Discover Petrified Forest National Park with our self-guided audio tour. Explore ancient fossils, vibrant rock formations, and breathtaking viewpoints. Download the Shaka Guide app now.
Discover Petrified Forest National Park with our self-guided audio tour. Explore ancient fossils, vibrant rock formations, and breathtaking viewpoints. Download the Shaka Guide app now.
- Route 66 Gifts & Souvenir Shop - Immerse yourself in the Route 66 vibe with these two nostalgic gift shops offering local crafts, petrified wood mementos, and quirky dinosaur statues welcoming visitors at the entrance. Painted Desert Indian Center highlights local artists’ crafts, while Stewart’s Petrified Wood Shop focuses on petrified wood…
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Route 66 Gifts & Souvenir Shop - Immerse yourself in the Route 66 vibe with these two nostalgic gift shops offering local crafts, petrified wood mementos, and quirky dinosaur statues welcoming visitors at the entrance. Painted Desert Indian Center highlights local artists’ crafts, while Stewart’s Petrified Wood Shop focuses on petrified wood items.
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Painted Desert Visitor Center - Take a quick restroom break at the visitor center! These flush toilets are the cleanest you’ll find until you reach the Rainbow Forest Museum at the other end of the park.
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Tiponi Point - This overlook offers your first view of the Painted Desert from the north, showcasing colorful hills below and a vast horizon to the east. Entry fees/requirements: Tiponi Point is the first stop after the north entrance booth for Petrified Forest National Park.
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Tawa Point - From this overlook, you are nearly surrounded by the Painted Desert below. The easy Painted Desert Rim trail starts here and leads to the next overlook, Kachina Point. The hike is one mile round trip, taking about 30 minutes.
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Kachina Point - The vast Painted Desert is easily visible from this overlook, accessible via a short path from the parking lot behind the Painted Desert Inn.
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Chinde Point - This lookout offers an expansive, unobstructed view of the Painted Desert to the north. It features a semi-circle of covered picnic tables, the only picnic area outside of the visitor centers.
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Pintado Point - On a clear day, this overlook offers views extending over 100 miles, including the San Francisco Peaks near Flagstaff, AZ.
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Nizhoni Point - These three overlooks are close to each other, providing another expansive view of the Painted Desert, though previous lookouts may appear more colorful.
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Puerco Pueblo - This site features a small vault toilet near the parking lot.
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Newspaper Rock State Historic Monument - Generations of Ancestral Puebloans left over 650 petroglyphs on these large boulders. The petroglyphs are visible from an overlook and with binoculars, but can also be seen clearly without assistance.
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The Tepees - These conical hills, banded with various shades of mudstones, resemble tepees. There are two pull-offs along Petrified Forest Rd for parking and viewing–the North Pullout and the South Pullout, which is also the trailhead for the “Off the Beaten Path” Blue Forest Trail.
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Blue Mesa - Blue Mesa is one of the park’s most stunning areas, offering opportunities to explore the unique, eroded badlands. Atop Blue Mesa, the road splits into a one-way loop. Stop at the first pull-offs for views of the badlands and the first petrified wood deposit when coming from the north.
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Blue Mesa Trailhead - This 1-mile loop trail is a paved path through the Blue Mesa badlands. Though rated as easy, the initial descent from the parking lot (and ascent at the end) may be challenging for those with limited mobility. It’s a park highlight, immersing visitors in an otherworldly landscape.
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Agate Bridge - This 100-ft long petrified log spans a small chasm, forming a bridge. While visitors could once stand on it, today the log is off-limits and supported by concrete. It’s a quick, easy stop to see an impressively long piece of petrified wood.
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Jasper Forest - An overlook provides a view of a desert plain with a dense petrified wood deposit below. For a closer look, an ‘off the beaten path’ trail leads from the right of the parking lot down to the deposit along a well-worn path to the wash. It’s just you and the petrified wood in a truly astonishing and bizarre landscape.
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Crystal Forest Trail - This 0.75-mile loop trail winds through one of the park’s major petrified wood deposits. The paved trail and mostly flat terrain make it an easy hike, accessible for those with wheelchairs or strollers.
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Rainbow Forest Museum - If you visit only one visitor center in the park, make it this one! Besides the usual orientation video, gift shop, restrooms, and information desk, it features exhibits on the area’s paleontology, including fossils found in the park. Behind the building is the 0.4-mile Giant Logs trail, which passes some of the park’s largest pieces of petrified wood.
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Petrified Forest Gift Shop - Just south of the park’s borders are two gift shops: Petrified Forest Gift Shop and Crystal Forest Museum and Gifts. These private stores offer last-minute petrified wood souvenirs you might have missed in the park. They also feature Route 66-style dinosaur statues at the entrance.
- Tours NEVER expire
- Offline Audio Guided Tour: Hours of audio narration with stories, travel tips and music
- Offline map (map and GPS work completely offline - no wifi or data needed)
- Take the tour when you want - download the tour and choose the day that works best for you
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Tour highlights with activity and restaurant recommendations
-…
- Tours NEVER expire
- Offline Audio Guided Tour: Hours of audio narration with stories, travel tips and music
- Offline map (map and GPS work completely offline - no wifi or data needed)
- Take the tour when you want - download the tour and choose the day that works best for you
- Tour highlights with activity and restaurant recommendations
- Turn-by-turn directions using GPS
- Freedom to explore at your own pace - pick the stops you want, skip the ones you don’t
- Audio narration that plays automatically as you drive
- Meals and refreshment
- Parking Fees
- Entrance Fees
- Meals and refreshment
- Parking Fees
- Entrance Fees
Experience the ancient wonder of Petrified Forest National Park on our guided tour!
Our self-guided audio tour will turn your smartphone into a personal guide as it takes you on a journey through time to explore the stunning landscape of this unique national park.
Marvel at the incredible petrified wood that gives the park its name, as well as the…
Experience the ancient wonder of Petrified Forest National Park on our guided tour!
Our self-guided audio tour will turn your smartphone into a personal guide as it takes you on a journey through time to explore the stunning landscape of this unique national park.
Marvel at the incredible petrified wood that gives the park its name, as well as the ancient fossils and vibrant rock formations that tell the story of this area’s rich geological history.
We’ll share fascinating insights into the park’s history and ecology, including the ancient cultures that once called this area home. With stops at multiple viewpoints and scenic overlooks, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to take in the breathtaking beauty of this one-of-a-kind national park.
Download the Shaka Guide app to access your purchased tours.
- The tour has three starting points, including I-40 eastbound and westbound, and Route 180 of Holbrook, AZ.
- Get Started Easily: • Book Your Tour: Receive a confirmation and easy instructions via email. • Download the App: Follow the simple steps in your email. • Redeem the Tour: Use the redeem code in your email to redeem the tour in the app. • Prepare Ahead: Download the tour using strong Wi-Fi.
- Begin Your Journey: • Select Your Tour: Go to the My Stuff tab in the Shaka Guide app to launch the tour. • Start the Tour: Select the tour starting point and follow the GPS instructions. • Follow Shaka Guide: Stick to the suggested route and speed for the best experience.
- Why Choose Our Audio Tour: • Cost-Efficient: One tour for the entire vehicle—no per-person fees! • Ultimate Flexibility: Start, pause, and resume on your schedule. • Convenience: Use the tour any day, over multiple days if needed.
- Top Features: • Hands-Free: The tour works automatically - GPS-activated stories, directions, and music play as you drive for a seamless experience. • Works Offline: No need for continuous wifi or data. • Reliable Support: Get help via call, chat, or email.
- Private and Personalized: • Crowd-Free: Enjoy a private tour with just your group. • Customizable Stops: Pick the stops you want and skip the ones you don’t!
- The Ultimate Guided Tour: • Detailed Itinerary: Includes travel tips and recommendations. • Engaging Narration: Captivating stories and history.
- What Our Users Say: • “A fantastic way to explore! Easy to use and very informative.” • “Loved the flexibility to stop and go as we pleased. Highly recommend!”
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.