Lone Star Travelers Blog

Two miles into the park you come to Kachina Point, an overlook in front of The Painted Desert Inn.  Kachina (Kah-chee-nah) is the representation of the Hopi deified ancestral spirits.  This is the location of the northern Wilderness Area access trail.  The badlands (a spectacular, highly eroded landscape) stretch miles before you encompassing 43,020 acres.  Established in 1970 this was one of the first wilderness areas in the National Park Service.

The next overlook is Tawa Point.  Tiponi Point, No Name and Tawa Point offering expansive views of the Painted Desert are all clustered together on this first 1 3/4 mile stretch of Park Road.  Tawa is the Hopi Sun God.  Hugging the edge of the mesa the rim trail at 5,826 feet begins here.  Walk the .06 miles each way to the Painted Desert Inn on a self-guiding trail.  Signs along the way describe points of interest include geology, plants, animals and people.  Keep a sharp eye out for the horned lark, golden eagle and ravens as they soar the thermals here at 5,826 feet above the desert floor. 

The next pull out is not named and so of course we call it No Name Point.  This is a good spot to pause, look at your map and plan your remaining stops and perhaps some hikes.  You may hike anywhere in Petrified Forest National Park within the following guidelines.  If there is a designated walkway or path you must stay on it.  You may not walk into any areas with signs indicating closed area or authorized vehicles or personnel only.  (these are few)  Otherwise you may strike out into the Painted Desert or the Petrified Forest on your own.  You must park your vehicle in an overlook parking lot or if you pull off on the side of the road you must be completely off the roadway and on the other side of the designated white line.  The park closes at 7PM in the summer and 6PM at other times of the year.  At closing time you must be in your vehicle heading for an exit.

Driving from one end of Petrified Forest National Park to the other is a total distance of 28 miles.  Most visitors spend an average of 2 1/2 hours visiting the park.  There are 21 overlooks and points of interest along the way.  If you are driving from east to west on I-40 exit at #311 which will put you at the north end of the park.  Make the Painted Desert Visitor Center right outside the entrance station to the park your first stop.  Here you can pick up a park map, view the park film, browse the exhibits, orient to the surroundings, ask questions and perhaps purchase postcards or a book.  Directly across from the visitor center is the Fred Harvey gift shop and restaurant.  The restaurant is open until 3PM and the only place to eat in the park.  The gift shop sells petrified wood that has been gathered from outside the park.  Federal law prohibits the removal of any natural object from the National Parks.  Remember as you tour the park you are welcome to pick up the wood, handle it and examine it but always put it back where you found it.  Starting at the northern end of the park driving south on Park Road one mile the first overlook is Tiponi Point, the Hopi corn goddess symbol.  Your first view of the Painted Desert here lays out the badlands at your feet colored with various shades of red and orange as seen on the mesas and buttes that rise from the desert floor before you.  The Painted Desert is made up of Bentonite clay (sediment).  As these ancient sediments deposited millions of years ago minerals in the rocks created the range of colors you will see throughout the park.  The sparkle interspersed in the landscape is selenite. (gypsum)  As you leave this overlook and head back to your car notice the bushes with pale yellow flowers growing along side the pathway.  These are Apache Cliffrose.  Take a moment to inhale the sweet  scent of these flowers.

Visit our Canyon de Chelly Photo Gallery 

Canyon de Chelly (pronounced d’Shay) located 105 miles northeast of our home for the summer as volunteers for the National Park Service at Petrified Forest National Park was the perfect place for a day trip.  After we visited Hubbell Trading Post we continued on to explore Canyon de Chelly.  When you arrive at the entrance to Canyon de Chelly you may sign up for a tour with the Navajo guides who will bring you out to the canyon floor as a group in open back trucks or you may drive the South and the North Rims.  We chose the driving tour and started on the south rim which is sixteen miles with seven overlooks all offering amazing views. (more…)