Petrified Forest

March 2024 | Park 29

We hiked and drove through this park during a five-day spring break trip to the Durango area. Having our base in the southwest corner of Colorado got us six hours closer to Arizona than we usually are in Denver, making the drive to PFNP a mere (ha) four hours each way. Cowboy Carter by Beyoncé had just dropped that morning and the southwestern scenery felt like the perfect backdrop as we took in the genius of that album. The hours slipped away and we made it to the Painted Desert Visitor Center before noon.

Driving south along the main road through the park, we stopped at a few overlooks on our way to the short and sweet Blue Mesa and Crystal Forest Trails that we’d determined we had enough time to complete. At Blue Mesa Trail (yes, we absolutely listened to Blue Mesas by Leon Bridges while driving there), I was surprised by the vibrance of color in the layered rock sediment as we trotted down the paved path and wove through the buttes. It was also nice to visit a dog-friendly park where Kiya could come along with us, which was the only reason we’d been able to add this park to our trip in the first place. After this we drove to Crystal Forest to see some impressively large petrified trees, before turning the car around and starting our journey back to Durango.

Petrified Forest felt barren and windswept but also beautiful in an understated way. We visited at midday when the sun is at its zenith, so my one regret is that we weren’t able to stay long enough for sunset, as I suspect it would transform the landscape. Nevertheless, still a park that exceeded my (admittedly rather low…) expectations.

Pictured below:

• Kiya waiting with me while we each took turns going into Painted Desert Visitor Center.

• Blue Mesa Trail.

• Crystal Forest Trail.