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| Visitor Center | Location Phone |
Hours | Facilities |
| Painted Desert Inn | 2 miles from north park entrance 928-524-6228 |
Open All Year 8:00am - 4:00pm MST Closes 25 Dec |
Native American Artisians demonstrate crafts. Cultural history of Petrified Forest area; Fred Kabotie murals on interior walls; workmanship of Civilian Conservation Corps evident. Offers book sales and restrooms. |
| Painted Desert Visitor Center | I-40, Exit #311 928-524-6228 |
Open All Year 8:00am - 5:00pm MST Closes 25 Dec |
20-minute video shown every 30 min. General park information & orientation. Restrooms and bookstore available. |
| Rainbow Forest Museum | South Entrance (U. S. 180) 928-524-6228 |
Open All Year 8:00am - 5:00pm MST Closes 25 Dec |
Rainbow Forest Museum has exhibits of early reptiles, dinosaurs, and petrified wood. Restrooms and bookstore available. |
Special Events and Programs
Petrified Forest National Park is open year round except Christmas Day. Park hours are from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm, with longer hours during the summer. Hours may change, so please call before your arrival.
Note: Arizona does not observe Daylight Savings Time.
Petrified Forest is a surprising land of scenic wonders and fascinating science. The park is located in northeast Arizona and features one of the world's largest and most colorful concentrations of petrified wood. Also included in the park's 93,533 acres are the multi-hued badlands of the Painted Desert, archeological sites and displays of 225 million year old fossils.
About one half of the visitation occurs during June, July and August. The visitation for 1996 was 829,615.
Summer Solstice
Visitors to Petrified Forest National Park can visit Puerco Pueblo and experience the wonder of a functioning solar calendar during the ten-day periods proceeding or following the summer solstice.
Programs are presented at Puerco Pueblo for a 2 week period around June 21, at 8:30 am.
Ranger Led Activities
Activities include driving, sight-seeing, photography, walking, hiking and wilderness backpacking. A variety of interpretive programs are given, mostly in the summer. A list of programs is displayed in the visitor center and museums.
Ranger talks and tours are scheduled mostly during the summer months. With advanced notice the park has several programs for school groups. Call for additional information.
The Painted Desert Inn - Learn about the Inn's architectural and historic evolution. Meet inside the Painted Desert Inn. Ranger Guided Tour - 20 minutes.
Puerco Pueblo - Explore this early Puebloan Indian culture that lived along the Puerco River. Meet at the Puerco Pueblo parking lot trailhead. Ranger guided walk - 30 minutes.
Triassic Park - How did these trees turn to stone? Find out on this easy 20 minute Ranger guided walk along the Giant Log Trail. Meet in the Rainbow Forest Museum.
Painted Desert Visitor Center - 20 minute Ranger talks in auditorium. Check Activity Board for topic.
Rainbow Forest Museum - 20 minute Ranger talks in the sunroom. Check Activity Board for times and topics.
| Day of Week | Time | Activity |
| Sunday | 10:00 am | Painted Desert Inn |
| 1:30 pm | Puerco Pueblo | |
| Monday | 10:00 am | Triassic Park |
| 1:30 pm | Painted Desert Inn | |
| Tuesday | 10:00 am | Rainbow Forest Museum |
| 1:30 pm | Painted Desert Visitor Center | |
| Wednesday | 12:00 am | Rainbow Forest Museum |
| 1:30 pm | Puerco Pueblo | |
| Thursday | 10:00 am | Rainbow Forest Museum |
| 1:30 pm | Painted Desert Inn | |
| Friday | 10:00 am | Triassic Park |
| 1:30 pm | Painted Desert Inn | |
| Saturday | 10:00 am | Rainbow Forest Museum |
| 1:30 pm | Painted Desert Visitor Center |
Junior Ranger Program
Would you believe that there are thousands of park rangers who protect Petrified Forest National Park? Well, it is true, and most of them are Junior Rangers. Junior Rangers are very special to our park. Junior Rangers take time to learn about the park and its resources. When they are through, they take a special oath, promising to help protect and preserve Petrified Forest, and receive a Junior Ranger Badge. Would you like to become a Junior Ranger?
Becoming a Junior Ranger is not difficult, though it does take a little time and work. If you are interested in becoming a Junior Ranger, stop by the Painted Desert Visitor Center or Rainbow Forest Museum and ask for a Junior Ranger activity booklet.
You must complete three of the activities for your age. These activities will help you learn about the prehistoric animals as well as the animals that live in Petrified Forest today, the early inhabitants and the petrified wood that gives the park its name. When you have completed these activities, stop at either visitor center and turn in your completed book. The ranger will give you your Junior Ranger oath, then present you with your badge.
The park is always happy to add another name to their Junior Ranger team! When you take the time to learn about the park and its valuable resources, you will be able to share your knowledge with your friends and family and help them understand why Petrified Forest is a special place. Join the team, become a Petrified Forest National Park Junior Ranger!
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