Park Regulations & Safety

Bicycling Information

Bicycles are a great way to travel through Petrified Forest National Park. The 28 mile park road and 3.5 mile loop around Blue Mesa offer scenic vistas without large changes in elevation. The park roads are relatively narrow, but long, straight passing areas allow motorized vehicles to pass bicyclists safely.

• Bicycles are allowed on paved road surfaces only.
• Bicycles may not travel off road and may not use paved walking trails.

Park Regulations

Petrified Forest National Park is mandated to protect and preserve all park resources for today and for future generations. Please follow the below park regulations for your safety and for the safety of park resources.

• Do not remove any natural or cultural object from the park, including fossils, rocks, animals, plants, and artifacts. Do not relocate objects within the park. This changes the context of the objects. Context, where and how fossils and artifacts are found and described, is as important as the objects themselves. It is a minimum fine of $325 for removal or damage to petrified wood or other natural or cultural artifacts and features.
• Park in designated areas only. Please do not stop along the roadway or in the middle of the road. 
• Vehicle travel is limited to the paved park road. Off road travel is not allowed. Obey posted speed limits.
• All vehicles, including buses, microbuses, and vans, are prohibited from idling their engines for extended periods of time. Idling cannot exceed 5 minutes during periods of inclement weather and 2 minutes at all other times.
• Bicycles are permitted only on the established paved roadway. Bicycles are not allowed on paved or dirt trails or off road at any time.
• Do not feed or approach wildlife. This protects the natural feeding and behavior habits of the animals. Animals that beg for food can be aggressive and may bite or harm people. Please do not allow your pets near animals. Do not handle injured or dead animals.
• Pets must be leashed (no longer than 6 feet) and physically restrained at all times. Pets are prohibited in buildings, Wilderness Areas, or Wilderness Access Trails. Pets are allowed on maintained trails. Pets may not be tied to an object and left unattended for longer than 5 minutes. Please clean up after your pet. 
• Please stay on trails and behind any barricades. Plants in this environment grow by the inch and are destroyed by the foot. Don't let it be your foot! Fragile soils and animal homes are also easily disturbed.
• Do not climb on prehistoric or historic walls.
• Do not harm or remove any petroglyphs. Direct physical contact with rock art is prohibited.
• Petrified Forest National Park is only open to the public for day use. Park access is prohibited during closed hours except by permit.
• Ground fires are prohibited at all times. The use of solar, propane, and white gas fuel stoves and charcoal grills are allowed in designated picnic areas. During periods of extreme fire danger, charcoal grills are prohibited.
• Do not litter. Use appropriate receptacles, including recycling containers located at Painted Desert Visitor Center. Cigarette butts are considered litter, too!
• Backpacking is allowed by permit only. A free permit can be obtained at any Visitor Center facility no later than 1-hour before the park closes.
• Firearms must be broken down, unloaded, cased, and stored in your vehicle. Carrying or use of firearms in park is prohibited.
• The consumption of alcohol or the presence of open alcoholic containers is prohibited, except in picnic areas or concession food service facilities.

Backpacking

To stay overnight in the Wilderness Area, a free permit must be obtained at least one hour before the park closes. Permits are issued from the Painted Desert Visitor Center, Painted Desert Inn, and Rainbow Forest Museum.

Most backpackers hike into the Painted Desert at the north end of the park. Parking, facilities, and an access trail are available at Painted Desert Inn. Backpackers must hike north of Lithodendron Wash (1 mile from the access trailhead) before setting up camp.

Groups
Group camping is limited to 8. Because of the fragile soils and landscape features, minimum impact camping is very important. This includes limiting the number of people within an area.

Horseback Riding
Horses are allowed in the Wilderness Area. No permits are required for day trips but overnight camping requires a free permit (see above).  

Rules, Regulations, and Safety Points:

• Collection of plants, rocks, petrified wood, fossils, archeological objects or other materials is illegal anywhere in the park.
• No pets, bicycles, motorized vehicles, or firearms are allowed.
• No wood or charcoal fires are allowed. Please use fuel stoves.
• Bury human waste. 
• Pack it in, pack it out. Leave no trash behind.
• Be aware that elevations average 5,800 feet. 
• Temperatures vary greatly from extreme heat to bitter cold. 
• Take all water necessary - one gallon per person per day is recommended during summer months.

Your Safety

Please be careful when you are visiting and follow the safety tips below. We want everyone to enjoy their visit and come back to see us!

• Obey posted speed limits for your safety and that of wildlife that may be crossing the road.
• Park in designated areas only. Please do not park along the roadway.
• Do not feed or approach wildlife. This protects the natural feeding and behavior habits of the animals. Animals that beg for food can be aggressive and may bite or harm people. Please do not allow your pets near animals. Do not handle injured or dead animals.
• Please stay on trails and behind any barricades. Plants in this environment grow by the inch and are destroyed by the foot. Don't let it be your foot! Fragile soils and animal homes are also easily disturbed.
• Avoid cliff edges and steep slopes. Rock surfaces are unstable.
• Temperatures vary greatly from extreme heat to bitter cold. Be prepared for rapidly changing conditions. From July through August expect afternoon monsoon thunderstorms. From October through April expect cold temperatures and possibly snow.
• Northeastern Arizona often experiences high winds. Be careful when driving, particularly high profile vehicles such as RVs. When outside your vehicle protect your eyes from sand carried in the wind.
• Be aware that elevations average 5,800 feet within the park. Wear sunscreen to protect yourself from the Arizona sun. The sun's rays are stronger due to the high elevations. Keep hydrated, rest, snack lightly, and avoid alcohol and cigarettes to prevent high altitude sickness. Symptoms include nausea, dizziness, headache, rapid heartbeat, and shortness of breath.
• Take all the water you will need when traveling through the park and when hiking. Drinking water is not available at stops along the park road. No water is available in the backcountry. One gallon per person per day is recommended during summer months when hiking.
• When hiking, take all the water you will need. No water is available in the backcountry. One gallon per person per day is recommended during summer months.
• If you are injured or ill while visiting the park, contact a ranger at any Visitor Center facility.
• For lost or found items, contact a ranger at any Visitor Center facility or call the park at (928) 524-6228.
• Yellow emergency phones are located at Puerco Pueblo, Blue Mesa, and Crystal Forest parking areas. Use the phones for emergencies and to report theft of resources such as petrified wood. The park number for EMERGENCIES ONLY is (928) 524-9726.

Horseback Riding

Horseback riding at Petrified Forest National Park can be a unique and rewarding experience. You can ride for a few hours or a few days. Be prepared, check the weather conditions, and know the limits of yourself and your horse.

Wilderness Access

Two miles north of the Painted Desert Visitor Center, is the Wilderness Access trail near Kachina Point, on the northwest side of Painted Desert Inn. Here you will find trailer parking and loading/unloading room. Please park your trailer so that it does not interfere with vehicle traffic flow.

Trail conditions

• The first section of switchbacks descend 400 feet on an unstable surface, with steep drop-offs. Depending on your capability, you may want to lead your horse down. Once in the Painted Desert there is very little grade change and riding is easy.
• There are no maintained trails in the Wilderness Area. To reduce the impact on fragile microbiotic crusts and other delicate resources, you should travel in dry washes as much as possible.
• Summer monsoon rains frequently flood washes making access to some areas of the Wilderness difficult. When wet, the clay soils are slick and tend to accumulate on your feet. Quicksand may be present in washes.

Water

Water for horses may be obtained at the service station by the Painted Desert Visitor Center. No water is available in the Wilderness Area.

Overnight Camping

For those who wish to stay overnight in the Wilderness Area, a free permit must be obtained at least one hour before the park closes. Permits are issued from either the Painted Desert Visitor Center or Rainbow Forest Museum. You must be in a designated zone north of Lithodendron Wash before setting up camp. No campsites are maintained in the Wilderness Area. Group camping is limited to 8 people and 4 horses. 

Rules, Regulations, and Safety Points

• Do not leave horses unattended to prevent encounters with other park visitors.
• Horses are prohibited on paved trails and paved roads, with the exception of park service horses on patrol.
• Feed must be certified weed-free.
• Clean up after horses when in developed areas.
• Pack it in, pack it out. Leave no trash behind.
• Collection of plants, rocks, petrified wood, fossils, archeological objects, or other materials is illegal anywhere in the park.
• No pets, bicycles, motorized vehicles, or firearms are allowed in the Wilderness Areas.
• Be aware that elevations average 5,800 feet. Temperatures vary greatly from extreme heat to bitter cold.
• Take all water necessary. One gallon per person per day is recommended during the summer months. For overnight trips, take enough water for your horses, too.