Petrified Forest National Park (U.S. National Park Service)

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Petrified Forest National Park

With one of the world's largest and most colorful concentrations of petrified wood, multi-hued badlands of the Painted Desert, historic structures, archeological sites, and displays of 225 million year old fossils, this is a surprising land of scenic wonders and fascinating science.

artist rendition of Coelophysis, an early dinosaur

Fossils

Petrified Forest National Park has one of the best geologic and fossil records of the Late Triassic in the world. Learn about fossils from petrified wood to dinosaurs, review a list of published scientific papers, see what current research in the park has revealed, and more!
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Science and Education Center Lecture Series

As part of the Petrified Forest National Park Science and Education Center, a monthly lecture series is held on the first Wednesday of each month. Topics include paleontology, geology, archeology, and others. Admission is free, and the public is invited to attend.
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Artist in Residence

The park invites artists to document national park landscapes with contemporary approaches and techniques as part of the annual Artist in Residence program.
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Cultural Demonstrators

Most Saturdays throughout the summer, cultural demonstrators can be found at the Painted Desert Inn National Historic Landmark.
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Write to

Superintendent, Petrified Forest National Park
PO Box 2217
Petrified Forest, AZ 86028

E-mail Us

Phone

General Park Information
(928) 524-6228

Fax

(928) 524-3567

Climate

Petrified Forest National Park has variable weather throughout the year. Summers are hot with thunderstorms from July through September. With an elevation of over 5,000 feet, winters can be quite cold and snow is a possibility. Spring and fall can be hot or cold with rapidly changing conditions during the day. Always be prepared!