“Time turns wood to stone and stories to silence.”
In the heart of Arizona lies a desert that defies time. Over 200 million years ago, mighty trees once towered here. Today, they lie still, transformed into glittering crystal logs by volcanic ash, pressure, and the passage of time. You aren’t just looking at fossils; you are walking through a forest that traded its bark for crystal and its leaves for silence.
Why visit? Because it’s one of the few places on Earth where you can walk through a forest older than the dinosaurs, radiant with color. Because you’ll see painted hills that look like watercolor dreams. Because the silence here is heavy, and every rock whispers secrets from the dawn of life as we know it.
The best part? This self-guided driving tour lets you explore Petrified Forest National Park at your own pace. No group. No guide. Just you, your wheels, and GPS-triggered stories that unfold automatically as you go.
Start in the surreal Painted Desert, where red, pink, and lavender badlands stretch to the horizon. Stop at Puerco Pueblo, home to ancient petroglyphs and a solar calendar carved in stone. Hear tales of the trickster coyote and the ancestral Puebloans who watched the same desert skies centuries ago.
Don’t miss the Tepees, cone-shaped hills of blue and purple clay. Walk the Blue Mesa Trail, where badlands meet scattered petrified logs in a prehistoric dreamscape. Then, step into the Crystal Forest, where once-living trees now glitter like gemstones. Finally, pause at the Rainbow Forest, a museum and trailhead where knowledge and wonder collide.
Fair warning: The desert sun is no joke, and neither is the ‘Curse of the Petrified Forest.’ Bring water, sunscreen, and leave souvenirs behind (illegal + rumored bad luck). Come for history. Stay because the colors won’t let you go.
Download the Petrified National Park Trip Planner for more details on how to reach the park, must-see stops, best places to stay, when to visit, activities to do, packing tips, and more!
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Starting Point
You can begin the tour at any one of the suggested starting locations provided below.
North Entrance:
Painted Desert Visitor Center, 1 Park Rd, Petrified Forest National Park, AZ 86028, USA
Start near the Painted Desert Visitor Center on Park Rd.
South Entrance:
6492 Petrified Forest Rd, Holbrook, AZ 86025, USA
The tour begins near the Petrified Forest Museum on Petrified Forest Road.
How Does It Work?
- Access your tour: Download the Action Tour Guide app and sign in with the same email used for your website purchase. Your tour will appear under My Tours.
- Download your tour: Download it before you go. Once downloaded, no internet or cell signal is needed.
- Start your tour: Open My Tours, select your tour, and tap Start Touring when you reach a starting point.
- Listen your way: Use your phone’s speaker or headphones, or connect to your car’s audio system. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are not currently supported, compatibility is in development.
- GPS-triggered audio: Stories play automatically as you reach each location along the route.
- Stop and start anytime: Pause, take a break, make a detour, or continue another day. Tours are valid forever (one year for Action+).
Petrified Forest Audio Tour
Things to do on the Tour Include:
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Welcome
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Tiponi Point
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Painted Desert Rim Trail
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Painted Desert Inn
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Pintado Point
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Erosion in the Forest
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Nizhoni Point & Whipple Point
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Crystal Forest
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Geologic Formations
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Prehistoric People
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Tribes of the Petrified Forest
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Newspaper Rock
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Historic Route 66
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Kokopelli
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The Tepees
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Historic Blue Forest Trail
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What Is Petrified Wood?
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Blue Mesa Trail
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Agate Bridge
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Jasper Forest
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John Muir’s Influence
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Paleontology
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How Petrified Forest Became a National Park
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Hardy Flora
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Rainbow Forest Museum & Surrounding Trails
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The Curse of the Petrified Forest
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Dark Sky Viewing
Preview The Tour
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Inclusions and Exclusions
Action Tour Guide app: Download the app to access your purchased tour.GPS-triggered audio: Stories and directions play automatically as you reach each location.Tour anytime: Single tours and bundles never expire and can be used anytime. Action+ is an annual subscription that automatically renews each year unless canceled.Narrated stories: Hear local history, culture, and stories from experienced narrators.Stop and start anytime: Pause, take a break, make a detour, or continue another day.Offline access: Download your tour before you go. Once downloaded, no internet or cell signal is needed.Stories, stops, and directions: Follow the route to key attractions with automatic directions and stories at each location.Transportation: Transportation, parking fees, and tolls are not included.Admission: Entry tickets and reservations are not included. Food and drinks: Meals and drinks are not included.Rental car: A rental car is not included and may be required for driving tours. 
