Petrified Forest National Park guide · 2 min read
Dark Skies Above the Painted Desert Rim
The Painted Desert spreads across the northern part of Petrified Forest National Park, and its colors are what the area is best known for.
Dawn and dusk are popular times to watch those colors. A 28-mile road links the park's north and south entrances, so arriving from the north brings the Painted Desert into view first.
The unpaved Painted Desert Rim Trail covers about one mile, out and back, through woodland along the rim. Hikers may run into a wide variety of plants and animals on the way. Cliffrose blooms beside the path each spring, joined by other wildflowers native to the region. The woodland gives birds a place to feed and take cover, which makes the trail a good choice for birdwatchers. From the edge, the eye lands on red badlands and white tuff with notched borders.
Tawa Point is another overlook above the Painted Desert, and it is where the rim trail begins. The Painted Desert Inn and Kachina Point mark the turnaround. The road runs close beside the trail, so visitors short on time can drive to both points and still see the main views.
Fred Kabotie, a Hopi artist, created murals for the Painted Desert Inn, now a National Historic Landmark. At sundown, the inn's west wall catches the last of the daylight. Rangers lead tours of the inn on a regular basis.
Backpackers can head into the park's wilderness areas for overnight trips. The north end is the usual starting point, since the inn offers a place to leave a car and a trail leading into the wilderness. An overnight stay requires a permit, available at the inn or at the Rainbow Forest Museum. Camping parties can include no more than eight people. Whether on foot or on horseback, travelers should stick to dry washes when possible to spare the fragile desert soil.
