Apr 18, 2013 - Bad Luck Rocks

The dust and wind storm passed northeastern Arizona and we finally left Cottonwood for our next stop – Petrified Forest National Park. Neither of us are rockhounds and we have a minimal interest in geology. However, since we’ve never seen petrified wood in its natural state, we decided to check out the national park. This national park is primarily a ‘drive-thru’ park. You can deviate from I-40 and drive the 27 mile road through the park and stop at the dozen overlooks. There are also several short walks that you can take. We opted to start...

Dec 12, 2012 - Who Knew! Petrified Forest National Park

One of the things we both so love about our life in the motor home is discovering things we had never heard of. Such was just the case as we mapped our way from New Mexico to Fresno,CA where we would leave the motor home and fly to Seattle to spend Christmas with our kids and grandkids. While looking at the atlas, Mike discovered the Petrified Forest National Park (which we didn't know existed,) was on our route so the trip was planned to include that stop and what a stop it was. After stopping at the Visitors Center to get the details, we...

Apr 30, 2012 - Depart Flag - Parc National Foret Petrifie et Desert Peint

Nous sommes partis ce matin de Flag, direction Albuquerque, avec quelques arrets le long de la route. 1er arret est la Foret Petrifie. Endroit preserve tres interessant que nous avons autant apprecie que le Grand Canyon. Un endroit serein ou l'on respire l'air frais. C'est fascinant de voir ces arbres vieux de millions d'annees transforme en mineraux. La durete de leur composition est de categorie 8 (diamant est 10). Donc, tout un contrat a travailler et polir, ce qui peut justifier leur haut prix de vente dans les boutiques. Plus loin,...

Nov 17, 2011 - AZ - NM

On the road at 6:23 am leavin Holbrook, NM KOA Parked at Petrified Forest ate -- waiting till openning at 8 am made hot tea Drove through Painted Desert -- could see San Francisco peaks 120 miles away and Petrified Forest National Park we were all by ourselves at this overlook - touched Agate Bridge -- petrified wood log that was the basis for the NP Entering New Mexico -- drove by El Rancho in Gallup -- when Fred was 18 stayed there when stakin uranium claims with John Howerton - Harley Townsend Uranium Co -- Summer of 1955 1 stop on...

Apr 2, 2011 - Petrified Forest Nat'l Park

A Journey Back in Time. My intent was to spend most of the day in the park. The campground had a brochure and some additional info on the park, so I had a reasonable idea of where to go. Upon entering the north end, the first attraction is the painted desert, which is just a short distance inside the park. Actually, this area is north of the freeway, and then you loop back over the freeway for the remainder of the park. You can’t really tell this area is here until you reach the bluff and then it just spreads out before you. It must have...

Oct 14, 2010 - Painted Desert and Petrified Forest NP

After spending the night at Root 66 RV Park off an exit for Sun Valley (doesn't seem to be a town, really), a little west of the NP, I spent over 6 hours in this park seeing the Painted Desert on the north side of I-40 and then going to the south side to see the Blue Mesa, more badlands, and petrified wood. I stopped at all the pullouts and walked a few trails. One of them is a mile long and goes down onto the floor of the "canyon" inviting us to enjoy the silence there. NOT for me! I didn't want to hike back up the trail, even though it...

Oct 8, 2010 - Petrified Forest and Painted Desert, NM

October 8, 2010 We changed our route so that we could meet up with Cheryl and Bill Fitch in Santa Fe, NM where they are camped for a few days. Instead of going to Arizona’s White Mountains, we decided to go east along Interstate 40 to Gallup, New Mexico. Along the way, we planned to spend a part of the day going through the Painted Desert and Petrified Forest National Park. Unfortunately, we had a suspension problem which Bob can explain far better than I but the gist of it was that all of a sudden, we lost the hydraulic pressure on the...

Aug 23, 2010 - Petried Forest & Painted Desert

Another beautiful morning of 72 degrees. We arrived at the Petrified Forest and Painted Desert Visitor Center about 11:30. We traversed a 28 mile road with beautiful vistas of color & petrified wood laying along the valley floor and road's edge. The wood is history of nature's hard work. It was another great site. Next stop - the Grand Canyon. We arrived at Trailer Village Campground about 5:45 on the East Entrance. This was a different entrance than the one we came in on when Ed & I visited the canyon years ago. It had great views & was a...

Jun 24, 2010 - Painted Desert & Petrified Forest NM, AZ

Jun. 24 Petrified Forest, AZ Petrified Forest NP & Painted Desert We got an early start this morning. Out of here by 9am is good for four of us. We pulled into Root 66 RV Park, the same place we stayed in 2003. We even recognized the old dog. We set up the camper and got everything in the car. We always plan for a long day with lots of water and drinks, snacks, binoculars, cameras, etc. Today we went to the Painted Desert first. The sun was out and the colors were fabulous. Just as we had told the boys. It looks like someone took a paint...

May 31, 2010 - Petrified Forest National Park and the Painted Desert

Little known fact - Arizona remains on Mountain Standard Time during the summer - it does NOT go on Mountain Daylight time. So, for now, it is the equivalent of Pacific Time. Over the last 3 days, we have gained 3 hours total, so this morning we were up at 5:45! No fun, but it gave us an early start to the park. We arrived at the park before 9:00 AM and started our tour. The first part of the tour takes you through the painted desert portion of the park. The colors are beautiful. They represent the different layers of sediment deposited...

May 19, 2010 - Petrified Forest NP & Painted Desert

The Petrified Forest and Painted Desert NP are split by Hwy 40. We found it best to enter the southern entrance. As you cross this arid land it is hard to imagine the swamp lands of 225 million years age. As you cross Hwy 40 to the Northern side you travel into the Painted Desert with all its vivid colors of soil. As a child I visited the Painted Desert Inn, another historic site! Interesting Factoid: Petroglyphs - Drawings etched or scratched out. Petrographs - Drawings painted on with plant dyes.

Dec 3, 2009 - The Petrified Forest and Painted Desert

Visited to the Painted Desert and Petrified Forest today. Wow this is so cool. The Petrified Forest are trees that were growing back, oh about 225 Million years ago. It is so interesting how these trees became beautiful jewels and rocks. Instead of me trying to explain how it was done, take the time to check out their website at: www.nps.gov/pefo Can you even imagine what our early pioneers thought as they traveled west and came across this portion of the country. Rocks that looked like trees, but had the colors of gems. I can only imagine....