During our stay in Holbrook, Arizona, we had the opportunity to visit the Painted Desert in the Petrified Forest National Park. Because we visited in the late fall, the temperatures were mild, allowing us to spend the whole day comfortably. The Painted Desert in Arizona is one of those places that everyone should see if at all possible. It feels like you’re leaving the planet when you look out over the desert with all the vibrant colors of red, blue, purple, green, and orange. The many colors were created by iron deposits over millions of years. The amount of oxygen exposure the iron received changed its color, which was preserved by deposits that layered over each other. During wetter periods, the water blocked exposure, changing the colors again. Over the years, the area became a desert, allowing you to see the different layers and exposing the various colors. Erosion over millions of years has created the topography that you see today.
The park features several short, easily accessible pet-friendly trails that let you get out into the landscape. As long as you keep your pups on a leash and stay on designated paths, you can explore to your heart’s content without negatively impacting the environment. You can hike into the park’s wilderness, but be sure you are fully prepared for yourself and your pets. We decided to stay on designated trails since we only had a day. Our favorite was the Blue Mesa trail, which allowed us to hike down with the pups and be surrounded by the landscape.
The large amount of petrified wood in the park formed when wood was buried over millions of years and exposed to the ash from many volcanic eruptions. The erosion that exposed the colored layers also revealed the petrified wood. If you’re curious about the area’s history, there are also structures and petroglyphs from ancient cultures that once lived here, inviting appreciation for the rich cultural heritage.
The park is easy to navigate by car and has several visitor centers and a museum. We really enjoyed our day there.
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