Marcus Chen
The Painted Desert and Petrified Forest National Park in Arizona is a sight to behold, with its colourful geology and historical significance. The Painted Desert, named by Spanish explorer Francisco Vazquez de Coronado in the 1540s, spans about 120 miles by 60 miles and is known for its brilliant hues of red, orange, pink, purple, blue, and grey, created by the oxidation of iron and magnesium deposits. The Petrified Forest, located within the Painted Desert, boasts the world's largest collection of petrified wood, fossils, archaeological sites, and ancient petroglyphs. Visitors can drive through the park, taking in the views from the Painted Desert Rim Trail and exploring the trails and historic sites within the park.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Location | Arizona |
| Area | 7,500 square miles |
| Length | 120 miles |
| Width | 60 miles |
| Terrain | Badlands, mesas, hoodoos, towers, grasslands |
| Geology | Stratified layers of siltstone, mudstone, shale, sandstone, volcanic ash |
| Colors | Red, orange, pink, purple, lavender, gray, brown |
| Exhibits | Petrified wood, fossils, prehistoric plants and animals, dinosaur tracks, petroglyphs, ancient pueblo ruins |
| Trails | Blue Mesa, Long Logs, Agate House, Crystal Forest, Tawa, Painted Desert Rim Trail |
| Other Attractions | Painted Desert Inn, Rainbow Forest Museum, Newspaper Rock, Puerco Pueblo |
| Accessibility | Driving, hiking |
| Timing | Early morning or dusk for wildlife spotting |
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What You'll Learn
Driving routes through the Painted Desert and Petrified Forest National Park
Petrified Forest National Park is located in Arizona and is a drive-through park. The park is situated entirely within the head of the comma-shaped Painted Desert, which covers 7,500 square miles and extends to the east end of the Grand Canyon. The Painted Desert is characterised by multicoloured layers of mudstone and sandstone created over millions of years. The park has the world's largest and most colourful collection of petrified wood.
The park has two sections. The northern half is the Painted Desert, which encompasses approximately 146 square miles of badlands and multihued mesas of stratified layers of mudstone, shale, and siltstone pigmented by iron and magnesium deposits. The southern half is the Petrified Forest, which contains historic structures, archaeological sites, and fossils that date back more than 200 million years. The highest concentration of petrified wood is in the southern section of the park.
The main road, Petrified Forest Road, starts in the north at Route 40 and ends 28 miles later at Route 180. It takes at least 45 minutes to drive this route, but to truly experience the park, it is recommended to allow a couple of hours to drive Blue Mesa Road, take a hike, and stop at the viewpoints along the way.
There are several notable points of interest within the park. At the north entrance is the Painted Desert Visitor Center, and approximately one mile after the entrance is the pull-off for Tawa Point, where the Painted Desert Rim Trail begins. The trail travels along the canyon rim and includes information panels about the wildlife, geology, and ancient people of the region. Half a mile from Tawa Point is the Painted Desert Inn, a National Historic Landmark that dates back over 100 years. The Inn was built with wood and stone in the Pueblo Revival style and features details such as hammered-tin chandeliers and local pottery. From the Inn, it is another half a mile to Kachina Point, which offers panoramic views of the red, orange, pink, and purple rocks.
At the south end of the park is the Rainbow Forest Museum, which includes exhibits on prehistoric animals and petrified wood, as well as a free film about the creation of petrified wood. The highest point along the driving route is Pintado Point, which provides a 360-degree view of the Painted Desert. Another notable feature is the outdoor exhibit marking the alignment of Route 66, which includes a rusted-out 1932 Studebaker, antique telephone poles, and a vintage car-themed concrete bench.
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Hiking trails in the Painted Desert
The Painted Desert Rim Trail in Petrified Forest National Park is a very easy, straightforward hike with little elevation change, making it a great option for kids and families. The trail is 1.2 miles long and takes approximately 30 minutes to one hour to complete. It features panoramic views of the Painted Desert, including ancient petrified wood and unique geological formations. The trail is marked with interpretive signs that provide information about the area's natural and cultural history.
The Painted Desert Trail in the Imperial National Wildlife Refuge is a 1.3-mile loop trail that extends over a mile through the refuge. This trail was developed by the Youth Conservation Corps and opened in 1983. It traverses two washes, climbs over a mesa, and offers picturesque views of the Lower Colorado River Valley and Sonoran Desert. This trail is known for its multi-colored mounds of rock from ancient volcanoes, with colours determined by the minerals present.
The Painted Desert Trail Loop near Wellton, Arizona, is another option for hiking in the Painted Desert. This 1.3-mile loop trail is generally considered easy and takes about 27 minutes to complete. It is a great choice for birding, hiking, and walking, and offers stunning views, beautiful colours in the landscape, and a quiet atmosphere.
In addition to these designated trails, there are also opportunities for backcountry hiking in the Painted Desert. The northern portion of Petrified Forest National Park is considered the best area to explore the Painted Desert without venturing too far off-trail. The Painted Desert Inn is a common endpoint for the Painted Desert Rim Trail, and from there, hikers can continue to Kachina Point, which offers expansive views of the Petrified Forest National Wilderness Area. This area is popular for overnight backpacking trips but requires proper planning and preparation.
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Wildlife in Petrified Forest National Park
Petrified Forest National Park in Arizona is known for its fossil remains, but it is also home to a wide variety of native wildlife. The park has hundreds of animal species in its ecosystem, and its elevation and low precipitation influence the types of plants and animals found there.
The park is home to many birds, including horned larks, rock wrens, phoebes, red-tailed hawks, turkey vultures, Western tanagers, hermit warblers, and avocets. Ravens are the most visible wildlife you are likely to see during the day. The park also has the occasional migratory bird species like pelicans and other shorebirds.
Reptiles and amphibians in the park include rattlesnakes, lizards (including the Greater Short-horned lizard and the Plateau striped whiptail), toads, and salamanders (including the tiger salamander).
Mammals in the park include coyotes, bobcats, mule deer, pronghorn antelope, black bears, ringtails, badgers, striped skunks, black-tailed jackrabbits, desert cottontails, kangaroo rats, wood rats, and bats.
The park has over 50,000 acres of designated wilderness where recreational activities like camping and backpacking are allowed. Pets are also welcome in the park.
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Ancient history in the Painted Desert
The Painted Desert in Arizona is a United States desert of badlands in the Four Corners area, extending roughly 120 miles (190 km) from near the eastern end of the Grand Canyon National Park into Petrified Forest National Park. The area is known for its dramatic and varied colours, including red rock and shades of lavender, pink, orange, purple, and grey. The Painted Desert was named by a Spanish expedition under Francisco Vázquez de Coronado during his 1540 quest to find the Seven Cities of Cibola.
The Painted Desert is composed of stratified layers of siltstone, mudstone, and shale of the Triassic Chinle Formation, which erode easily. These fine-grained rock layers contain abundant iron and manganese compounds, which provide the pigments for the various colours of the region. The Painted Desert badlands are composed of a byproduct of volcanic ash called bentonite, which includes clay. The area features remnants of fossilized trees and an assortment of fossilized prehistoric plants and animals, as well as ancient dinosaur tracks and evidence of early human habitation.
More than 1,000 archaeological sites have been identified and studied in the Painted Desert and the Petrified Forest. Prehistoric people lived in the area for over 13,000 years, with evidence of ancient civilizations such as the Anasazi, Mogollon, and Hohokam, who are considered ancestors of some of today's Indian Tribes in the Southwest, including the Hopi, Navajo, and Zuni. The climate and landscape of the Painted Desert have changed dramatically over time, with certain types of plant life and large wildlife becoming extinct and being replaced by new species.
Today, visitors can explore the Painted Desert by driving along Interstate 40 (I-40), which offers views of the badlands and colourful mesas. The Painted Desert Visitor Center, located off exit 311 on I-40, is a good starting point for visitors, who can then drive the Main Park Road loop back out to I-40. The Painted Desert Rim Trail is a 1-mile (1.6 km) trail that offers remarkable views of the Painted Desert and leads to the historic Painted Desert Inn, which features architectural details such as hammered-tin chandeliers and local pottery. The Tawa Trail is another easy 1.2-mile (1.9 km) stroll that winds through high desert grasslands.
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The Painted Desert Inn
The main building of the Painted Desert Inn was constructed between 1937 and 1940 by Civilian Conservation Corps builders and artisans, based on the design by National Park Service architect Lyle E. Bennett and others from the Park Service Branch of Plans and Design. The Inn was built in the Pueblo Revival style, with the main building and associated guest cabins, known as casitas. A portion of the main building was remodelled from a 1920s inn on the site, nicknamed the Stone Tree House, which incorporated local petrified wood in its architectural elements.
Over the years, the Painted Desert Inn has undergone extensive rehabilitation and restoration. While it no longer functions as a hotel or restaurant, it reopened in the 1990s as a museum and bookstore, showcasing extraordinary architectural details. These include hammered-tin chandeliers, local pottery, and a vivid mountain lion petroglyph. The inn remains a popular stop for visitors, offering a glimpse into the past and a chance to admire the stunning views of the Painted Desert from its patio on the Painted Desert Rim.
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Frequently asked questions
The Petrified Forest National Park is a drive-through park, and it takes around 45 minutes to an hour to drive the 26-28 mile route. The park is located in Arizona, and is around three hours east of the Grand Canyon, one hour east of Flagstaff, Arizona, and three hours west of Albuquerque, New Mexico.
There are a number of hiking trails in the Painted Desert and Petrified Forest. The Painted Desert Rim Trail is a 1-mile trail that travels along the canyon rim, and includes information panels about the wildlife, geology, and history of the region. The Tawa Trail is a 1.2-mile trail that winds through high desert grasslands. In the Blue Forest, there is a 1-mile trail that can be accessed from the Blue Mesa driving loop. The Long Logs Trail is a 1.6-mile loop, and the Agate House Trail is a 2-mile round trip.
The best time to observe wildlife is early morning and towards dusk. Common Ravens, Rock Wrens, pronghorn, black-tailed jackrabbits, coyote, kit fox, and many species of rodents and bats can be spotted in the park. The park also has a variety of reptiles, including lizards and snakes.
