Park Hours: 8am to 5pm, MST. Don't forget that Arizona does not observe Daylight Savings. Petrified Forest is best known for its Triassic fossils. It's like having two parks in one, an ecosystem over 200 million years old with plants and animals now represented in the surreal landscape of the Painted Desert. There is also a living park with its own denizens adapted to a demanding environment.
Petrified Forest National Wilderness Area
Sunrise and sunset are favorite times to view the colorful Painted Desert of the Petrified Forest National Wilderness Area
Painted Desert Inn National Historic Landmark
Sunset lights up the Painted Desert Inn National Historic Landmark west side.
Agate House
Agate House was built over 900 years ago out of pieces of petrified wood
Devil's Playground
Eroded towers called hoodoos loom above Devil's Playground.
Puerco Pueblo
Masonry wall remnants are all that are left of a hundred room pueblo.
Painted Desert Community Complex Plaza
Painted Desert Community Complex Plaza reveals the long lines of Mid-century style architecture
Agate Bridge
This large petrified log stretches across a gully created by erosion.
Blue Mesa
Summer storm clouds build behind the banded badlands of Blue Mesa.
Blue Mesa Trail
Visitors enjoy the otherworldly walk along the Blue Mesa.
Crystal Forest
Many petrified logs are scattered among the badlands at Crystal Forest.
Grassland Rainbow
A full rainbow arches over the open grassland.
Expansion Land Scenery
Swirly patterned rocks form a jumbled puzzle in front of red badlands in the expansion lands.
Flattops
The Flattops glow red at dawn.
Painted Desert Inn CCC Lyle Bennett Skylight Montage
Handpainted skylight panels by the CCC designed by architect Lyle Bennett grace the historic Painted Desert Inn NHL
Fred Kabotie Mural at the Painted Desert Inn National Historic Landmark
Many Hopi symbols are featured in this Fred Kabotie mural at the Painted Desert Inn National Historic Landmark
Onyx Bridge, Petrified Forest National Wilderness Area
Onyx Bridge is a popular destination for hikers in the Petrified Forest National Wilderness Area's north unit.
Jasper Forest
Jasper Forest has some of the most colorful logs in the park.
Route 66 Alignment
An old 1932 Studebaker auto sits near the Route 66 alignment.
Painted Desert Inn Punched Tin Light Fixtur
The handmade Spanish-colonial-style punched tin light fixtures were made by the CCC in the 1930s for the Painted Desert Inn NHL.
Summer Solstice Petroglyph at Puerco Pueblo
A petroglyph at Puerco Pueblo interacts with the sunlight on the summer solstice.
Mountain Lion Petroglyph
This ancient petroglyph of a mountain lion has become an icon of the park.
Paleontological Excavation
Researchers dig for fossils in the badlands.
Colorful Piece of Petrified Wood
Iron oxide is one of the many trace minerals that create the color of petrified wood.
Sunset on the Tepees
Striped badlands glow red in the sunset light at the Tepees.
Kids Day Camp Field Trip with Park Paleontologist Bill Parker
Kids excavating in the field with Park Paleontologist Bill Parker
Milky Way Over Blue Mesa
Petrified Forest is now an International Dark Sky Park!
Tandem Bicycling at Blue Mesa
Tandem Bicycling at Blue Mesa
