Arizona Highways
Outdoors Magazine - inspired by Arizona's unique outdoor experience, rich history, and diverse culture.

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Arizona Highways
Outdoors Magazine - inspired by Arizona's unique outdoor experience, rich history, culture.

Northern Arizona attractions include:
Grand Canyon National Park - The most famous landmark in the world.
Sedona - very scenic and popular resort center.
Historic Route 66 - Historic highway was the first all-weather road linking Chicago to California.
Flagstaff - Gateway to the Grand Canyon

Winslow-Holbrook Area Parks & Landmarks:
These sites preserve many indian ruins and unique geological formations:
Homolovi Ruins SP - Historic Indian Ruins
Meteor Crater - World's best preserved meteorite impact site
Holbrook - Historic Railroad Town on Route 66
Winslow - Historic Railroad Town on Route 66

Weird Arizona
Your Travel Guide to Arizona's Local Legends and Best Kept Secrets

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Overview - Petrified Forest National Park

This is a curious location where once stood 200 ft tall trees with lush vegetation and animal life is today a very arid desert. Scientists believe that about 200 million years ago these trees would fall down and float down a great river and get stuck in great logjams and buried under tons of silt and sand. The silt blocked out the air required for the normal decay of wood and instead introduced silica and other minerals that caused the wood to crystalize. Eventually the silt was washed away and today we have a landscape littered with rock hard timber.

In the late 1800's souvenir hunters carried off tons of the rainbow colored logs. In 1906, President Theodore Roosevelt designated this area a national monument. In 1932 the painted desert and blue mesa regions were added. In 1962 an act of congress gave the region the coveted national park designation.

Petrified Forest Guided Tours
Petrified Forest Guided Tour
Choose from one of many tour packages (Keyword Arizona):


Petrified Forest / Painted Desert / Meteor Crater - Approximately 10-hour guide tour departing daily from Sedona, AZ. (Seasonal Tour - Apr 1 to Nov 15 only).
3-Day Sedona / Grand Canyon Tour - Combines backcountry jeep, rail and helicopter tours of the most prominent landmarks of the Sonoran Desert.
Northern Arizona Guided Coach Tour - Daylong bus trip visits Grand Canyon, Navajo Country, Sedona and scenic Oak Creek Canyon

NOTICE: Removal or damage of any site, artifact, artifact fragment, or rock art can incur penalties under state law of 5 years in prison and a maximum $150,000 fine.

Please note that Northern Arizona is heavily visited in the summer (May-August) which makes getting reservations difficult. The best time to visit is March / April / September / October when there is beautiful weather and less competition for reservations. The nearest lodging is in Holbrook.

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The Rock Hunter Tour

Look for the following turnoffs from the main park road to see the best and most unusual examples of petrified wood. [ See also Arizona Rockhounding Tour. ]

• Blue Mesa - Severly eroded badlands sprinkled with petrified wood. Large pedastal logs are found throughout. Also look below the visitor turnout area for unearthly terrain features called the "haystacks" with colors of blue, gray and red.

• Agate Bridge - Large petrified log is suspended in the air at both ends into sandstone over a dry gully. A bizarre show of the effects of erosion.

• Jasper Forest - Large quantities of petrified timber.

• Crystal Forest - Densest accumulation of petrified wood.

• Long Logs Trail - Remains of an ancient river logjam.

• Giant Logs Trail - Located next to the Rainbow Forest Museum - this collection includes Old Faithful - probably the largest log in the park.

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Painted Desert

As you follow the main park road, look for scenic overviews of the Painted Desert. This region provides a sharp contrast of bright color caused by years of erosion on several different layers of rock. Most noticeable are several different hues of red.

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  Planet Explorer - Providor of guided tours to exotic locations around the world - including Antartica, Canada, Africa, Amazon, and more. Guarantees the experience of a lifetime.

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  Indian Ruins

  Over 500 documented archeological sites exist within the park. They range in size from a broken potshards to large multi-room complexes.

  Between 500 A.D. to 1300 A.D. this area was the home of the Anasazi (Navaho word meaning Ancient Ones) a tribe that towards its later years shows a remarkable level of civic development. But they mysteriously disappeared shortly before the arrival of the first spanish explorers in the 1540's. (See also Arizona Indian Cultures.)

  Points of Interest:

  • Puerco Ruins - 75 room complex of typical Anasazi pueblo. It is the largest and most easily accessible complex in the park.

  • Newspaper Rock - So named for its dense concentration of indian rock carvings. One of the finest petroglyph sites of the Southwest.

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  Rainbow Forest Museum

  Located in the former Painted Desert Inn (built 1924). Houses many exhibits of petrified wood and other unique paleantology features.

California Resort Life
Exciting resort accommodations in beautiful California USA. Come see what's new.


Holbrook Arizonian Inn
Best Western Vacation Resort
2508 Navajo Boulevard, Holbrook, AZ 86025;
Welcome to the Best Western Arizonian Inn, where guests will find themselves minutes away from an array of Arizona's Southwest attractions. This 100% non-smoking Holbrook area hotel proudly offers 70 well-appointed guest rooms and suites, each featuring free high-speed Internet access and cable satellite television. This Navajo County hotel also features a complimentary continental breakfast, a complimentary soup and salad buffet and a Denny's Restaurant located onsite. Other hotel amenities include an outdoor heated swimming pool, business services and free parking.

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Holbrook Super 8 Motel
1989 Navajo Blvd., Holbrook, AZ 86025;
We are right on Route 66, the Mother Road and Downtown Holbrook, just a mile from us is a time capsule with preserved buildings from the town's raucous old west days through the heyday of Route 66. After a long day sightseeing splash in our outdoor seasonal pool and whirlpool while under a classic western sunset. We also provide coffee makers in every room so that you can have your first cup as soon as you wake up.

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Winslow Econolodge
1706 N. Park Dr, Winslow, AZ 86047;
The Econo Lodge at I-40 is conveniently located off Interstate 40 near Homolovi Ruins State Park, Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument and Meteor Crater. The Grand Canyon National Park is 120 miles from the hotel. The Little Painted Desert, Hopi Indian villages and the Painted Desert are within 50 miles. Guests will enjoy amenities like free in-room coffee and tea, free local calls and the outdoor pool.

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Flagstaff Marriott Residence Inn
3440 North Country Club Drive, Flagstaff, AZ 86004;
Location: Close to US-180 exit from I-40 Freeway;
The Residence Inn Flagstaff offers a comfortable home base, whether visiting the Canyon, historic Downtown Flagstaff, Northern Arizona University, Route 66 or the red rocks of nearby Sedona.

The beauty of Arizona starts at the doorstep of our Flagstaff hotel, which overlooks both an 18-hole golf course and the Coconino National Forest. Spend the day shopping, only minutes away from the Flagstaff Mall and Marketplace.

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Flagstaff Pony Soldier Inn
Best Western Vacation Resort
3030 East Route 66, Flagstaff, AZ 86004;
Location: Downtown Commercial District on Historic Route 66;
Stay at this all non-smoking Flagstaff hotel located off Interstate 40 on Historic Route 66 in Northern Arizona. Each spacious, well-appointed room at this Flagstaff hotel features free wireless Internet access and all the extras that make a big difference while traveling. Amenities include an enclosed heated pool and hot tub, cable TV with HBO.

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More Holbrook Area Hotels:
Northern Arizona Hotel Guide
Holbrook BW Arizonian Inn
Holbrook BW Adobe Inn
Holbrook Knights Inn
Holbrook Days Inn
Holbrook Holiday Inn Express
Holbrook Travelodge
Holbrook Super 8 Motel
Holbrook Best Value Inn
Holbrook Comfort Inn
Holbrook Ramada Limited