5 Best Hikes in Petrified Forest National Park

Petrified Forest National Park Overview

Petrified Forest National Park gets its name from the fossilized remains of ancient trees, now petrified logs, that are scattered throughout the landscape. The park certainly has much more to offer as well. The surrounding hills are painted shades of red, purple, and blue from trace minerals in the desert clay. The historical importance of this area is also widely recognized today as remains from petroglyphs and other remains from ancient clutters can still be found. Below I have listed the 5 best hikes in Petrified Forest National Park in addition to a few hikes that follow no trail for ‘off the beaten path’ adventures. 

State	Arizona
Nearest Metro Area	Flagstaff, AZ
Area Size	221,390 acres
Established	December 9, 1962
Hiking Trails	21 miles

Trailhead Traveler’s Recommended Best Hikes in Petrified Forest National Park

Blue Mesa Trail 

Short loop that descends from the mesa to an area of petrified wood and views of the surrounding badlands with blue infused clay that is incredible to see in person. The colors are especially spectacular to see after a recent rainfall. The trailhead is located next to the shelter on Blue Mesa Scenic Road.

• 1.0 mile loop
• No elevation gain
• Easy

Painted Desert Rim Trail

Another relatively short trail but one that should not be passed up is the Painted Desert Rim Trail. The surrounding hills with their red, purple, and blue colors makes this one of the best hikes in Petrified Forest National Park. During the hike, Tawa Point and Kachina Point make excellent places to snap a picture. The trailhead is next to the Painted Desert Inn on Petrified Forest Road.

• 1.0 mile out and back
• No elevation gain
• Easy

Crystal Forest Trail

Named for the crystals that hide in the petrified logs, this trail offers the best opportunity above all to experience the petrified wood deposits for which the park was named. The trailhead is on Petrified Forest Road just south of Agate Bridge.

• 0.75 mile loop
• No elevation gain
• Easy

Giant Logs Trail

You’ll never guess what you’ll see on this trail! Some of the largest and oldest logs in the park are found on this trail. “Old Faithful”, the highlight of the trail, for example is nearly ten feet wide in diameter. The trailhead is located behind the Rainbow Forest Museum.

• 0.4 mile loop
• No elevation gain
• Easy

Agate House & Long Logs Trails 

I recommend combining both the Agate House Trail and Long Logs Trail to make a slightly longer loop so you can experience both hikes in the same area. Long Logs has the largest concentration of petrified wood in the park while the Agate House, an ancient pueblo, is thought to have been inhabited 700 years ago! The trailhead for both trails is also on Petrified Forest Road just east of the Rainbow Forest Museum.

• 2.6 mile loop
• 50′ elevation gain
• Easy

Bonus

There are several hiking opportunities within this beautiful park that are off the beaten path but do not actually follow a trail. Make sure to stop at one of the park’s visitor centers for more further information on how to get to these areas. The best ones are: Devil’s Playground, Onyx Bridge, and Martha’s Butte.

Featured Image: Blue Mesa Trail, Photo by Chris Haffler