow Forest Museum/ Gift Shop.
Google Maps Directions: Rainbow Forest Museum
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 Giant Logs Trail
The Giant Logs Trail, also called the Giant Logs Interpretive Trail, begins directly behind the Rainbow Forest Museum.
That being said, you can pick up a trail guide in the Rainbow Forest Museum to follow along with the numbers scattered throughout the short 0.6-mile (1.0 km) loop.
Giant Logs Loop Trail
Immediately after the Rainbow Forest Museum, the Giant Logs Trail splits into three different paths.
The paths to the right and left are for the outer loop, and the trail in the middle is a shortcut that leads directly to the Old Faithful Log, which is often considered the highlight of the Giant Logs Trail.
In any case, I chose to go right in the counterclockwise direction because the outer loop also passes by the Old Faithful Log on a slightly longer path.
This split is for the Stephen T. Mather plaque, which can be seen in the photo below.
Stephen T. Mather Plaque
In short, Stephen T. Mather was one of the most influential conservationists who helped build both public and political support to establish the National Park Service as we know it today.
Therefore, plaques such as this can be found in various National Parks scattered across the United States, not just here in Petrified Forest.
As the Giant Logs Trail moves forward, you’ll continue to pass by a number of stops along the interpretive trail, which is why I recommend picking up a trail guide if you have the time.
Old Faithful
Unlike the widely-known Old Faithful Geyser that can be enjoyed from the Observation Point Trail in Yellowstone National Park, the Old Faithful Log in Petrified Forest National Park is a bit different from that of Yellowstone.
However, the Old Faithful log was, in fact, named after the Old Faithful Geyser! The name originated from one of the park superintendent’s wife, as she compared the symbolic log in Petrified Forest to that of the Old Faithful Geyser in Yellowstone.
At any rate, the 35-ft. (10.6 m) long Old Faithful Log that can be seen today is fractured due to a lightning strike that occurred in 1962. Subsequently, the National Park Service repaired the damage and built supports in order to preserve the log for future generations, which is what can be see here today!
Past the Old Faithful Log, you can either go left to loop back on the shortest path to the trailhead, or right to continue to a scenic viewpoint, located about 0.1 miles (0.2 km) away.
Giant Logs Viewpoint
This is a scenic viewpoint on the far end of the Giant Logs Trail, and while it may not look like much on an overcast day like this, the west-facing view can make for a great spot to watch the sunset, being that the walk back to the trailhead is so quick and easy!
Stay to the right to remain on the outer Giant Logs Loop.
Toward the end of the loop, the Giant Logs Trail drops down this hill, which is the steepest part of the entire hike.
The trail to the right is the shortcut mentioned earlier that leads directly to the Old Faithful Log, with the Rainbow Forest Museum located shortly ahead to the right.
Rainbow Forest Museum (Giant Logs Trailhead)
Overall, the Giant Logs Trail is one of the easiest and most self-explanatory trails in Petrified Forest National Park.
That being said, I highly encourage staying to hike both the Giant Logs Trail and the slightly longer Long Logs-Agate House Trail out of this same Rainbow Forest Trailhead, as both make for two of the best things to do in the southern part of Petrified Forest National Park!
Read My Separate Post: Long Logs & Agate House Trail
