Giant Logs Loop Trail

The small visitor center at the south entrance to Petrified Forest National Park has excellent exhibits on petrified wood and the prehistoric plants and animals that lived in the area. From the visitor center, the Giant Logs Loop is an easy and scenic introduction to the petrified wood of the area.

There are actually two short interconnecting loops that pass several petrified logs, including “Old Faithful,” long a highlight of the park (and unfortunately now held up with a concrete foundation to prevent it eroding--something that would never be done under current national park practices). There are also nice viewpoints that give a teaser of a glimpse of the many varied forms of the landscape within the park.

As in any national park, removing any rocks is strictly forbidden, and Petrified Forest has been particularly prone to this kind of vandalism, so the rangers are more vigilant in preventing it.