Although a rather small park known mainly for its paleontological and archaeological resources, there are also some really fun hikes in Petrified Forest National Park.
Most of the trails in Petrified Forest National Park are paved and fairly easy, while others have some steeper sections. Generally speaking, this is one of the best national parks to go hiking with your pet and it’s pretty accessible to wheelchair users as well.
With the exception of the Painted Desert Wilderness, Petrified Forest National Park hiking is not challenging at all, suitable for most fitness levels, ages and abilities.
Yet, it’s the one of the best ways—if not the only way—to have a truly immersive national park experience at Petrified Forest.
Additionally, except when going backpacking in the Painted Desert, you can do all of the following hikes in Petrified Forest National Park in just one day. Awesome!
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7 Not-to-Miss Hikes in Petrified Forest National Park
Painted Desert Rim Trail
For panoramic views of the striking red, orange and purple badlands in the northern part of Petrified Forest National Park, there’s no better trail than the Painted Desert Rim Trail.
As its name suggests, the trail runs along the rim of the Painted Desert, through patches of woodland and across wide open areas.
Interpretive panels provide more information about this spectacular landscape, as well as the plants and animals that live it, some of which you might encounter on your Petrified Forest hike.
This is a dirt trail with a generally gentle grade, but occasional steeper sections and slopes make this unsuitable for wheelchairs or strollers.
For accessible views of the Painted Desert, there are viewpoints behind and near the Painted Desert Inn National Historic Landmark.
- Length: 1 mile (out and back)
- Time: 30 minutes
- Trailhead: Kachina Point or Tawa Point
Painted Desert Backcountry Exploration
The Petrified Forest National Wilderness Area comprises two separate units, the largest of which is the northern Painted Desert unit.
This vast pristine wilderness is open to backcountry desert exploration. There are no trails, but that’s the beauty of it, honestly. It’s so much fun to wander around as you please, as far as you want, anywhere you want.
Day hikers, however, must be back at their vehicles by the posted closing time of the park. (Petrified Forest National Park closes every night and there are no campgrounds or other accommodations.)
You do have the option to spend the night in the Painted Desert, though. This requires a free wilderness permit, which can be picked up at either of the park’s two visitor centers.
I personally highly recommend camping out in the Painted Desert. It’s still—and will always be—one of my own favorite national park experiences.
Read my blog post about Painted Desert backpacking here.
- Length: 2+ miles (out and back)
- Time: 1 hour to multiple nights
- Trailhead: Painted Desert Inn
Puerco Pueblo Loop
Calling the Puerco Pueblo Loop a hike might be a stretch because this really is nothing more than an easy stroll. Yet, it’s still one of the top spots in Petrified Forest National Park to explore on foot.
No longer than 0.3 miles, this paved trail, which can accommodate strollers and wheelchairs, takes you through the ruins of a hundred-room pueblo.
Occupied by the Ancestral Puebloan people more than 600 years ago, this is one of the many fascinating Native American heritage sites that are scattered across Arizona and the Southwest.
In addition to the pueblo ruins themselves, you can also see petroglyphs at the southern end of the trail.
- Length: 0.3 miles (loop)
- Time: 15 minutes
- Trailhead: Puerco Pueblo parking area
Blue Mesa Loop
One of my personal favorite hikes in Petrified Forest National Park is the Blue Mesa Loop. Although only a mile long, this is a ridiculously scenic hike.
Starting at the Blue Mesa sun shelter, you’ll descend from the mesa and soon find yourself amidst a badland wonderland of blue, gray and beige clay.
There’s also no lack of petrified wood here, while the Blue Mesa and its numerous sedimentary layers are packed with plant and animal fossils.
Once you’re down in the badlands, it’s a very easy walk on a mostly paved trail. Remember, though, that you’ll have to hike back out. The way back up is not overly long, but it’s quite steep.
- Length: 1 mile (loop)
- Time: 30 minutes
- Trailhead: Blue Mesa sun shelter
Crystal Forest Loop
If you’re searching for Petrified Forest hikes that take you through deposits of petrified wood, look no further than the Crystal Forest Loop.
This trail gets its name from the stunning quartz crystals found in the petrified logs in this area. Spend some time exploring this amazing trail, wandering through a real petrified forest and seeing this kaleidoscopic archaeological features from up-close.
- Length: 0.75 miles (loop)
- Time: 20 minutes
- Trailhead: Crystal Forest parking area
As is the case everywhere in Petrified Forest National Park, collecting petrified wood or any other natural resources is illegal on the Crystal Forest Trail. The National Park Service asks visitors to report any removal of petrified wood or other materials to park staff. If you really want a petrified wood souvenir, there are plenty of shops outside of the park that sell a variety of those.
Giant Logs Loop
True to its name, the Giant Logs Loop runs past some of the national park’s most colorful and biggest petrified logs.
While the Crystal Forest features arguably the most vibrant and sparkling petrified wood in the park, the Giant Logs Trail has truly massive specimens. Take the log called “Old Faithful” for example. Located at the top of the trail, it’s nearly 10 feet wide at its base.
- Length: 0.4 miles (loop)
- Time: 15 minutes
- Trailhead: Rainbow Forest Museum
Long Logs and Agate House Trails
Two separate trails, the Long Logs and Agate House trails can be combined to create a wonderful 2.6-mile roundtrip hike in Petrified Forest National Park’s southern part.
The Long Logs Trails showcases one of the park’s densest concentrations of petrified wood, as well as some impressively large logs.
You can explore what is essentially an ancient log jam at the bottom of gray-colored badlands, one of the longer day hikes in Petrified Forest National Park (although not too long at all).
The Agate House Trail splits off from the southern part of the Long Logs Trail, leading hikers to a partially reconstructed pueblo originally built with petrified wood.
An ancient pueblo occupied briefly about 700 years ago, Agate House used to contain eight separate rooms with an entrance through the roof. It’s definitely one Petrified Forest National Park’s most fascinating archaeological sites.
- Length: 2.6 miles (out and back)
- Time: 1 hour
- Trailhead: Rainbow Forest Museum