Petrified Forest National Park, located in northeastern Arizona, is a stunning landscape filled with ancient fossilized trees, colorful desert vistas, and unique geological formations. The park covers about 346 square miles and preserves one of the world's largest concentrations of petrified wood, some dating back over 225 million years to the Late Triassic period.
The petrified wood found here once belonged to massive conifer trees that grew in lush river ecosystems. Over time, volcanic ash buried the fallen trees, and minerals like quartz slowly replaced the organic material, turning them into stone. These colorful logs shimmer in hues of red, orange, and purple, scattered throughout the park.