National Park · AZ

Things to do in Petrified Forest

The National Park Service lists 15 things to do at Petrified Forest National Park. 15 have no extra fee, 15 need no reservation, and 13 allow pets. Each listing links to the full NPS page. Data is from the NPS snapshot of Oct 28, 2026.

Updated · NPS Data API

All (15) Front-Country Hiking (8)Museum Exhibits (2)Bookstore and Park Store (1)Horseback Riding (1)Biking (1)Geocaching (1)Wildlife Watching (1)
Man walking three dogs in badlands with blue sky.
Photo: NPS Photo

Become a BARK Ranger!

As long as you both follow the BARK Ranger rules, you can take your leashed dog, cat, or other pet almost everywhere you can go in the park.

Year-round Pets allowed

Front-Country Hiking

Two people on a yellow and red tandem bike ride past blue striped badlands.
Photo: NPS Photo/Hallie Larsen

Go Bicycling

Bicycle—including ebikes—use is permitted on paved park roads and parking areas open to the public as well as some areas listed in the main text. Be careful along park roads—everyone is looking at the view!

Year-round Pets allowed

Biking

Two women looking at their devices in front of an exhibit outdoors
Photo: NPS Photo/Hallie Larsen

Go Geocaching

Go geocaching. There are multiple caches in the park including traditional and virtual.

60 Minutes Year-round Pets allowed

Geocaching

Fossils in a room with large windows and posters.
Photo: NPS

Peek into the Paleo Lab

Visit the Museum Demonstration Lab at the Painted Desert Visitor Center Complex where you can ask questions and watch them work on fossils from the park.

Year-round Pets allowed

Museum Exhibits

Two hikers walk amidst gray, blue, and purple badlands along a trail
Photo: NPS Photo/Stuart Holmes

Walk Blue Mesa Trail

This 1-mile alternately paved and gravel trail loop offers the unique experience of hiking among banded badland hills of bentonite clay as well as petrified wood.

30-120 Minutes Year-round Pets allowed

Front-Country Hiking

Late sunlight touches long petrified logs along a trail amidst badlands.
Photo: NPS Photo/Andrew V Kearns

Walk Crystal Forest Trail

Walk Crystal Forest Trail for one of the best opportunities to experience the petrified wood deposits as it loops through rolling gray and purple badlands.

20-120 Minutes Year-round Pets allowed

Front-Country Hiking

Late light on gray and purple badlands behind petrified logs under a lavender sky
Photo: NPS Photo/Stuart Holmes

Walk Long Logs Trail

Explore this ancient log jam at the base of purple and gray badlands along a paved half-mile loop.

60-120 Minutes Year-round Pets allowed

Front-Country Hiking

Woman stopped next to a wayside exhibit looking towards red badlands in the background
Photo: NPS Photo/Stuart Holmes

Walk the Painted Desert Rim Trail

This unpaved trail winds 1-mile round trip through the rim woodland, a place for chance encounters of many species of plants and animals and spectacular views of the Painted Desert.

20-120 Minutes Year-round Pets allowed

Front-Country Hiking

Man walking a trail under a sunset sky with clouds
Photo: NPS Photo/Jacob Holgerson

Walk the Tawa Trail

Enjoy the tranquility of the grassland as the paved trail leads you to scenic Tawa Point. The 1.2-mile one way Tawa Trail is a perfect place to stretch your legs after a long road trip.

30 Minutes Year-round Pets allowed

Front-Country Hiking

Small herd of tan and white pronghorn, hooved native animal, on grassland with late afternoon light.
Photo: NPS Photo/Hallie Larsen

Watch Wildlife

Watching wildlife is a seasonal activity, but just in that the species to watch change, particularly in birdwatching.

5-120 Minutes Year-round Pets allowed

Wildlife Watching

Before you go

Check current alerts and closures, entrance fees and operating hours for Petrified Forest. Programs and tours can change with the season or be cancelled on short notice — confirm on the NPS page before you plan around one.

Things to do at nearby parks

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