Painted Desert

The Painted Desert is the most incredible place that I have ever camped. If you are properly equipped to do so, I would insist that you have to backpack into the wilderness. At this time backcountry camping is zero cost, you just have to register in person. The rest of Petrified Forest National Park is amazing, but crawling with people and necessarily confining. We went into the Black Forest area of the wilderness and we were the only ones out there that night. We camped up high, above Rhododendron Wash, among huge petrified logs. One day we’ll go back and trek deeper into the desert.

I spent hours exploring Painted Desert with my boyfriend, and I can’t wait to go back. I recommend you venture down into the park if you can, rather than just visiting the rim. There was an amazing display of petroglyphs, as well as a vast assortment of petrified wood. As someone else mentioned, there is also a surreal feeling when you are down there, almost like being on another planet (especially when no other travelers were to be found the day we went.)

I was driving out west on a business trip (since I hate flying) and saw the signs for the Painted Desert. I have wanted to go to the Painted Desert ever since I read about it in my Charlie Brown’s ’Cyclopedia when I was little, so my wife and I decided to stop and make a day of it.

It is definitely worth it. The desert is absolutely spectacular, and you are also right next to the Petrified Forest National Park, which is also amazing.

reminds me of home

The canyon fully surrounds you…and you get the surreal feeling that the whole entire planet looks this way! So just a tip for those venturing into the area of the petrified forest…do not try to take anything with you…it’s illegal.