Hiking the Tawa Trail in Petrified Forest National Park
Distance (One Way): 1.2 miles / 1.9 km
The Tawa Trail in Petrified Forest National Park is a hidden gem compared to other, similar hikes within the park.
By this, I mean that the Tawa Trail is a favorite in Petrified Forest for travelers on I-40 because the short 1.2-mile (1.9 km) out-and-back trail is the best way to visit Petrified Forest without paying the National Park entrance fee.
In fact, the Tawa Trail is the only trail in Petrified Forest that can be hiked without paying the National Park entrance fee. However, the Tawa Trail is commonly combined with the Painted Desert Rim Trail at Tawa Point—the terminus of the Tawa Trail—to make one longer 3.4-mile (5.5 km) adventure that can all be seen without paying to enter the park!
Tawa Trailhead Parking
Parking for the Tawa Trail is located at either the Painted Desert Visitor Center (the northern of the two visitor centers in Petrified Forest) or the Tawa Point-Painted Desert Rim Trailhead, located about 1.6 miles (2.6 km) away from the visitor center.
That being said, the Tawa Trail can only be hiked without paying the park entrance fee if you park at the Painted Desert Visitor Center.
Google Maps Directions: Tawa 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.
Walking to the Trailhead
To get to the Tawa Trailhead from the Painted Desert Visitor Center, walk toward the visitor center and then turn left on the path past the building for the café and gift shop.
Hiking the Tawa Trail
As previously mentioned, the Tawa Trail can be hiked from either Tawa Point or the Painted Desert Visitor Center, but this is the trail from south to north, beginning from the visitor center.
Petrified Forest Road
This is where the Tawa Trail passes on the far side of the Petrified Forest entrance station; hence, the reason that this is the only trail in the park that can be hiked for free.
On the far side of the road, the Tawa Trail simply winds its way through the prairies of northern Arizona, gaining only about 100 ft (30.5 m) of elevation from the visitor center to Tawa Point.
Historic Route 66
This is roughly where the Tawa Trail crosses Historic Route 66, but today, there is little evidence that the Mother Road was even here.
This is where the Tawa Trail turns toward Tawa Point, located about 0.6 miles (1.0 km) ahead.
Petrified Forest Road
Finally, the Tawa Trail crosses over Petrified Forest Road one more time before finishing in the parking lot for Tawa Point and the Painted Desert Rim Trail.
Tawa-Painted Desert Rim Trailhead
The end of the Tawa Trail is the joint trailhead for both the Tawa and Painted Desert Rim Trails, as well as Tawa Point, located a short walk past the parking area.
That being said, the Tawa Trail and Painted Desert Rim Trail are commonly combined into one longer adventure, totaling about 3.4 miles (5.5 km) roundtrip.
To learn more, I encourage you to see how the Painted Desert Rim Trail continues onto the historic Painted Desert Inn, using my separate article linked below.
Read My Separate Post: Painted Desert Rim Trail
