What a cool park!…read more We have a lifetime parks pass, so it's been great to be able to explore when we can. We spent about 1/2 day here - drove to many of the overlooks for some very cool views. Followed someone recommendation to hike the Blue Mesa and truly felt like we were walking on the moon. Very cool colors and petrified logs lying around. It's about a mile; so quite a short hike but you are 'up close and personal' with nature. Take the time to walk thru the museum at the Inn (there's also clean restrooms here and an ice cream shop). They've done a great job preserving the original furniture and such. The parking lots at many of the stops had several spots for RV's and could accommodate towing as well. Clean restrooms thru out the park too A tip would be to hike in the morning as the afternoons can get pretty toasty and windy

I'm obsessed with petroglyphs. Want to see the coolest petroglyphs? Newspaper rock. Wanna see…read moregorgeous sand and petrified wood? This is your place. This is a fun park to drive through. You can take as long as you want, but really you can see quite a bit in a few hours. Definitely get the map.

The Petrified Forest is known for its fossils, but the sediments (Chinle Formation) that encase the…read morepetrified wood are also just as beautiful! The northern part of the national park really focuses on the badlands. I unfortunately didn't have time to do the trail here, but there are many pullouts and viewpoints along the road so you do get a taste of the beauty right from the road. If you're a more experienced hiker, you can backpack this area after getting a permit. There are ancestral Pueblo structures and petrogylphs here in addition to the petrified wood. This is definitely worth a stop!

The Painted Desert is a badlands area in the northern part of Petrified Forest National Park. I…read morelove this beautiful part of the park. This colorful Chinle Formation consists of a variety of sedimentary rocks on cliffs, hills, mesas and buttes. Its pretty colors is why it is called the Painted Desert. The Painted Desert stretches all the way to the east end of Grand Canyon National Park. There are some overlooks off the main road that allow you to see an overview of the area. There are also some hiking trails. The map at the overlook gives you information on far away many of points of interest are. Painted Desert Inn National Historic Landmark is nearby and has a lot of history to it. The original building from the early 1920's was made of petrified wood. Today it is a museum that showcases the history of the building, historic Route 66 that once passed through here and the Civilian Conservation Corps. The Painted Desert Visitor Center is also nearby with park rangers on hand for information.

Wow! First impression, we never felt this intense volume of quiet ever! You don't even hear the…read morewind blowing. The middle of nowhere! I mean really nowhere! Second impression - how could such a sophisticated culture live in such a desolate area? Yes, there is water nearby, but the vastness and isolation of it all is intriguing and astonishing. This vast 4k acre area is a preserve, research and archeological hub, of a more than 1,100 to 900-year-old Hopi civilization, and holds an overwhelming amount of specimens of Pueblo/Hopi debris, pottery and dwellings paraphernalia. At an estimated 4,900 feet above sea level, your 360° panoramic view of the surrounds and plateaus below to the far horizon are nothing but spectacular, miles and miles of nothing but desert. The small yet well-endowed and instructional little museum offers a great insight of what your surrounded by at Homolovi Ruins - and the staff are exceptionally nice folk. It is a terrific starter before going out on your own to encounter southwestern antiquity at its most natural. As a whole, this is a unique, intriguing and instructional excursion into the realm of the past when taken and that will never be forgotten.

I had never stayed in an AZ. State Park before but it was really a relaxing sweet spot to spend the…read morenight on our way to Verde Valley. Cute groupings of mules and/or donkeys meandering on the landscape in groups within the park boundary. I love animals so that is always great to see! It was an uncrowded park and truly very beautiful. The Visitor Center, where you go to register if you are planning on camping, was very educational and the park employees we spoke with were both extremely friendly, helpful and informative. We did the driving tour, where it takes you to the 3 ruins. We got out at each stop to walk the paths and continued listening to the excellent tour on our iPhones. Much to learn about those ruins and the people who came to make it their home. The campground was well kept up, power, water, waste station, and sweet views. There were also bathrooms on site for tent campers. I felt very safe there. I loved the peaceful open space with lots of wind, sun, moon and friendly campers. Highly recommend! Suggestion: Make sure you take & drink plenty of water because it's AZ. and temps can be extremely hot in the summer. PLEASE RESPECT the land you are on there- do not under any circumstances disturb the sites or take any pottery chards. Stay on the walking paths and be respectful of this sacred place. Enjoy your visit!

Photos don't do this trail justice since they are either way too oversaturated or washed out in my…read moreopinion. You have to experience the real thing to make your own judgement. This is a 1 mile loop trail that descends among the badland hills through the blue clay. I've never seen clay as blue before. There's also petrified wood here embedded in the soil. It felt cool to be able to descend through the layers of time and see all the stripes. At the bottom, the hills are hulking and imposing. It really makes you feel minuscule, while at the top you get a nice view of the undulating badlands. The trail is steep in sections. There's also very little shade on the trail (the trailhead does have a sun shelter with benches), so have sun protection and bring water.

Well worth the very easy, leisure .8 mile walk. Beautiful views of petrified wood. Just a beautiful…read morejourney back into time.

Historic spot with an informative visitor's center. Pay the State Park fee of $7 at the center, get…read morea map, and head out on a couple of trails to see ruins of one of the largest native American settlements, abandoned in the 1300s. There was also a mormon settlement nearby. Be sure and check out the diorama in the restroom at the center. Inside the state park is a nice view campground with full hookups, pull through sites, and water at each site. Flush toilets and showers are available.

It's a beautiful place with space between each site. There are great sunrise and sunset views,…read morealmost every morning we were there. The Homolovi ll was a great trail early in the day, it was exciting to see all the ruins, imagine what the buildings looked like and what life was like back in the day. The washrooms were decent, the shower heads could use some work as water went everywhere. But the pressure was good and it was nice and hot. I would definitely recommend this park to others. It's a quick jump into Winslow if anything is needed.

Located in the northern part of Petrified Forest National Park, the Painted Dessert Inn has a lot…read moreto offer. This museum has displays and artifacts that highlight the building's history including a display on Route 66. It is also one of the few stops on the park that has bathrooms. In addition to the beauty of the building, there are wonderful views of the painted desert which reminds me of a small version of the cliffs in the Grand Canyon. The day we visited it was very windy and later in the day it was a little hazy due to the sand blowing. We were lucky that we visited in the morning to enjoy the beautiful views.

An important part of history nestled in the northern end of the Petrified Forest NP…read more The structure houses a museum of artifacts from its part of the historic Route 66, and Pueblo style architecture, and it's "use" in a classic movie The Painted Desert. It is settled along the Petrified Forest NP Rim Trail, and it is the trailhead to many other wilderness trails to the north. You can find various gifts here and they have a small cage on the first/lower level. Worth a drop in, if you have some time.

This place is great, especially during the week. Small quiet campground with 9 spaces, sweet…read morevisitor center with very friendly staff. Also, this is the cleanest park i have ever been to!!

Wonderful park with a 2 mile scenic scenic loop trail taking you by inscriptions in the rock dating…read moreback to the 1800's.

Just FYI, using GPS location from this does not lead you to a trail. It just lads you to a general…read moreresidential area that happens to be within the white mountains area.

I went to an immaculately maintained trail along a creek and meadow of horses and cows that backed…read moreup to the mountains. Beautiful, beautiful and the small town charm of it is amazing! I loved the rocks people paint and leave behind as well. I have done that in the past with my 3 boys. Love the idea and charm of it! Reminds me to do it again. I felt refreshed and enjoyed my 3 mile run!! The trails were marked with little white signs and I didn't feel unsafe. It got tight a couple times with some kind folks walking dogs and I'm a huge dog person- so doesn't bother me and I was able to squeeze past them without them needing them to move much in the skinny portion of the trail we happened to be crossing at the same time. I think they appreciated. Anyway, beautiful hike and is do it again! Looking for another trail to do today before we leave back to the Valley in the AM. I don't want to leave!

When it starts warming up the valley its time to go up north for hiking and one of my favorite day…read moretrips is headed out by Payson and hitting up See Canyon Trail along Christopher Creek. From Payson head east on Hwy 260 to Christopher Creek Loop, turn left and head to Forest Rd 284, this is a dirt rd and part of it does become one lane, so be mindful of other cars. You don't need a 4x4 . Take the forest rd to the parking area. You start out on the trail and go under a mile you will come to a fork and you can either stay on See Canyon Trail or head off to See Spring. Either hike is great, and there is a sign that point which direction to go. It's apx 7 miles round trip, and a good elevation gain. The views are beautiful, this is one of my favorite hikes. I love that you get to do some creek crossing, some climbing, all within big beautiful trees. If you haven't been, go give it a try!

Nice trail, not too rigorous. Very pretty and lots of shade. Second time doing the trail.read more

Admission was covered via my America the Beautiful pass. I hadn't been here since I was a kid with…read moremy parents and I actually have very little memories of that other than picking up and handling pieces of petrified wood. I took my partner who has never been here and covered highlights of the park in 2 - 3 hours. Had a great time and it wasn't too overly crowded. Honestly, this park should take one entire day to see everything. It was a tad hot for long hikes, but we did a few short ones including the one behind the southern entrance visitor center. FYI, there are souvenir shops before the actual entrance in the south. They do have some good stuff, but the official park shop is INSIDE the border after you entire the park. Great national park. Its large enough where the crowds are also spread out quite a bit. And its the only national park to my knowledge that also has a small segment of route 66 within it! For easy access, stay in Holbrook somewhere and drive in early to start your exploration.

LOVED the crystals and stuff here!!! There are Crystals, Onyx, Petrified wood pieces, jewelry,…read moretrinkets, clothes, cups, etc! It was also super hot but loved that this trip was all in our vehicle. I would recommend filling up BEFORE taking this very very long drive!! There is also a gas station right next to the gift/bathroom building if you need gas! Military members get in for free and they give you an annual pass you can use for any and all National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands. It'll expire the next year! (2026 will expire in 2027) The burgers were good and I'd try out the fried zucchini sticks with some mayo! Not as bad as you think! Will add pics of items later!