Petrified Forest National Park
21/02/2025
The road less traveled...in Arizona
The drive from Tucson to Petrified Forest was ahhmazing! Having not looked at the route before heading out and just trusting GPS, I had no idea about the terrain changes that awaited me. Traveling through three National Forest's (Tonto, Apache Sitgreaves, and White Mountain) provided incredible mountain views only to come out on the other side to flat plains again with mesa structures.
The Painted Desert
So, am I the only one that pictured a large park with thick groves of old standing trees at Petrified Forest? If so, we were wrong! If you already knew I was wrong, don't let me know! But first, let me back up a bit. I am hoping that through posting my journal and photos that I can also add a little education about the parks. If at any time you find that boring, just keep scrolling. This is a two for one park in that it has an ecosystem over 200 million years old with plants and animals now represented in the Painted Desert as well as fossilized trees that date back to the Triassic period. Let's start with the Painted Desert. Upon arriving to the visitor center, I was happy to have a moment to speak with the National park ranger/archeologist who was an expert in paleontology. He works there full time in an open lab and there are constantly new fossils being brought to him. The photo below shows his work space that he was happy to talk to the park visitors about. I thanked him for his service in a difficult time and he seemed truly grateful to be recognized. Also below are photos of the painted desert which appears with red, orange, pink, lavender, and gray colors that come from the iron and manganese compounds in the rocks, as well as volcanic ash. The beautiful blue sky really made the colors "pop."
Painted Desert Inn
One of the first stops in the park loop is the iconic Painted Desert Inn which was built around 1920 as a wood structure. It was open for 12 years until the building's foundation began to expand and contract due to being built on a clay surface. In the 1930s the CCC helped to make the building structurally sound and the inn reopened in 1940 to Route 66 travelers. The inn had several owners over the years but today it stands as a museum (and ice cream shop...don't ask how I know). The glass ceiling (see below) is hand painted and gorgeous.
Route 66
The famous Route 66 intersects the park and thankfully some relics still remain. Below are photos of the 1932 Studebaker car and the telephone poles that lined route 66. Petrified Forest is the only National Park that contains a section of the old highway.
Petrified trees
So, back to the petrified trees in the park. They are ancient tress that have turned to stone through fossilization. In some sections of the park you can hike through the trees to get an up close look at the crystalization. It is amazing to think these trees are over 200 millions years old. I hiked the Blue Mesa trail and the Crystal Forest to grab these photos. I have a ton more if you can't sleep and want me to send them to you! By the way, is that chocolate ice cream on my chin? Another park in the books and I really enjoyed learning about this part of Arizona. Staying in Holbrook tonight and headed to Sedona next.
