Drive the Blue Mesa Scenic Road in Petrified Forest National Park

Apache County, Arizona

4.3/5
based on 4 reviews

Details

Distance

3 miles

Route Type

Loop

Description

Added by Crystal Sibson

This is a short but beautiful drive in the Petrified Forest National Park.

This is probably one of the most scenic drives in the Petrified Forest National Park.  From the main road, the loop is only three miles long.  There are many pullouts along the loop where you can get out of your vehicle to snap some photos.  You will see many large pieces of petrified wood strewn across the landscape.  You will also find information signs posted along the loop explaining the history of the landscape.  Halfway around the loop you will find the Blue Mesa trailhead.  This is a short 1 mile loop hike that will allow you to see the pedestal logs and badlands up close.  The hike will take you down into a wide ravine where you will be surrounded by the vibrant blue hills.  

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Features

Photography
Hiking
Easy Parking
Family Friendly
Groups
Scenic

Drive the Blue Mesa Scenic Road in Petrified Forest National Park Reviews

These are definitely Arizona's badlands. Easy and beautiful drive. If you're coming into Phoenix from northern New Mexico you should always take your time to make this drive since it's on your way.

This is a good way to see the park if you're short on time. I stopped on my way home from a camping trip so I didn't do a lot of the longer hikes in the park.

This whole park was kind of lame. I hate leaving negativity on reviews, but the lady at the gate was not nice and $25 to enter the park with construction delays and not so great thing to see made this my least favorite National Park in all my travels. I’ve been on the road for 3 weeks hitting all the National Parks possible.

If youre only driving through the park and not hiking, make sure to add this great side road to the trip.

Leave No Trace

Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your adventures and follow local regulations. Please explore responsibly!

Nearby

Blue Mesa Trail

Blue Forest Trail

Photograph the Agate Bridge

Crystal Forest Loop

Hike the Giant Logs and Long Logs trail to the Agate House

Painted Desert Rim Trail