Sunrise and sunset are favorite times to view the colorful Painted Desert of the Petrified Forest National Wilderness Area NPS Photo
Overview
Park Hours: 8am to 5pm, MST. Don't forget that Arizona does not observe Daylight Savings. Petrified Forest is best known for its Triassic fossils. It's like having two parks in one, an ecosystem over 200 million years old with plants and animals now represented in the surreal landscape of the Painted Desert. There is also a living park with its own denizens adapted to a demanding environment.
Admits one private, non-commercial vehicle (15-passenger capacity or less) and all occupants. Valid for 7 days.
Entrance - Per Person: 15.00
Admits one individual with no motor vehicle (bicyclist, hiker, pedestrian). Youth 15 and under are admitted free of charge. Valid for 7 days.
Entrance - Motorcycle: 20.00
Admits one or two passengers on a single private, non-commercial motorcycle. Valid for 7 days.
Commercial Entrance - Sedan: 25.00
$25 flat fee + $10 per person (Sedans, SUVs, Minivans)
If you are conducting an income generating tour of the park, you are subject to commercial tour fees. Fees for commercial vehicles are based on the capacity of the vehicle, not the number of passengers on board, and are valid for 7 days.
Commercial Entrance - Per Person: 10.00
$25 flat fee + $10 per person (Sedans, SUVs, Minivans)
If you are conducting an income generating tour of the park, you are subject to commercial tour fees. Fees for commercial vehicles are based on the capacity of the vehicle, not the number of passengers on board, and are valid for 7 days.
Commercial Entrance - Van: 50.00
Capacity of 7 to 15 passengers - $50 (Vans).
If you are conducting an income generating tour of the park, you are subject to commercial tour fees. Fees for commercial vehicles are based on the capacity of the vehicle, not the number of passengers on board, and are valid for 7 days.
Commercial Entrance - Mini-bus: 60.00
Capacity of 16-25 passengers - $60
If you are conducting an income generating tour of the park, you are subject to commercial tour fees. Fees for commercial vehicles are based on the capacity of the vehicle, not the number of passengers on board, and are valid for 7 days.
Commercial Entrance - Motor Coach: 150.00
Capacity of 26+ passengers - $150 (Large tour buses, motorcoaches).
If you are conducting an income generating tour of the park, you are subject to commercial tour fees. Fees for commercial vehicles are based on the capacity of the vehicle, not the number of passengers on board, and are valid for 7 days.
Entrance - Non-commercial Groups: 15.00
Capacity of 16 or more $15/person. Anyone that is 15 or younger is exempt from paying an entrance fee, in addition to anyone with a valid pass. A pass may cover immediate family members or up to 4 people traveling with the group.
A non-commercial organized group is a group traveling together, such as scouts, a club, a church, or other group that has organized its own itinerary. Fees are based on the capacity of the vehicle, not the number of passengers on board, and are valid for 7 days.
Map
Things To Do
Category
6 Results
Peek into the Paleo Lab
Free
Description
Visit the Museum Demonstration Lab at the Painted Desert Visitor Center Complex where you can ask questions and watch them work on fossils from the park.
Bicycle—including ebikes—use is permitted on paved park roads and parking areas open to the public as well as some areas listed in the main text. Be careful along park roads—everyone is looking at the view!
Enjoy the tranquility of the grassland as the paved trail leads you to scenic Tawa Point. The 1.2-mile one way Tawa Trail is a perfect place to stretch your legs after a long road trip.
Sunlit Painted Desert hills of the Petrified Forest National Wilderness AreaSunset lights up the Painted Desert Inn National Historic Landmark west side.Sunlight highlights the colorful petrified wood of Agate HouseMasonry wall foundations are all that are left of a hundred room puebloTwo visitors walk the Blue Mesa Trail between blue, purple, and grey badlands.many petrified logs lay on the ground and on eroded pedestals of clayA beam of light touches a petroglyph at Puerco Pueblo on the summer solsticea petroglyph pecked into sandstone that represents a mountain lionResearchers dig for fossils in the badlandsyellow and other colors in a piece of brightly colored petrified woodDark blue sky filled with stars over banded badland.
