Lone Star Travelers Blog

Lacey Point is named for Iowa Congressman John Fletcher Lacey who was an advocate for protection of public lands.  The Antiquities Act of 1906 which protected “objects of historic or scientific interest” on Federal Land is often referred to as Lacey’s Act.  Petrified Forest National Park, then a National Monument was one of the first areas to be protected under this act.  The Chinle formation of the Late Triassic here is mostly mudstone and claystone.  Notice the striking range of red colors due to the iron present as the Little Colorado River eroded the landscape.  The gray colors are harder rock beds made up of siltstone, sandstone and conglomerate.   

Whipple Point was named for U.S. Army Lt. Amiel Whipple.  In 1853 Lt. Whipple was surveying for a railroad route along the 35th parallel (1 mile South of here) for military and pioneer use.  He passed down the broad, sandy wash below this overlook in December of 1853.  Impressed with the deposits of petrified wood along the banks of the wash, Whipple named it Lithodendron Creek (Lithodendron is Greek for Stone Tree Creek.)  Look down here and you will see petrified wood.

Four miles into the park we come to Nizhoni Point.  In Navajo Nizhoni means pretty or beautiful.  Here you will find the site of a 200 million year unconformity.  This is a gap in the geologic record.  The Bidahochi formation that caps the cliffs was deposited between 4 and 8 million years ago.  The Bidahochi consists of brown mudstone and black basalt that flowed from a volcano that erupted here.  The pink mudstone below belongs to the Chinle formation that was deposited some 225 million years ago.  The question is where did 200 million years of geologic history between the Chinle and Bidahochi formations go?

Pintado in Spanish means painted.  2.9 miles into the park and at 6,000 feet you are standing at the highest point in Petrified Forest National Park.  This is said to be some of the cleanest air in the United States.  You usually have a 120 mile view and can see the San Francisco Peaks near Flagstaff Arizona.  In the foreground stands Pilot Rock just 7 miles away.  Note:  If you have an RV or larger trailer avoid this turn out due to the tight space in the parking lot.

In Navajo Chinde means unwelcome ghost or evil spirit.  Think of the pre-dinosaur era when giant reptiles and amphibians ruled.  Chinde Point is notable for an important archeological find.  In 1984 he fossil bones of a very early, small (4 ft tall) dinosaur were discovered.  Named chindesaurus bryansmali, this is the  only known specimen of this type of dinosaur.  Chinde Point is the 5th overlook you may stop at and 2.3 miles into the park.  When you are touring Petrified Forest National Park make note that picnic facilities and restrooms are located here.