Hiking the Painted Desert Rim Trail in Petrified Forest National Park
Distance (One Way): 0.5 miles / 0.8 km
The Painted Desert Rim Trail is arguably the best day hike in Petrified Forest National Park to enjoy the heart of the Painted Desert without undertaking a more serious adventure into the backcountry.
To this point, the northern portion of Petrified Forest National Park is the best and most beautiful part of the park to see the Painted Desert, outside of the Blue Mesa, which is why I highly recommend the easy 1.0-mile (1.6 km) roundtrip hike, as opposed to simply stopping at the viewpoints off the park road.
All said, the Painted Desert Rim Trail is commonly combined with the Tawa Trail via the Painted Desert Visitor Center to make one longer 3.4-mile (5.5 km) adventure that can all be hiked without paying the National Park entrance fee!
To learn more about this and the full hike from the Painted Desert Visitor Center, I highly encourage you to read my separate article linked below.
Read My Separate Post: Tawa Trail
Painted Desert Rim Trailhead Parking
Parking for the Painted Desert Rim Trail is located at either one of two trailheads off Petrified Forest Road. The first is the joint trailhead for both the Painted Desert Rim and the Tawa Trail at Tawa Point, and the second is the historic Painted Desert Inn.
In terms of difficulty or personal preference, I don’t think it makes much of a difference, especially because the elevation change on the hike is essentially negligible.
Google Maps Directions: Painted Desert Rim 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 Painted Desert Rim Trail
While the Painted Desert Rim Trail can begin from either Tawa Point or the Painted Desert Inn, this is the trail via Tawa Point (south to north), which is also the same direction that one would continue on from the Tawa Trail had you arrived from the Painted Desert Visitor Center.
Tawa Point
Located just a short walk past the parking area, Tawa Point is the first stop on the Painted Desert Rim Trail.
In my experience, this is where most visitors turn back, rather than continuing on to the Painted Desert Inn.
After Tawa Point, the Painted Desert Rim Trail simply contours the many ridges along the mesa, with expansive views that look out toward the Painted Desert badlands to the east.
Overall, the Painted Desert Rim Trail is a very easy, straightforward hike that features very little elevation change, regardless of which direction you choose to hike.
With all that in mind, the Painted Desert Rim Trail is easily one of the best kid-friendly hikes in Petrified Forest National Park!
Painted Desert Inn
The Painted Desert Inn is commonly considered to be the end of the Painted Desert Rim Trail.
However, if you continue further along the east side of the inn, you can reach another panoramic viewpoint called Kachina Point, shown below.
At this split, go right to continue hiking to Kachina Point.
Then, go right once again, and Kachina Point will be found shortly ahead.
On a different note, this sign in the photo below is for the ice cream in the Painted Desert Inn, which I highly recommend stopping in for at some point during your visit to Petrified Forest National Park.
However, as of my most recent visit, they are still a cash-only business, meaning that you will be turned away if you arrive unprepared.
Kachina Point
Kachina Point is one of the most expansive viewpoints across the Painted Desert, and it looks directly out into the Petrified Forest National Wilderness Area—a popular backpacking area for overnight hikers.
That being said, there are few trails within this wilderness area, and none are designated or maintained by the National Park Service.
For this reason, hiking into the Painted Desert beyond the inn should only be attempted by those who have undertaken the proper planning and preparation, especially during the hot summer months!
