On a week-long vacation that included the Grand Canyon National Park, I decided that I would include additional stops in the Four Corners region of the United States to include the Painted Desert, the Petrified Forest National Park, Montezuma Castle National Park and the historic ghost town of Jerome, Arizona.
Although I had not yet visited the Badlands in South Dakota, I learned that the Painted Desert is very similar in geology and covers more than 93,500 acres extending to the east end of the Grand Canyon. I was fascinated with the layers of color that reminded me of the artistic sand jars that we would create as children. I was surprised to learn that the colorful granule-like structures were actually three types of rock such as siltstone, mudstone and shale. The erosion of these stones is what created the vibrant site ranging from hues of red to lovely lavender rocks. In addition, scientists have discovered dinosaur tracks in this desert as well as evidence of prehistoric man.
The desert was not difficult to find as I had just driven through the Petrified Forest National Park and they are both connected to each other. In some ways, it was a challenge to see where the forest ended and the desert began, if it wasn’t for the colorful striations of plateaus and rock formations. It takes approximately 45 minutes to an hour to cover the 28-mile road through the park. There are a couple of hikes through this area, not to mention the spectacular viewpoints such as Kachina, Tawa and Tiponi.
The route was barren, yet colorful. I would have loved to have stayed another day to explore the hikes and vistas of this beautiful Navajo Nation. The drive was therapeutic as I slowly inched my way along the route. With the sunset approaching, I didn’t want to miss this lovely occasion to enjoy the sun’s reflection on the mesas where the colors were much more rich and radiant.
Have you ever passed up an opportunity to visit a place because you were limited by time? I would love to hear about it. And if you have had the chance to visit the Painted Desert in more detail, I would be interested in hearing about what you learned. Just leave a message in the comments section below and wishing you many Happy Travels!
What to See and What to Do:
Painted Desert
Painted Desert, AZ 86031
- Admission Fee: Painted Desert Entrance fees: $20 for auto seven-day pass; $10 per person arriving by bike; $15 flat fee for motorcycle; annual pass is $40.
- Hours: The park is open daily with the exception of Christmas Day. From September 15 – April 13: 8AM to 5PM; from April 14 to May 11: 7AM to 7PM; from May 12 to August 3: from 7AM to 7:30PM; from August 4 to August 31: from 7AM to 7PM and from September 1 to September 14: from 7AM to 6PM.
- Amenities: Museum and bookstore
- Length of Visit: 2 – 3 hours
- Scenic View: Photograph the colorful desert during the golden hours for spectacular photos
- Tips for Your Visit: Bring water and sunscreen as the site is in the middle of the desert. Don’t forget that your entrance fee also includes the Petrified Forest!
Where to Stay:
La Posada Hotel & Gardens
303 E. 2nd Street (Route 66)
Winslow, AZ 86047
Telephone: 928 289 4366
Where to Eat:
Fred Harvey Diner
1 Main Street
Petrified Forest National Park, AZ 86028
Order the Navajo taco….it is huge!
What to Eat:
- Avocado Fries are sliced avocados dipped in spiced bread crumbs and deep fried.
- Chiltepin Peppers….very hot!
- Cholla, a cactus found in the area, that is boiled and the gooey acid is removed to eat directly or added to salsas.
- Cochinitos are a puffy, doughy cookie usually found in the shape of a pig. This light dessert is seasoned with molasses and cinnamon.
- Prickly Pear Cactus which is made into a candy and a sweet syrup
- Sonoran Hot Dog, popular in Phoenix and Tucson, this Mexican creation is topped with beans, onions, and tomatoes along with mayonnaise and mustard.
- Tamales!
What to Read:
- The Emerald Isle: The Epic Story of the Fastest Ride in History Through the Heart of the Grand Canyon, by Kevin Fedarko
- Grand Canyon, by Jason Chin
- The Exploration of the Colorado River and the Canyons, by John Wesley
- Over the Edge: Death in the Grand Canyon, by Michael P. Ghiglieri and Thomas M. Myers
- The Monkey Wrench Gang by Edward Abbey
- I am the Grand Canyon, by Stephen Hirst
Photo Guide for the Grand Canyon:
- South Rim Viewpoints: Yavapai Point
- Mather Point
- Desert View Drive
- Shoshone Point
- Yaki Point
- Grandview Point
- Navaho Point
- Desert View Watchtower
- Hermit Road
- Horseshoe Bend
- Bright Angel Point
- Point Imperial
- Cape Royal
- Toroweap / Tuweep
- Havasu Falls
- Best places to watch the sunset:
- Lipan Point
- Navajo Point
- Yavapai Point
- Toroweep
- Point Imperial
- Cape Royal
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