Theodore Roosevelt National Park hiking guide
Petrified Forest Loop Trail
A 9.2-mile loop with 980 ft of climbing in South Unit, rated moderate.
Key facts
- Length
- 9.2 mi (14.9 km)
- Elevation gain
- 980 ft (297 m)
- Route type
- Loop
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Area
- South Unit
- Highest point
- 2,726 ft
- Lowest point
- 2,389 ft
About Petrified Forest Loop Trail
Millions of years ago, this ground was a swamp where trees fell, were buried and slowly turned to stone. Their fossilized remains lie scattered across the landscape, and the same beds hold Paleocene fossils of turtles, fish and crocodile-like champsosaurs. The route crosses badlands and grasslands where bison are often seen, with little shade and an unmaintained, uneven surface. Leave every fossil and rock where you find it, since removing any resource from the park is illegal.
Route map
This route was checked by Parka editors.
