Petrified Forest National Park

Arizona · fossils · desert · geology

Ancient Petrified Wood. The park is famous for its massive deposits of petrified wood, which are trees that turned into stone over millions of years through a process where minerals slowly replaced the wood.

Painted Desert Colors. The northern part of the park extends into the Painted Desert, where badlands display stunning stripes and layers of red, purple, blue, and gold colors created by different rock and mineral layers.

Location and Size. The park covers about 346 square miles in northeastern Arizona and sits right along Interstate 40, the famous Route 66, and the BNSF Railway's Southern Transcon train line.

Semi-Desert Landscape. The park features semi-desert shrub steppe habitat with highly eroded badlands that create dramatic, colorful canyons and ridges shaped by wind and water over time.

Protected Since 1906. The site was declared a national monument in 1906 and became an official national park in 1962, protecting its incredible fossils and scenery for everyone to explore.