What is special about the Petrified Forest National Park?
Petrified Forest National Park is known for its fossils, especially of fallen trees that lived in the Late Triassic Epoch of the Mesozoic era, about 225 million years ago.
What are some fun facts about the Petrified Forest?
Petrified Forest National Park is the only national park site that contains a segment of the Historic Route 66 alignment. Part of the National Old Trails Highway also passed through the park. The Chinle Formation of the Triassic Period (about 225 million years ago) is the main geologic formation of the park.
Is it worth going to Petrified Forest National Park?
Visiting Petrified Forest National Park in Arizona is definitely worth it. When we spent a day there we were amazed how much there is to see and do for families. Don’t miss for example the Painted Desert, Puerco Pueblo or hiking the Blue Mesa. And all this is right by famous Route 66.
How much does it cost to go to the Petrified Forest?
Petrified Forest National Park Will Increase Entrance Fees Beginning January 1, 2020
| Entry Fee | Current Fee | Fee as of January 1, 2020 |
|---|---|---|
| Annual Pass | $40 | $45 |
| Per vehicle ( good for 7 days) | $20 | $25 |
| Per person/bicycle (good for 7 days) | $10 | $15 |
| Per motorcycle (good for 7 days) | $10 | $15 |
Why is the petrified forest important?
Petrified Forest National Park is a world-class area for fossil research. The fossil record at the park preserves some of the earliest dinosaurs. The dinosaur fossils are from the Late Triassic period, called the “dawn of the dinosaurs.” They help scientists reconstruct ancient environments.
How big is the Petrified Forest National Park?
229.6 mi²
Petrified Forest National Park/Area
How old is Petrified Forest National Park?
The current 346 square miles of Petrified Forest open a window on an environment more than 200 million years old, one radically different from today’s grassland.
How long does it take to go through Petrified Forest?
It takes at least 45 minutes to drive the 28-mile road through the park, but to truly experience it try to allow at least a couple of hours to drive Blue Mesa Road, take a hike, and stop at the spectacular viewpoints along the way.
Can you drive thru the Petrified Forest?
If you are short on time, drive through Petrified Forest National Park. With its 28 miles of paved park roads, it’s a convenient one-way drive through the park. You can start at either the north or south entrances.
How long does it take to drive through Petrified Forest National Park?
How did Petrified Forest National Park get its name?
Established: December 9, 1962 (established as a National Monument by President Teddy Roosevelt in 1906.) Location: Northeast Arizona (the nearest town is Holbrook .) How the park got its name: Petrified Forest was named after a wilderness of 225 million year-old trees that have, over time, turned into solid quartz.
What is the Petrified Forest National Park most famous for?
Petrified Forest NP is most famous for its namesake petrified logs and wood that are abundantly distributed throughout the Park, but we were surprised and pleased to find that the Park includes so much more.
What kind of trees are in the Petrified Forest National Park?
According to the National Park Service, there are nearly a dozen different types of petrified trees in the Petrified Forest in Arizona, and likely still more species of petrified trees located on the site that researchers have not yet identified. The trees found in the park include ginkgoes, tree ferns, and coniferous species.
How long to drive through Petrified Forest?
Petrified Forest National Park . If you are planning a trip through Arizona, stop by Petrified Forest National Park. You can drive the entire length of the park, which is 28 miles, (including stopping at overlooks) in about 2-3 hours. If you just want to drive through, plan on just about an hour.