FamxplorPetrified Forest National Park
What to expect
Petrified Forest National Park is a national park in northeastern Arizona, known for its large deposits of petrified wood and colorful badlands. The park covers over 346 square miles and features a dry, windy climate with temperatures varying from summer highs to winter lows. Visitors can explore the park's scenic trails, including the 28-mile Main Park Road, which winds past viewpoints and features trailheads that take visitors into the middle of this otherworldly landscape. The park is home to over 400 species of plants and more than 200 species of birds, as well as larger animals such as pronghorns, coyotes, and bobcats. Families can also visit the remains of Puerco Pueblo, a 100-room compound occupied by Ancestral Puebloan people, and explore the Painted Desert, which showcases a spectrum of colors found in iron, carbon, and manganese. The park offers short and easy hikes, many on paved trails, that get visitors up close to ancient trees that have transformed from wood into quartz
Plan your family visit to the Petrified Forest National Park with these blog insights 👇
USA with children: Petrified trees
Activities: We spent a day and a half there. We drove the 50-kilometer route through the park, stopping at the Painted Desert and Crystal Forest. "We drove and walked alternately through the national park."
Highlights: The landscapes were spectacular. The kids loved the Junior Ranger program and the dinosaur skeletons at the museum. The "various minerals in the rust-red stone trunks sparkle like gemstones in white, green, and purple." ✨
USA: Nature and national parks in the West that not everyone knows about
Activities: We visited both Visitor Centres, including the Painted Desert Visitor Centre and the Rainbow Forest Museum. We also asked for the free Activitybook for the Junior Ranger Program and went on short hikes like the Blue Mesa Trail and the Crystal Forest Trail
Highlights: The Petrified Forest was a true hidden gem. We loved the history, the dinosaurs, and the colorful painted desert. "The Blue Mesa Trail leads as a 2.5 km circular hike through a moonscape with colorful and blue petrified dunes and guarantees a desert experience." Completing the Junior Ranger Program was a highlight! ✨
Southwest USA in a motorhome with children – From greenhorn to pro in 15 stages
Activities: We drove from Tucson to the Petrified Forest National Park. It was important to plan the distances carefully. We learned that the distances in the USA are huge, so we didn't want to make the route too long
Highlights: We learned about the distances in the USA and to not plan routes that are too long. We spent time at the Petrified Forest National Park with the kids. We explored the park and enjoyed the scenery ✨
Ultimate Family Guide to Petrified Forest: Best Petrified Forest National Park Hikes
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