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Best trails in Petrified Forest National Park

Best trails in Petrified Forest National Park

4.5(13,878 reviews)

·

United States
#38 of 60 national parks

Want to find the best trails in Petrified Forest National Park for an adventurous hike or a family trip? AllTrails has 19 great trails for hiking and walking and more. Enjoy hand-curated trail maps, along with reviews and photos from nature lovers like you. Ready for your next hike or bike ride? Explore one of 12 easy hiking trails in Petrified Forest National Park that are great for the whole family. Looking for a more strenuous hike? We've got you covered, with trails ranging from 0 to 1,715 feet in elevation gain. Whatever you have planned for the day, you can find the perfect trail for your next trip to Petrified Forest National Park.

Top trails

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Visitor info

Hours & contact
Open 7 days a week
Passes & fees
Starting at $15
Accessibility
General park hours
Every day • 8 am–5 pm
Exceptions
Park Closed Thanksgiving.
Nov 27, 2025 • Closed
Park Closed Christmas.
Dec 25, 2025 • Closed
Phone
(928) 524-6228
Entrance pass
Motorcycle

Admits one or two passengers on a single private, non-commercial motorcycle. Valid for 7 days.

$20
Non-commercial Groups

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.

$15
Per Person

Admits one individual with no motor vehicle (bicyclist, hiker, pedestrian). Youth 15 and under are admitted free of charge. Valid for 7 days.

$15
Private Vehicle

Admits one private, non-commercial vehicle (15-passenger capacity or less) and all occupants. Valid for 7 days.

$25
Annual pass
Park

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.

$45
All U.S. national parks

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.

$80
Purchase pass
2025 Fee-free days

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

Overview

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.

Facilities

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

Service animals must be on-leash throughout the park.

Trail reviews for Petrified Forest National Park

12,943 trailgoers Busiest in April
Mar 23, 2025Hiking
Great conditionsGreat views

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

Parking: Free, Medium lot
Blue Mesa Trail
Jan 31, 2025Hiking
Not crowdedGreat conditionsGreat views

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.

Difficulty: Moderate
Devil's Playground Loop
Jun 8, 2025Hiking
Easy to parkGreat conditions

Such a cool way to see lots of petrified wood up close! Easy paved trail.

Parking: Entry fee, Free, Medium lot
Crystal Forest Trail
Jun 7, 2025Hiking
Easy to parkNot crowdedGreat views

Nice easy hike to get you into the Petrified Forest. No shade so plan accordingly.

Difficulty: Easy
Old Jasper Forest Road
May 18, 2025Hiking
Easy to parkNot crowdedDog-friendlyGreat conditionsGreat views

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!

Difficulty: Easy
Blue Mesa Trail
May 18, 2025Hiking
Easy to parkNot crowdedBathrooms availableGreat conditionsGreat views

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

Difficulty: Moderate
Historic Blue Forest Trail
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Frequently asked questions

Where is the best place to hike in Petrified Forest National Park?

According to users from AllTrails.com, the best place to hike in Petrified Forest National Park is Blue Mesa Trail, which has a 4.8 star rating from 3,270 reviews. This trail is 1.0 mi long with an elevation gain of 114 ft.

What is the longest trail in Petrified Forest National Park?

According to AllTrails.com, the longest trail in Petrified Forest National Park is Pilot Rock. This trail is estimated to be 17.3 mi long.

How many trails are in Petrified Forest National Park?

There are 19 trails in Petrified Forest National Park. These trails have an average 4.5-star rating from 13,878 AllTrails community reviews.

Which trail has the most elevation gain in Petrified Forest National Park?

If you're looking for elevation gain, Petrified Forest National Park has you covered. Pilot Rock boasts the most elevation gain with 1,715 ft of total ascent. The park's runner-up is Petrified Forest Scenic Drive, which will get you 974 ft of elevation gain.

Are there running trails available in Petrified Forest National Park?

According to AllTrails.com, there is 1 running trail in Petrified Forest National Park which is First Forest Point with an average 3.9 star rating from 42 community reviews.