Petrified Forest National Park
Step back in time at Petrified Forest National Park, where ancient trees have turned to stone. Ideal for history buffs and geology enthusiasts.
Petrified Forest National Park is a fascinating landscape of colorful badlands and fossilized wood, preserving the rich history of ancient forests from over 200 million years ago.
Location
Located in northeastern Arizona, USA.
Quick Facts
Size: 221,390 acres
Year Established: 1962
Unique Features: Vast deposits of petrified wood, ancient fossils, and vibrant badlands.
Discover an ancient world frozen in time. The park’s striking geology, petrified wood, and archaeological sites offer a unique journey through Earth’s prehistoric past.
Petrified Forest National Park is home to one of the largest and most colorful concentrations of petrified wood in the world. Over 200 million years ago, during the Late Triassic period, ancient trees fell and were buried by sediment. Over time, silica-rich groundwater seeped into the wood, gradually replacing organic material with quartz crystals. This process preserved intricate details of the original wood, creating stunning fossilized logs with vibrant hues of red, orange, purple, and blue. Today, visitors can explore these remarkable remnants of prehistoric forests scattered throughout the park’s striking badlands and desert landscape.