b'The park\'s name comes from the trees that have turned to stone over millions of years. The trees grew over 200 million years ago near waterways. The trees were tall conifers.The park also includes one of the most continuous sections of Triassic-aged rocks anywhere in the world. These rocks were deposited by enormous rivers between 208 and 225 million years ago and include an incredible diversity of fossils. The park has 28 miles of paved park roads with spurs and viewpoints along the way. You can start at either the north or south entrances. Hiking is also very popular in the park.The Tawa Trail is 1.2 miles one way. The trailhead is at the Painted Desert Visitor Center. The Tawa Trail is a perfect place to stretch your legs after a long road trip. In Hopi ideology, Tawa refers to the Sun Spirit, the Creator of the World. The Hopi are one of several current Native American groups who are connected to the rich, varied history of Petrified Forest.Giant Logs Loop begins behind the Rainbowdrive on the Main Park Road, which makes a loop Painted Desert Rim Trail is 1-mile roundForest Museum. It features some of the largest andfrom the visitor center and back out to Interstate trip. This unpaved trail winds through themost colorful logs in the park. "Old Faithful," at the40. The park is open daily from 7 am to 6 pm. The rim woodland, a place for chance encounterstop of the trail, is almost ten feet wide at the base. entry fee is $20 per car.with many species of plants and animals and spectacular views of the Painted Desert. It is notLong Logs and Agate House Trails can beADAMANA GHOST TOWNsuitable for strollers or mobility vehicles. combined for a total of 2.6 miles round trip. Adamana is a ghost town in Apache County. The The trailhead is at the Rainbow Forest Museumtown was settled in 1896 in what was then the Puerco Pueblo is a 0.3-mile loop that travelsparking area. Long Logs is one of the largestArizona Territory. Named after local sheep rancher amidst the remains of a hundred-room pueblo,concentrations of petrified wood in the park. AgateAdam Hanna, it was established in 1896 and had a occupied by the ancestral Puebloan people overHouse was an eight-room home with enteredpost office until 1969. It was a railroad stop and a 600 years ago. Petroglyphs can be viewed along thethrough the ceiling. Archeologists believe that thisranching settlement, once known as the "Gateway south end of the trail.small pueblo was occupied for a short time aboutto the Painted Desert." At its peak, Adamana 700 years ago.had about 30 families, a post office, a school, Blue Mesa is a 1-mile loop that begins at the and a store. When a gas plant was established in sun shelter. PAINTED DESERT Adamana and the new Interstate 40 passed it by, The Painted Desert is part of Petrified Forestthe residents began to leave. The hotel burned Crystal Forest is a 0.75-mile loop. Named for National Park. The Painted Desert was named bydown in 1965, destroying some irreplaceable the presence of beautiful crystals that can be Francisco Vzquez de Coronado in 1540 during histreasures such as the hotel register, which was found in the petrified logs, this trail offers one ofquest to find the Seven Cities of Cibola. He namedsigned by such people as Theodore Roosevelt and a the best opportunities to experience the petrifiedthe area El Desierto Pintado, which means Theking of Spain. Today, all that remains in Adamana wood deposits.Painted Desert. While much of the Painted Desertare the inhabitants of three buildings and a mobile is located in remote areas of the Navajohome. Exit 303 off I-40 west to Adamana Road Nation, the portion within the northernand then south a few miles to the natural gas section of the Petrified Forest Nationalfacility, then west just before the entrance, cross the Park is the easiest to access. The bestrailroad tracks, and come back on the other side. It place to see the Painted Desert is via ais private property and visitors are not welcome. wildpathsaz.comArizonaRealCountry.com August 2023 25'