Best trails in Petrified Forest National Park
Top trails
Visitor info
Admits one or two passengers on a single private, non-commercial motorcycle. Valid for 7 days.
Capacity of 16 or more $15/person. Anyone that is 15 or younger is exempt from paying an entrance fee, in addition to anyone with a valid pass. A pass may cover immediate family members or up to 4 people traveling with the group.
A non-commercial organized group is a group traveling together, such as scouts, a club, a church, or other group that has organized its own itinerary. Fees are based on the capacity of the vehicle, not the number of passengers on board, and are valid for 7 days.
Admits one individual with no motor vehicle (bicyclist, hiker, pedestrian). Youth 15 and under are admitted free of charge. Valid for 7 days.
Admits one private, non-commercial vehicle (15-passenger capacity or less) and all occupants. Valid for 7 days.
Come here often? Consider purchasing an annual pass. The park's annual pass costs $45 and is valid at Petrified Forest National Park. It admits the pass owner and all accompanying passengers in a single, private, non-commercial vehicle. The pass is available to purchase in the park at the entrance stations and is good for one year from the month of issue.
Join millions of people who enjoy our National Parks with the "America the Beautiful" National Park & Federal Recreational Lands Pass, otherwise known as the Interagency Annual Pass. The pass is valid for a year's worth of visits from the month of purchase at more than 2,000 federal recreation sites across the country.
No entrance pass required on these days:
Monday, January 20 — Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr.
Saturday, April 19 — First day of National Park Week
Thursday, June 19 — Juneteenth National Independence Day
Monday, August 4 — Anniversary of the Great American Outdoors Act
Saturday, September 27 — National Public Lands Day
Tuesday, November 11 — Veterans Day
The Interagency Access Pass is accepted here.
The Rainbow Forest Museum and Painted Desert Visitor Center are accessible to visitors using mobility equipment or strollers, and wheelchair accessible restrooms and drinking fountains are available. Orientation films include open captioning.
Additional information about accessibility at Petrified Forest National Park can be found on their website: https://www.nps.gov/pefo/planyourvisit/accessibility.htm.
The Rainbow Forest Museum and Painted Desert Visitor Center are accessible to visitors using mobility equipment or strollers, and wheelchair accessible restrooms and drinking fountains are available. Orientation films include open captioning.
The Chinde Point Picnic Area is wheelchair accessible with packed, level paths and surfaces and accessible restrooms.
There are accessible restrooms at the following locations: Painted Desert Diner, Painted Desert Inn National Historic Landmark, Puerco Pueblo, and the Rainbow Forest Curio Shop.
Service animals must be on-leash throughout the park.
Guides
Trail reviews for Petrified Forest National Park
Really wonderful trail. Probably the best in the whole petrified Forest national Park. It's a very easy trail to walk, but the view is just amazing. And dear the colorful rocks really are something else
Time of Day: Morning. Direction: Clockwise. Weather: Cold (high 30s low 40s) but sunny. Trail Conditions: Dusty. Restricted access: Permit is required. Parking: Follow instructions provided by visitor center. Crowds: Not a single person. Devil's Playground is a great opportunity to get away from the crowds and explore a unique, isolated area in Petrified Forest National Park. It requires a permit from the Painted Desert Visitor Center. Permits are released every Wednesday morning, and are first come first serve. Permits must be picked up prior to 12pm on the day of the hike. Only 3 permits per week are issued, so the longer you wait after any given Wednesday, the bigger the gamble. AllTrails directions to trailhead are pretty spot-on, as it does require some private / unpaved road driving to reach the trailhead. Follow printed instructions provided by visitor center if needed and for parking. The unofficial trailhead is up on a ridge where you park your car. You can either follow AllTrails trail map straight down the ridge by climbing down over some boulders and steep embankment, or walk back out the way you came, swing left down the road and go through the gate below the ridge. Most of the beginning and ending couple of miles are mostly desert / pasture. These miles have iron stakes in the ground that provide waypoints for the path. The middle miles are the badlands and small canyons littered with hoodoos, large boulders, and varying sized pieces of petrified wood. It's easy to get off trail, but fun to explore the washes and off-shoots along the trail. Watch out for cattle, as they may be in the pasture or on the roads.
Such a cool way to see lots of petrified wood up close! Easy paved trail.
Nice easy hike to get you into the Petrified Forest. No shade so plan accordingly.
Great trail to see all the colors of Petrified Forest. Easy trail, wouldn't say hike as it is paved the whole way. But is a must do in the park!
Awesome hike!! Awesome views!! Lots of petrified wood and cool trails. All my numbers are wrong as my phone quit tracking. You can see my video of this hike at this link: https://youtu.be/WepgoJEJdA8?si=4Yo0aaWJP6qAnOhm
Headed to a park?
Take AllTrails with you
Frequently asked questions
Where is the best place to hike in Petrified Forest National Park?
What is the longest trail in Petrified Forest National Park?
How many trails are in Petrified Forest National Park?
Which trail has the most elevation gain in Petrified Forest National Park?
Are there running trails available in Petrified Forest National Park?
Suitability
Points of interest
- Kachina Point
- Agate House
- Giant Logs
- Stephen T. Mather Memorial Plaque
- Shade Shelter
- Jasper Forest Viewpoint
- Petroglyphs
- Jasper Forest Overlook
- Crystal Forest
- Jim Camp Wash
- Depot Tank
- Puerco Pueblo
- No Name Point
- Pintado Point
- Crystal Forest Viewpoint
- The Tepees Viewpoint
- Blue Mesa Viewpoint
- Historic Route 66 - Studabaker
- Long Logs
- Tawa Point