Petrified Forest National Park Backcountry

Petrified Forest National Park, located in northeastern Arizona, is a unique and beautiful park that is home to some of the most stunning geological formations in the world. The park is renowned for its petrified wood, which is a type of fossilized wood that has been preserved over millions of years. While many visitors come to see the park’s iconic petrified wood, the park’s backcountry offers a unique and immersive experience for those looking to explore the park’s more remote areas. In this article, we will explore the backcountry of Petrified Forest National Park and what it has to offer.

The backcountry of Petrified Forest National Park is a vast and rugged landscape that is home to a variety of unique geological formations and ecosystems. The park’s backcountry is characterized by its vast expanses of open grasslands, rocky badlands, and rolling hills. It is a place where visitors can experience the true beauty of the desert landscape and get a glimpse into the ancient history of the area.

One of the most popular backcountry areas in Petrified Forest National Park is the Painted Desert. The Painted Desert is a breathtaking landscape of colorful badlands, mesas, and buttes that stretch for miles. The Painted Desert is home to some of the most beautiful and unique geological formations in the park, including the Blue Mesa, which is a large hill made up of colorful layers of sedimentary rock.

The Painted Desert is also home to a variety of wildlife, including bighorn sheep, coyotes, and pronghorn antelope. Visitors to the backcountry may also see a variety of birds, including eagles, hawks, and falcons.

Another popular backcountry area in Petrified Forest National Park is the wilderness area. The wilderness area is a remote and rugged landscape that is home to some of the park’s most unique geological formations, including the Red Basin and the Jasper Forest. The Red Basin is a stunning landscape of red and orange hills that have been sculpted by millions of years of erosion. The Jasper Forest is a vast expanse of petrified wood that is so dense that it almost looks like a forest made of stone.

The wilderness area is also home to a variety of hiking trails, which allow visitors to explore the backcountry on foot. Some of the most popular trails in the wilderness area include the Blue Mesa Trail, which offers stunning views of the Painted Desert, and the Crystal Forest Trail, which takes visitors through a forest of petrified wood.

For those looking for a more immersive backcountry experience, Petrified Forest National Park offers a variety of backpacking trips. These trips allow visitors to explore the park’s more remote areas and experience the beauty of the desert landscape up close. The backpacking trips vary in length and difficulty, and can range from a few days to a week or more.

One of the most popular backpacking trips in Petrified Forest National Park is the Wilderness of Rock trip. This trip takes visitors through some of the park’s most stunning geological formations, including the Red Basin and the Jasper Forest. It is a challenging trip that requires a high level of physical fitness, but it is also one of the most rewarding experiences that the park has to offer.

Another popular backpacking trip in Petrified Forest National Park is the Blue Mesa Loop. This trip takes visitors through the heart of the Painted Desert, offering stunning views of the colorful badlands and mesas. The Blue Mesa Loop is a moderate backpacking trip that is suitable for hikers of all skill levels.

Regardless of how visitors choose to explore the backcountry of Petrified Forest National Park, they are sure to be rewarded with stunning views, unique geological formations, and a true sense of adventure.