Petrified Forest National Park guide · 1 min read
Painted Desert Rim: Tawa to Kachina Points
The Painted Desert Rim Trail is a short walk of about one mile round trip, and it is one of the simplest ways to see the northern part of the park up close.
The trail is relatively flat and follows alongside the park road. It begins at Tawa Point and turns around near the Painted Desert Inn and Kachina Point.
Tawa Point marks both the start of the rim trail and a standalone overlook, where eroded badlands fall away below the rim. Kachina Point lies behind the historic inn, and from there the red section of the Painted Desert comes into view. Both points are easy to reach on foot, and driving to them is also an option.
Red badland hills are part of the view from several overlooks in this area, with rounded, eroded shapes stretching into the distance. Many visitors pick sunrise or sunset for these overlooks, when the changing light shifts how the hills look.
The building that now houses the Painted Desert Inn National Historic Landmark first served as a trading post, later as an inn, and today as a museum. Its exhibits cover the park's recent human history, and murals by the Hopi artist Fred Kabotie decorate the building. Late in the day, sunlight reaches the west side, which makes sunset a good time to visit.
For a longer trip, the Petrified Forest National Wilderness Area offers backpacking, which is the only way to spend the night in the park. There is no RV, car, or front country camping. Backpackers must camp at least a half mile from their vehicle, and groups are limited to eight people. Fragile soils make low-impact camping essential, and taking petrified wood, rocks, or fossils from the park is against the law.
