AZ
Petrified Forest National Park
Badlands, petrified wood, and deep time across northeastern Arizona's most vivid landscape.
Petrified Forest National Park showcases Arizona's geological drama: vibrant badlands, sweeping grasslands, and one of Earth's most spectacular concentrations of petrified wood. The park preserves over 200 million years of geologic time in its colorful layers, alongside ancient fossils, ancestral Puebloan ruins, and a historic stretch of Route 66.
The park protects diverse desert landscape and cultural heritage across its expanse, with trails, scenic drives, and viewpoints that let visitors encounter the park's layered geology and human history firsthand.
Visit during Arizona's cooler months for the most comfortable exploration. The nearest town provides services and lodging for visitors planning their trip to this remote corner of northeastern Arizona.
No locations are linked to Petrified Forest National Park yet.
Common Questions
What visitors most often want to know about Petrified Forest National Park.
Do I need a permit to visit Petrified Forest National Park?
No permit is required to visit Petrified Forest National Park. You can enter the park freely during operating hours.
What can I see at Petrified Forest National Park?
The park features one of the world's largest and most vivid collections of petrified wood, along with colorful badlands, vast grasslands, ancient fossils, and ancestral Puebloan sites. A historic stretch of Route 66 also passes through the park.
What time period of geologic history does the park cover?
Petrified Forest National Park protects more than 200 million years of geologic history. This extensive timespan is visible in the park's rock formations and fossil record.
What wildlife habitat does the park protect?
Petrified Forest National Park protects habitat for desert animals as part of its conservation mission. The park's diverse landscape supports the region's native fauna.