Apr 5

Apr 5 Petrified Forest National Park

Being bifurcated by Interstate 40 (and the old Rt. 66) in eastern Arizona, this is one of the most accessible National Parks in the United States. Fossilized trees from the time of dinosaurs and the Painted Desert unite to form one of the most unique parks in the country.

When they hear the name Petrified Forest, most people imagine something a bit more fantastical than a bunch of rocks laying around in the desert, but that shouldn’t take away from the magic of the ”forest”. These trees are older than the majority of dinosaurs, by millions and millions of years, yet they are here for us to see today. The colorful minerals that replaced tree rings molecule by molecule look like the product of painstaking meticulous artistry, but these stones were formed by completely natural processes. Catch them in the right light and these logs sing.

The park is bifurcated by Interstate 40, so if you’re traveling between Flagstaff, AZ and Albuquerque, NM on I-40, it is an easy 1-2hr detour. The scenic road through the park is to the point. You see the entire park and not much is left to interpretation in the sense of directions. There are a few short hikes that get you more intimate with the landscapes, but you experience the majority of the park from the road. The park hours are aggravatingly tailored around sunset, so being in the park during the day’s last fleeting moments of sunlight takes a bit of planning, but it is well worth it! The road eventually dumps you out onto rt. 180 and a short drive to Holbrook will get you back onto I-40.

The park seems a bit cleaned out. Countless people have taken memorabilia home with them. My own grandfather even admits to it years ago. At the end of the road through the park there are enormous shops for buying petrified wood so do not take any from the park. A baseball sized rock costs ~$10, or you can buy polished tree cross sections, end tables, etc. I almost wish the NPS would buy out all of their “wood” supply and stick it back in the park, but that would not be genuine.

TIPS

SUNSET

This particular part of Arizona is prone to incredible sunsets. The park becomes other-worldly when the setting sun’s low rays cast long shadows over the undulating terrain and the wave of colors that washes over this already vibrant landscape paints a masterpiece in front of you. This is what Pocahontas must have felt when she jumped over that waterfall. The park usually closes right around sunset though, so being in park at the right time is a challenge and might require a little rule bending. They only ask that you are heading toward the exit when the park is closing.

SOUVENIRS

There are signs everywhere telling you not to pick up fossilized wood. Do not pick it up. Even if you think this tiny piece won’t be missed, do not be that person. There are a surprising amount of local businesses that have already purged the park and surrounding area of countless pieces of irreplaceable history. If you insist on having your own prehistoric woodchip, go buy (or steal) one from them.