The Petrified Forest National Park is located mid-way between Querino and Holbrook and affords spectacular views of both the Painted Desert and the petrified wood sites. The Painted Desert gets its name from the oxidized minerals in these ancient layers of lake beds which give the rocks and soil their colorful bands. The Petrified Forest contains thousands of acres of petrified trees. The trees fossilized after many millennia of being buried under sediment laden mud.
The National Park created a loop road that runs north of old Route 66 through the Painted Desert. To the south, the national Park maintains a long road through the Petrified Forest, which deposits the traveler onto US 180 approximately an hour south-east of Holbrook. Just head for Holbrook and rejoin Route 66 there.
The National Park has food, gas and souvenirs at the Painted Desert entrance. The Rainbow Forest (south) entrance has curios and snacks. Additional information can be obtained by contacting the Petrified Forest National Park, Box 2217, Petrified Forest National Park, AZ 86028, tel# 602-524-6228
