It is my custom to share my day trips from Mesa, Arizona as evidenced by previous blog posts. Last week, my husband and I traveled 18 miles east of Holbrook, Arizona on Highway 180 to the south entrance to the Petrified National Forest Park. There will be three parts of this post. The first and second part will be information about the Park itself as well as pictures of the Petrified Forest south of Highway 40 and Route 66. I took over 150 pictures of the "tour" and will "try" and ferret out my favorites to share the beautiful landscape of this spectacular park. Once entering the Park going north, there are myriad places to pull over and take pictures as well as views, signs explaining what you are seeing and more. Some of the stops include small hikes of a mile or so. We took one of the trails which was a mile plus, and passed on the steeper one. The trip through the Park itself is about 28 miles long and ends on Route 66, the north portion of the Park.
Driving northeast from Mesa, Arizona, up through the White Mountains and Highway 77, you will be in Holbrook in less than four hours. The Park is less than a 20 minute drive...so actually this could be a day trip; however, I recommend making it a two day trip so the traveler can stop in Holbrook, Arizona to see the Wigwam Motel and a little further west along Highway 40, stop by Winslow, Arizona. I will be visiting the city known for the Eagle's song, "Standing On The Corner," shoot some photos and share them within a week or so.
Now, to the Petrified Forest and some amazing photographs. If you are interested, I've provided a link to the Petrified Forest website for more information and insight into this beautiful National Park. I've also provided some of the informational signs to give you an idea of what you will be seeing.
This is a sample of what the fallen logs look like after myriad years...it is now a beautiful rock. Amazing!
Fields of petrified wood......just one example above. AND check out this HUGE log/petrified wood specimen below:
Check out the colors in the sand....and that HUGE rock in the background below:
....and a closer view:
What does the rock above look like to you? We were guessing...came up with some ideas. ;-)
There are so many photos like this with the teepees in the background, with petrified rock scattered about. Just so many, many formations and colors. The clouds added to the shading and interest of the photos I took. ;-)
If I could have a favorite, the Badlands - Blue Mesa - might be one of my favorities...it is absolutely incredible.
This had a path to the bottom which was about a 55 minute round trip walk. We went to the top of the path and returned to take more photos from other vantage points.
See the path?
Now check out the bottom! I've now moved to a place that has a step out to take this picture.
As we left Blue Mesa, marveling at the colors, the beauty of this earth, a movement caught my eye: She's not a deer, but I forgot what the Ranger told me she was. Her colors blended into the background. Isn't she beautiful? She just looked at me as I snapped her photo twice from the car.
I'll end this post with the above photo.....it is so hard to choose which photos to use. I hope you all enjoy traveling to and visiting the Petrified Forest National Park in northeast Arizona. For those of you contemplating moving to Arizona, this is yet another good example why that's a good idea. ;-)
Mesa, Arizona Real Estate. Call me at: 480.216-3334 for information on purchasing or selling a home in Mesa, Arizona or surrounding towns. OR email me: Teri@TeriEllis.com. Feel free to visit one of my websites: HomesAzRE.com, MoveToMesaAz.com or MoveToSunnyAz.com. Or stop by my blogs at: Active Rain; or Phoenix Valley Real Estate Blog.
Mesa, Arizona Real Estate. Call me at: 480.382-8711 for information on purchasing or selling a home in Mesa, Arizona or surrounding towns. OR email me: Teri@TeriEllis.com. Feel free to visit my website: HomesAzRE.com, or stop by my blogs at: MesaAzRealEstateVoice and AzLadyInRed!
TERI, WOW that is gorgeous. My parents are getting ready to come back to Mesa for the winter and I don't think they have ever been there. I will have to let them know.
I'm glad Ike is over and we are doing fine. We don't have power but we do have a generator.
this is one of the things on my to do before I die list - thanks for sharing and giving me a reason to move it up on my list
Teri,
Your photos are absolutely spectacular! Thanks for showing us more of your beautifu state!
Teri- Again, awesome photos. That little deer- what does he eat out there in the desert?
The rock looks like a camel to me. ( the one where you asked what it looks like)
Marchel, sooooooooo glad to hear from you and know that you are alright. I'll be posting more photos, but I think they will love it. Share with us how it went with Ike. ;-)
Thesa, remember? There's soon to be a flight from your area into Mesa....you could see all of this in a weekend. ;-)
Lynda, thank you - and yes, the Eagles. Their first album. Standin on the Corner Festival coming up at the end of September. I'll be there with my camera! ;-)
Katerina, I don't know what he eats. Probably a vegetarian. ;-) That does look like a camel kneeling doesn't it? ;-) Thanks for dropping by to comment.
Teri - you've done a marvelous job of showcasing your area. I love the photo's you've used... simply breathtaking!
Hi Teri - Blue mesa is gorgeous. Did you see me standing on the corner in Winslow Arizona? Such a fine sight to see ;)
Good morning Teri,
You do such a marvelous job with your Localism posts showing the beauty and wonder of your area. I will get there one of these days.
Teri - Man oh man the pictures just keep getting better every time! What an awesome post. It looks like you visited the moon:)
Teri, we visited the Petrified Forest when I was a teenager, but I don't remember everything you've shown here. I do remember that even as a young girl the sights were spectacular and your photos are just incredible. You walked out on a ledge to get some of those???? You are one dedicated Localism reporter! LOL!
Beautiful pictures. Looks like you had a fun adventure.
Jesse, thank you so much. What a spectacular place to share photos. Not hard to do at all. ;-)
Margaret, since I will be in Winslow in about a week, I'll watch for you. ;-)
Cynthia, thank you very much. It's a treat for me to share. You now know lots of places to visit in Arizona when you get here. ;-)
Bill, thank you kind sir. In reviewing the pictures, you're right....beautiful moon photos though. ;-)
Lisa, so glad to hear from you. Thank you....the ledge? not really....just a place where a fence was built around an overlook. ;-) It was great though. ;-) I like the sound of "Localism Reporter". ;-)
Eric, I did - and I always do. Thank you. ;-)
Amazing photos, Teri. You know, don't you, that petrified wood floats in water?
Elizabeth, no, I didn't know. They didn't include that information on the brochures. ;-)
Teri -
What a great way to capture the natural resources in your area! I love the outdoors and believe you have completely captured the spirit of AZ
Teri: Your trips, pictures and wonderful descriptions always bring back awesome memories for me. When I visited the Petrified Forest, my youngest (almost 31) was only 3 (oh, he was so cute--lol)...but looking at your post makes it feels as though it were yesterday.
So what is next, The Meteor? I'll be waiting.
Tracy, thank you. I so enjoy seeing all of our state...;-)
What a wonderful trip! Very cool pictures. I am amazed by petrified wood. Growing up I had a little piece from my store bought rock collection and the petrified wood was my favorite piece.
The above rock looks like a walrus or humpback whale to me! :)
Janice, thank you. I was as well - especially when the pieces were so large. I, too, had small pieces as a child, but these were HUGE. I like your observation. ;-)
Also, thanks for commenting on my Post!
Teri... Again, the day trips are outstanding with fantastic photos. The rock is too cool! it does look like a camel.
Thanks for guiding my tour! Your photos are wonderful I have never had an opportunity to visit your state and see these sights, it was fun!
Pam, thank you so much. I love your photo as well....Arizona is beautiful isn't it? ;-)
Debbie, I think it looks like a camel too sitting, or maybe a hippo? ;-)
Janna, you need to come to our wonderfully unique state...you'll be glad you did. ;-)
Hey Teri, looks like I am good to read nothing but your blogs for tonight. LOL Wow beautiful pictures! Maybe one day we will head in that direction to check it all out in person. =)
Teri,
This got bumped up so I've got to tell you great post! Great pictures as well... With all the recent snow, my wife and I are headed up through Payson this weekend and now I may just head towards the park...
Thanks!
Dana, thank you...and I'm glad you enjoyed them. It is a wonderful place to visit in Arizona. ;-)
Bill, the park is amazing....definitely a worthwhile place to visit. Probably has some snow now. Thank you so much. ;-)