It isn’t difficult to find long-standing natural wonders in Arizona, but few compare to the ancient splendor of Petrified Forest National Park. The story of this incredible place dates back over 200 million years! With layered rock formations and archaic, multi-colored logs, it’s truly something out of a fairytale. Check it out!
It extends into the Painted Desert, a region characterized by rock formations layered with striking colors.
Adbar/Wikimedia Nestled just outside of Holbrook in northeastern Arizona, Petrified Forest National Park spans over 200 acres of rugged badlads.
Humans began inhabiting the park as early as 13,000 years ago, leaving behind petroglyphs that provide detailed information about their lives.
Finetooth/Wikimedia You can also explore an incredibly well-preserved, 100-room pueblo that dates back almost 800 years, in addition to an array of ancient artifacts.
Pictured here is petrified wood – the park’s namesake.
Jonathan Zander/Wikimedia Over 200 million years ago, this mostly barren landscape featured lush greenery that was later destroyed by lava from volcanic eruptions.
Any surviving vegetation was fossilized and buried under ashen ground, not to be revealed for eons.
Daniel Schwen/Wikimedia Made of quartz, the petrified wood is a natural wonder that attracts thousands of visitors to the park each year.
There are several different ways to experience the park, but hiking is by far the most popular.
Finetooth/Wikimedia Ranging in length from a half mile to three miles, the trails offer sweeping panoramic views of the Painted Desert. Overnight backpacking excursions are also an option.
You can visit Petrified Forest National Park year-round, and it’s open every day except Christmas.
Finetooth/Wikimedia Hours vary seasonally, so visit the website for specifics. The entrance fee is $25 per vehicle (for a seven-day pass) or $15 for individuals and motorcycles.
So whether you’re an archaeology buff, nature lover, or a little bit of both, this archaic landscape is a bucket-list-worthy destination.
Finetooth/Wikimedia
Visit the park’s website or Facebook page to learn more.
Adbar/Wikimedia
Nestled just outside of Holbrook in northeastern Arizona, Petrified Forest National Park spans over 200 acres of rugged badlads.
Finetooth/Wikimedia
You can also explore an incredibly well-preserved, 100-room pueblo that dates back almost 800 years, in addition to an array of ancient artifacts.
Jonathan Zander/Wikimedia
Over 200 million years ago, this mostly barren landscape featured lush greenery that was later destroyed by lava from volcanic eruptions.
Daniel Schwen/Wikimedia
Made of quartz, the petrified wood is a natural wonder that attracts thousands of visitors to the park each year.
Ranging in length from a half mile to three miles, the trails offer sweeping panoramic views of the Painted Desert. Overnight backpacking excursions are also an option.
Hours vary seasonally, so visit the website for specifics. The entrance fee is $25 per vehicle (for a seven-day pass) or $15 for individuals and motorcycles.
Have you ever been to Petrified Forest National Park? If so, we’d love to hear all about your experience in the comments! Let us know, and check out our previous article for an easy hike you can embark on in the park: You’ll Absolutely Love This Easy, Scenic Trail In Arizona that Nearly Anyone Can Do.
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Address: Petrified Forest National Park, AZ 86028, USA
The OIYS Visitor Center
National Park to Visit in Arizona January 12, 2022 Tori Jane What are some fun things to do outside in Arizona? So, Arizona is known for getting pretty hot during the summertime, but that doesn’t mean outdoors activities are out! Sure, they might be a little curbed during those hot months, but autumn, winter, and spring are the PERFECT times to get out and see the amazing Copper State. You can hike on any one of Arizona’s more than 800 miles of trails. You can tube the Salt River during summer (it’s one of those things every Arizonan needs to do at LEAST once) or go watch the wild horses in the area if you can spot them. Arizona is perfect for camping, no matter where you prefer to do it, and its vast range of biomes and environments make for seemingly endless choices (all of which are amazing). Check out any one of Arizona’s 128 lakes or five major rivers; we love Saguaro Lake, for example, though Lake Pleasant is super popular. Sure, only two of those lakes are natural, but does that matter? We think not – it’s still a wonderful time. Fishing and hunting is popular here, too, and so is geocaching! What are the best parks in Arizona for kids? Arizona is full of awesome parks; every city and every town’s got at least one, and some of them are truly epic, especially for the little ones. Take them to the Bill Williams River National Wildlife Refuge to watch some amazing annual bird migrations and teach them about the process. The Riparian Preserve is another amazing place to take them, and it’s closer to home, being nestled within Phoenix. Riverview Park, in Mesa, has an array of fun things to do, including multiple playgrounds, climbing ropes, a splash pad, and so much more. Feeding the ducks has never been so fun! Speaking of feeding ducks, check out Saguaro Ranch Park in Glendale for some amazing historic buildings, a stunning rose garden, playgrounds and, of course, lots of interesting critters that call it home, like peacocks, bunnies, chickens, and more. For a list of some of our favorite lesser-known parks in Arizona, check this list out!
The OIYS Visitor Center
National Park to Visit in Arizona
January 12, 2022
Tori Jane
What are some fun things to do outside in Arizona? So, Arizona is known for getting pretty hot during the summertime, but that doesn’t mean outdoors activities are out! Sure, they might be a little curbed during those hot months, but autumn, winter, and spring are the PERFECT times to get out and see the amazing Copper State. You can hike on any one of Arizona’s more than 800 miles of trails. You can tube the Salt River during summer (it’s one of those things every Arizonan needs to do at LEAST once) or go watch the wild horses in the area if you can spot them. Arizona is perfect for camping, no matter where you prefer to do it, and its vast range of biomes and environments make for seemingly endless choices (all of which are amazing). Check out any one of Arizona’s 128 lakes or five major rivers; we love Saguaro Lake, for example, though Lake Pleasant is super popular. Sure, only two of those lakes are natural, but does that matter? We think not – it’s still a wonderful time. Fishing and hunting is popular here, too, and so is geocaching! What are the best parks in Arizona for kids? Arizona is full of awesome parks; every city and every town’s got at least one, and some of them are truly epic, especially for the little ones. Take them to the Bill Williams River National Wildlife Refuge to watch some amazing annual bird migrations and teach them about the process. The Riparian Preserve is another amazing place to take them, and it’s closer to home, being nestled within Phoenix. Riverview Park, in Mesa, has an array of fun things to do, including multiple playgrounds, climbing ropes, a splash pad, and so much more. Feeding the ducks has never been so fun! Speaking of feeding ducks, check out Saguaro Ranch Park in Glendale for some amazing historic buildings, a stunning rose garden, playgrounds and, of course, lots of interesting critters that call it home, like peacocks, bunnies, chickens, and more. For a list of some of our favorite lesser-known parks in Arizona, check this list out!
The OIYS Visitor Center
The OIYS Visitor Center
So, Arizona is known for getting pretty hot during the summertime, but that doesn’t mean outdoors activities are out! Sure, they might be a little curbed during those hot months, but autumn, winter, and spring are the PERFECT times to get out and see the amazing Copper State. You can hike on any one of Arizona’s more than 800 miles of trails. You can tube the Salt River during summer (it’s one of those things every Arizonan needs to do at LEAST once) or go watch the wild horses in the area if you can spot them. Arizona is perfect for camping, no matter where you prefer to do it, and its vast range of biomes and environments make for seemingly endless choices (all of which are amazing). Check out any one of Arizona’s 128 lakes or five major rivers; we love Saguaro Lake, for example, though Lake Pleasant is super popular. Sure, only two of those lakes are natural, but does that matter? We think not – it’s still a wonderful time. Fishing and hunting is popular here, too, and so is geocaching!
What are the best parks in Arizona for kids?
Arizona is full of awesome parks; every city and every town’s got at least one, and some of them are truly epic, especially for the little ones. Take them to the Bill Williams River National Wildlife Refuge to watch some amazing annual bird migrations and teach them about the process. The Riparian Preserve is another amazing place to take them, and it’s closer to home, being nestled within Phoenix. Riverview Park, in Mesa, has an array of fun things to do, including multiple playgrounds, climbing ropes, a splash pad, and so much more. Feeding the ducks has never been so fun! Speaking of feeding ducks, check out Saguaro Ranch Park in Glendale for some amazing historic buildings, a stunning rose garden, playgrounds and, of course, lots of interesting critters that call it home, like peacocks, bunnies, chickens, and more. For a list of some of our favorite lesser-known parks in Arizona, check this list out!
