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Petrified Forest National Park Gains 4,265 Acres, But Much Remains To "Complete" The Park

Submitted by Kurt Repanshek on February 3, 2013 - 2:45am
Petrified Forest National Park will grow by nearly 4,300 acres later this year thanks to a collaborative effort by two conservation groups, but much more work needs to be done to "complete" the park that protects an incredibly rich array of geological and archaeological resources.

Petrified Forest National Park's First Park Geology Map Is A Hit

Submitted by Jim Burnett on January 31, 2013 - 2:46am
The process has taken over three decades, but Petrified Forest National Park now has its first published geological map—and in the world of rocks, it's a star

A Year In The Parks: From Arches National Park To Theodore Roosevelt National Park

Submitted by Kurt Repanshek on December 26, 2012 - 2:47am
Living in the Rocky Mountains is a great asset when it comes to visiting national parks, for there are so many in just about any direction you head. The past year took me north and south through the region to a diverse collection parks, and I also ventured to Virginia to explore the National Park System.

Trails We Hiked in 2012 That We Think You'll Like

Submitted by NPT Staff on December 26, 2012 - 2:31am
Few national park visits are complete without a hike of some distance and duration. We made the following hikes in the parks the past year, and think you'll find them interesting possibilities for 2013.

National Geographic Maps Can Guide You To Canadian Rockies, Through The Four Corners Region

Submitted by NPT Staff on December 18, 2012 - 2:32am
Need help planning a trip to either the Canadian Rockies or the Trail of the Ancients in the Southwest? National Geographic Maps can help you out.

Ghostly Tales From The National Parks: Petrified Forest National Park

Submitted by haunted hiker on October 29, 2012 - 1:50am
With Halloween just days away, we searched around the National Park System and rummaged in the Traveler's archives for some ghostly stories. This tale comes from Petrified Forest National Park.

National Park Mystery Photo 56 Revealed: Take A Seat And Wait For The Jerk

Submitted by Kurt Repanshek on September 21, 2012 - 3:59am
Zoom out from the tightly cropped image we used for this Mystery Photo and you'll find a seat at the soda fountain in the Painted Desert Inn in Petrified Forest National Park.

A View From The Overlook: The Petrified Wood Olympics

Submitted by PJ Ryan on August 1, 2012 - 1:36am
You'd be surprised by the lengths some folks would go to to take a colorful piece of rock from Petrified Forest National Park.

Trails I've Hiked: The Long Logs And Agate House Trails At Petrified Forest National Park

Submitted by Kurt Repanshek on July 5, 2012 - 1:45am
It's the heart of summer, the hottest time to visit Petrified Forest National Park, but that doesn't mean you still can't enjoy the Long Logs and Agate House trails near the park's south entrance. You just have to be strategic in planning when to do these companion hikes.

National Park Week Quiz #4 Revealed: Four Letters Unscrambled

Submitted by Bob Janiskee on April 25, 2012 - 2:59am
Does the sound of the can opener make your dog salivate?

Traveler's Checklist: Petrified Forest National Park

Submitted by Kurt Repanshek on April 16, 2012 - 1:29am
Petrified Forest National Park is an overlooked gem in the National Park System, in part perhaps owing to its location in northeastern Arizona, or possibly because there are no in-park accommodations, or maybe because the park shuts down at sundown. But that doesn't mean you shouldn't explore this fascinating landscape.

We've Added Petrified Forest National Park To Our Database Of Essential Park Guides

Submitted by NPT Staff on April 8, 2012 - 1:20am
Heading to Petrified Forest National Park, or wondering whether you should pay the northern Arizona park a visit? We've got a guide to help you figure out how best to explore the park, one that just might convince those on the fence to add it to their bucket list.

Trails I've Hiked: The Crystal Forest At Petrified Forest National Park

Submitted by Kurt Repanshek on April 3, 2012 - 1:43am
Though it's called the "Crystal Forest," it could just as easily have been dubbed "the wood lot" for all the slabs and trunks of petrified wood you'll find along this easy hike in Petrified Forest National Park.

Trails I've Hiked: The Blue Mesa Trail At Petrified Forest National Park

Submitted by Kurt Repanshek on March 19, 2012 - 1:13am
There are, relative to other parks, only a handful of hikes for you to consider when you visit Petrified Forest National Park, but you still should come up with a pecking order, if only to plan your day. And if you like to hike first thing in the morning, then the Blue Mesa Trail should rise to the very top of your list.

Petrified Forest National Park

The Painted Desert is just one aspect of this amazing national park. Kurt Repanshek photo.

Threads of the Late Triassic Period more than 200 million years ago run rampant through Petrified Forest National Park, and not just in the trunks of stone trees that dot this multi-hued landscape in northeastern Arizona.

Bus Bust at Petrified Forest National Park Nets Stolen Wood - and a Lot More

Submitted by Jim Burnett on January 28, 2012 - 2:21am
The theft of petrified wood is an ongoing problem at Petrified Forest National Park, so it was gratifying to learn that a tip from a visitor resulted in the apprehension of a group of thieves earlier this month. The bust of the group traveling in a converted school bus also netted some other items of considerable interest to authorities.

Celebrate Petrified Forest National Park's 105th Anniversary On December 8

Submitted by NPT Staff on December 1, 2011 - 2:28am
Petrified Forest National Park marks its 105th anniversary on December 8, and in honor of that the park has lined up a number of special activities for visitors.

Major Addition to Petrified Forest National Park May Hold Significant Features

Submitted by Jim Burnett on September 9, 2011 - 12:12am
The treasure trove of unique geology and archeology found in Petrified Forest National Park has just grown by the addition of some 26,000 acres to the park. The recent purchase of a privately-owned ranch within the park's authorized boundaries expands the protected area by about twenty-five percent.

Permanent Vacation: Twenty Writers on Work and Life in Our National Parks

Submitted by Danny Bernstein on June 26, 2011 - 1:01am
Permanent Vacation: Twenty Writers on Work and Life in Our National Parks
Millions of people visit our national parks each year, and some never leave. See iconic landscapes through the eyes of bed makers, bridge builders, rangers, and wranglers. Rip through rapids, disappear inside canyons, and witness personal transformations from petrified forest to permafrost. Learn what it's like to ditch the mainstream and make a life in our nation's best idea.

The Case of the Cigarette Smoking Woman At Petrified Forest National Park

Submitted by haunted hiker on October 27, 2010 - 1:52am
Looking for a few good ghosts in the national parks this Halloween? Consider Petrified Forest National Park with its Case of the Cigarette Smoking Woman.

Dumb Crooks, National Parks Version

Submitted by Jim Burnett on August 22, 2010 - 12:02am
One might think that people who are involved in illegal activities would try to avoid attracting the attention of the Proper Authorities, but fortunately for the sake of law and order, that's not always the case. Three cases of Dumb and Dumber from separate parks confirm that crime still doesn't pay.

Common Southwestern Native Plants, An Identification Guide

Submitted by Kurt Repanshek on May 12, 2010 - 12:00am
Common Southwestern Native Plants: An Identification Guide
Anyone who spends time hiking in the national parks of the Southwest needs a good plant identification book. And "Common Southwestern Native Plants, An Identification Guide," is one of those books.

Looking for Special Holiday Programs? Here's a Sampling at Parks from Coast to Coast

Submitted by Jim Burnett on November 30, 2009 - 3:18am
Looking for a break from shopping, football, and end-of-year hustle and bustle? December is prime time for special programs and events in a number of parks. Here's a sampling in areas from coast to coast.

Route 66 Fans Rejoice! Here's a Great New Source of Information On "The Mother Road"

Submitted by Jim Burnett on September 29, 2009 - 2:52am
In the days before interstate highways made travel faster—and usually a lot less interesting—a road trip to some popular NPS sites included a drive on at least part of Route 66. Fans of the historic highway now have a great new resource for information about the famous route.

National Park Geologic Sites Draw Raves and Rants

Submitted by Bob Janiskee on August 18, 2009 - 2:00am
Smithsonian high-fives the parks and Yahoo! Travel flips the bird.

Rules! Rules! Rules!

Submitted by Bob Janiskee on January 5, 2009 - 7:31am
Yes, yes, I know that you always consult the Superintendent’s Compendium of designations, closures, permit requirements and other restrictions as required under Title 36 Code of Federal Regulation § 1.7(b) before visiting a national park. But do you really know all you need to know to be a responsible park visitor?

Petrified Forest National Park is Still Being Stolen One Piece at a Time

Submitted by Bob Janiskee on December 10, 2008 - 3:15am
A decade ago, visitors at Petrified Forest National Park were stealing the park’s petrified wood at the rate of 12 tons a year. Warning signage, hefty fines, legal purchase options, and other countermeasures have done some good, but losses continue to mount.

Congress Authorized Expansion of Petrified Forest National Park, But Forgot to Fund It

Submitted by Kurt Repanshek on March 31, 2008 - 10:33am
I've told you about private development and Valley Forge National Historical Park, and about private development and Acadia National Park, and about the National Park Service being so poor it has to turn to commercial interests to preserve history. So does it come as any surprise that Congress approved, but failed to fund, expansion of Petrified Forest National Park?

Park History: Petrified Forest National Park

Submitted by Kurt Repanshek on December 9, 2007 - 4:00am
Stumps of stone. Rock palettes that tell stories. Prehistory frozen in place for hundreds of millions of years. Colorful badlands. That's a pretty good way to sum up what you'll find at Petrified Forest National Park.