Petrified Forest National Park

Petrified Forest National Park Overview

Petrified Forest National Park is a surprising land of scenic wonders and fascinating science. The park features one of the world"s largest and most colorful concentrations of petrified wood, the multi-hued badlands of the Chinle Formation known as the Painted Desert, historic structures, archeological sites, and displays of 225 million year old fossils. Petrified Forest National Park is one of the best examples of the Late Triassic (225 million years ago) in the world.

The Geologic Record

The geologic record contained within the Chinle Formation is well preserved - an open book of time for geologists to read. New fossils are found every year. Our paleontologist averages about two to four new animal species each year! The park is 93,533 acres, with a recently expanded boundary increasing the acreage to 218,533 acres.

Location

Located in northeastern Arizona, Petrified Forest National Park is about 3.5 hours driving time from either Phoenix, Arizona (214 miles via Payson and Heber or 259 miles via Flagstaff) or Albuquerque, New Mexico (204 miles).