Painted Desert Rim Trail

Visitors to the Painted Desert section of Petrified Forest National Park who wish to take a short hike that shows off the colorful desert landscape can do no better than the Rim Trail. Running from the Tawa Point overlook to Katchina Point behind the Painted Desert Inn, this 1-mile round-trip stroll has little elevation change and offers continuous views of the desert below and the mesas beyond. There are informative displays along the way, and in the northbound direction there are great views of the historic inn building.