The Best Hikes in Petrified Forest for Every Skill Level

By David Sanchez · Data: National Park Service · ← Complete guide Petrified Forest

Petrified Forest isn't the first park that comes to mind when you think of serious hiking. It is, however, one of Arizona's most unusual parks. Trails pass ancient logs that are 220 million years old, cross porcelain-colored badlands, and run near pueblos covered in petroglyphs. You won't find dramatic elevation gain here, but few parks can match its concentration of geological and archaeological sights.

The must-do hike for a first visit is Long Logs Trail (1.6 miles round-trip, easy), which has the park's highest concentration of whole logs. Add Blue Mesa Trail (1.0-mile loop), which drops into lavender-blue badlands no one forgets. For families or visitors short on time, Giant Logs Trail (0.4 miles, very easy) takes about 20 minutes from Rainbow Forest Museum.

Getting Ready for Your Hike in Petrified Forest

Permits and Entrance Fees

You don't need a permit for marked day-hike trails. The entrance fee is all you need: $25 per vehicle, $15 for pedestrians or bicyclists, and $20 for motorcycles. If you want to camp in the wilderness, you'll need a free backcountry permit. You can get one that same morning at Rainbow Forest Museum or Painted Desert Visitor Center.

Heat and Safety

The park is a semiarid grassland at about 5,600 feet in elevation. Temperatures can climb above 100°F in July and drop below freezing in January. Keep these three rules in mind during the summer:

• Start before 9 a.m. or after 4 p.m. from May through September.
• Carry at least 1 liter of water for every hour of hiking. There are no potable water sources along the trails.
• If a storm rolls in suddenly, which is common from July through mid-September, leave ridgelines and move away from isolated trees. Storms can break out quickly in the late afternoon.

Wildlife to Watch For

Prairie rattlesnakes live throughout the park. Watch where you place your hands and feet around logs and rocks. Pronghorn roam the open grasslands and are harmless. Collared lizards run across the trails as soon as the heat rises.

Dogs

Dogs are not allowed on any trails. They are allowed on a leash along paved roads and in parking lots. If your pet is traveling with you, plan to take turns hiking.

The Absolute Rule: Leave Everything in Place

Taking petrified wood, even a tiny fragment, is a federal offense punishable by a fine. Rangers check vehicles as they leave the park.

The Best Hikes, Area by Area

The scenic drive runs for about 28 miles between the north entrance at I-40 and the south entrance at Highway 180. Trails branch off from it as you travel from north to south.

Northern Area: Painted Desert

Painted Desert Rim Trail

Distance: 1.0-mile loop · Elevation gain: almost none · Difficulty: easy · Type: loop · Time: 30 to 40 minutes

The trail follows the plateau rim between Tawa Point and Kachina Point, above the ocher, lavender, and lilac badlands of Painted Desert. The ground is firm, and there's no shade.

Trailhead: Tawa Point parking lot at the north entrance, 0.3 miles from Painted Desert Visitor Center.

Tip: If you're a photographer, plan this hike for sunrise or sunset. The colors change dramatically as the angle of the light shifts. Pair it with a visit to Painted Desert Inn, a National Historic Landmark, which is a five-minute walk from Kachina Point.

Central Area: Puerco Pueblo and Blue Mesa

Puerco Pueblo

Distance: 0.4-mile loop · Elevation gain: negligible · Difficulty: very easy · Type: loop · Time: 20 to 30 minutes

A short trail circles a prehistoric pueblo occupied about 700 years ago by the ancestors of today's Pueblo peoples. More than 650 petroglyphs are visible on the site's sandstone blocks. It is one of the park's densest and best-preserved archaeological sites.

Trailhead: Puerco Pueblo parking lot, about 14 miles from the north entrance. Restrooms are available.

Tip: A sign points out a calendar petroglyph aligned with the summer solstice. Arrive early for the low-angle light and to avoid peak-season crowds.

Blue Mesa Trail

Distance: 1.0-mile loop · Elevation gain: about 165 feet · Difficulty: easy to moderate · Type: loop · Time: 45 minutes to 1 hour

The trail drops into a basin of blue and gray clay dotted with petrified-wood monoliths exposed by erosion. The ground is bentonite, so it can be soft and slippery after rain.

Trailhead: Blue Mesa parking lot, about 17 miles from the north entrance. Restrooms are available.

Our take: This is our first choice for photos. The low-angle light in the late afternoon brings out every shade in the palette. Avoid it in the middle of a summer day. There's no shade, and the ground radiates heat.

Southern Area: Rainbow Forest

This is where you'll find most of the visible petrified wood. Three trails start at or right next to Rainbow Forest Museum, and you can combine them in the same half-day.

Giant Logs Trail

Distance: 0.4-mile loop · Elevation gain: negligible · Difficulty: very easy · Type: loop · Time: 20 to 30 minutes

The park's shortest trail passes its largest recorded specimens, including Old Faithful, a log about 33 feet long. The path is stabilized, with a gentle slope.

Trailhead: Behind Rainbow Forest Museum at the south entrance on Highway 180.

It's ideal for a first look at petrified wood, especially for young children and visitors with limited mobility.

Crystal Forest Trail

Distance: 0.8-mile loop · Elevation gain: minimal · Difficulty: easy · Type: loop · Time: 30 to 45 minutes

Logs contain quartz, amethyst, and pyrite crystals that you can see with the naked eye. The concentration of wood is higher than on Giant Logs Trail, but the specimens are more fragmented. Nineteenth-century crystal collectors left their mark.

Trailhead: Crystal Forest parking lot, 1.2 miles north of Rainbow Forest Museum.

Long Logs Trail (with optional Agate House)

Base distance: 1.6 miles round-trip · Long version with Agate House: 4.0 miles round-trip · Elevation gain: almost none · Difficulty: easy · Type: out-and-back (base route) or extended loop · Time: 1 to 1.5 hours (short version), 2 to 2.5 hours (long version)

Long Logs has the park's highest concentration of whole logs, some more than 100 feet long. The ground is perfectly flat, and the trail is clearly marked.

The turnoff to Agate House adds 2.4 miles round-trip. It leads to a partially restored home built entirely from petrified wood about 900 years ago by ancestral peoples. It is one of the park's most unusual sites: a house made of petrified stone standing in the desert.

Trailhead: Rainbow Forest Museum parking lot.

Combining trails: If you have a half-day in the southern area, do Giant Logs, then Long Logs with or without Agate House, and finish with Crystal Forest. You'll end at Crystal Forest parking lot, 1.2 miles from the museum. Arrange for a shuttle vehicle or walk back.

Easy, Family-Friendly Hikes

Petrified Forest is one of the most accessible parks in Arizona for families. Every marked trail is less than 4.3 miles long and has minimal elevation gain.

Our family picks:

• Giant Logs Trail (0.4 miles): Starts at the museum, with a stabilized path and a 20-minute walking time. Works for kids as young as 3 or 4.
• Crystal Forest Trail (0.8 miles): An easy loop with plenty of details to examine. Perfect for curious 6- to 10-year-olds.
• Puerco Pueblo (0.4 miles): The petroglyphs prompt plenty of real questions from kids. Interpretive signs are on site.
• Painted Desert Rim Trail (1.0 mile): Flat ground and broad views make it a good warm-up before getting back in the car.

See our guide to family activities in Petrified Forest for more kid-friendly activities, including the NPS Junior Ranger programs.

Challenging Hikes: The Wilderness

For hikers looking for solitude and unmarked terrain, the park protects two wilderness areas that are open for day use without a permit. Overnight trips require a free backcountry permit.

Black Forest Wilderness (northeastern part of the park): A forest of charred logs in black and silver shades, very different from the colorful wood in the southern area. The terrain is chaotic, with few visual landmarks. This area is for experienced hikers carrying a topographic map and compass.

Painted Desert Wilderness (central-northern part of the park): Open badlands where you can choose your route based on your preferences and conditions. There's no shade, and summer heat is intense. Carry at least 1.5 liters of water for every hour of hiking.

The basic rule in both areas is to bring everything you need. There are no water sources or facilities in the backcountry. Tell a ranger about your route before you leave.

Let's be honest: Petrified Forest doesn't offer multi-day hikes with major elevation gain or high-elevation views. The park's richness lies in its geological landscapes and archaeology, not its verticality.

Access, Trailheads, and Parking

The park runs north to south along a scenic drive. Two entrances provide access to all the trails.

North entrance (from I-40, Exit 311): Painted Desert Visitor Center, a large parking lot, and the trailhead for Painted Desert Rim Trail. Open year-round except Thanksgiving and Christmas.

South entrance (from Highway 180, 17 miles north of St. Johns): Rainbow Forest Museum, a spacious parking lot, and trailheads for Giant Logs, Long Logs, and Crystal Forest.

Intermediate parking lots: Puerco Pueblo, Blue Mesa, and Crystal Forest each have a dedicated parking lot along the drive.

Shuttle: No shuttle serves the interior of the park. You'll need a personal vehicle to combine the trails.

Route tip: Enter through one gate and leave through the other. You'll cross the entire park without backtracking. Allow 1.5 to 2 hours for the scenic drive without stops, or closer to 4 to 5 hours with all the overlooks and stops.

For RV and camper van access details, see our guide to getting to and getting around Petrified Forest.

When Should You Hike in Petrified Forest?

Spring (March through May) and fall (September through November) offer the most comfortable conditions, with temperatures between 50°F and 77°F, little risk of thunderstorms, and golden light that's good for photos.

Summer is still manageable if you start before 9 a.m. The heat is dry but real. In winter, snow can dust the petrified logs for a striking visual effect. Check road conditions before you leave because parts of the scenic drive may close temporarily.

For month-by-month details and the crowds to expect, our guide to the best times to visit Petrified Forest has all the information you need.

Which Hike Should You Choose?

Our complete Petrified Forest guide includes a day-long itinerary that works these trails into a logical order based on which entrance you use.

Frequently Asked Questions