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Petrified Forest National Park, Arizona (View Photos):
Petrified Forest National Park is a place of scientific curiousity, historical significance, quiet reflection, and stark badlands. It is this quirky combination of factors that makes the park so fascinating to visit. Significant deposits of petrified wood, which contains amethyst and quartz crystals, are scattered all over the desert landscape. About 200 million years ago, minerals from river sediment and volcanic ash permeated these logs and eventually replaced the organic tissue inside them. The minerals crystallized into quartz and thus were born the petrified logs currently strewn around the park.
Since the mid-19th century, much of the original petrified wood has been ransacked by soldiers, gem collectors, and common theives. But there are enough remaining pieces to constitute an invaluable treasure trove of fossilized wood. Park regulations prohibit the collection or theft of any natural materials within park boundaries, no matter how small. These rules are strictly enforced by Park Rangers who can impose large fines and penalties on violators. This helps to preserve what remains of the petrified wood.
The park is also notable for having many plant and animal fossils that go back over 200 million years. Scientists are continually studying and uncovering new fossils within the park. A cultural dimension exists here as well. Native Americans left evidence of prior activity and settlement through petroglyphs and the (partially excavated) remains of a village (Puerco Pueblo).
Finally, it should be noted that the physical environment is quite striking due to its unique landforms and sparse, quintessentially Western aura. Escarpments and badland formations are seperated by large areas of empty desert. The northern section of the park lies within the Painted Desert where a vast landscape of pastel-colored badlands can be explored by hikers. This quiet desert kingdom displays its forms and colors to maximum effect during sunset. Much of the park is designated federal wilderness, so it has the highest level of protection available.
Recommended Day Hikes:
Blue Mesa Trail
Round Trip Length: 1.0 miles
Trailhead location: On the main park road, about 10 miles north of the Entrance Station, turn right
at the sign for Blue Mesa. Drive 3.5 miles to the trailhead.
Level of Difficulty: Easy
Attractions: Excellent specimens of petrified wood. Colorfully striped mudstone badlands
Painted Desert Wilderness Area (no marked trails - just wander around)
Round Trip Length: up to you
Trailhead location: Kachina Point located just behind the Painted Desert Inn about a mile or two
north of the Painted Desert Visitor Center
Level of Difficulty: Easy
Attractions: Silence and solitude among large red and white colored badlands in the Painted Desert. Once you
descend to level ground below the rim from Kachina Point, there are no marked trails. Places to explore in this area
are Black Forest, Onyx Bridge, Pilot Rock, and Chinde Mesa, but doing all this likely involves overnight camping.
Recommended Points of Interest:
The following are all accessible from the main park road: Jasper Forest; Agate Bridge; Crystal Forest; Long Logs;
Agate House; Rainbow Forest Museum; Newspaper Rock; Blue Mesa; Puerco Pueblo; Pintado Point; Chinde Point;
Kachina Point; Tiponi Point
Helpful travel tips and observations
The park road leads to numerous turnouts, short trails, scenic overlooks, archeological sites,
and petrified wood deposits. Be sure to check out the Rainbow Forest Museum for fossil displays, dioramas,
and a park film
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Overlook from the Blue Mesa turnoff, Petrified Forest National Park, (October 2006)
Fossilized wood along the Blue Mesa Trail, Petrified Forest National Park, (October 2006)
Fossilized log along the Blue Mesa Trail, Petrified Forest National Park, (October 2006)
Overlook from the Blue Mesa turnoff, Petrified Forest National Park, (October 2006)
Badlands from Blue Mesa Trail, Petrified Forest National Park, (October 2006)
Badlands from Blue Mesa Trail, Petrified Forest National Park, (October 2006)
View from the main park road, Petrified Forest National Park, (October 2006)
Scenic overlook into stark desert, Petrified Forest National Park, (October 2006)
More Photos: Page 1 > Page 2
