Petrified Forest National Park · Arizona

Crystal Forest Trail

0.8 mi of trail, end to end · about 30 ft of climbing · 5,532 ft–5,563 ft · asphalt surface · trail class Highly Developed · hiking

Shelters

Along the way Crystal Forest

Trailhead Crystal Forest 5,534 ft Drive there

Walk Crystal Forest Trail the Park Service's write-up

20-120 Minutes · dogs allowed

Start Crystal Forest Trail, Petrified Forest National Park

Named for the presence of beautiful crystals that can be found in the petrified logs, this trail offers one of the best opportunities to experience the petrified wood deposits as it loops through rolling gray and purple badlands. Please leave the petrified wood for others to enjoy. Report any removal of petrified wood or other materials to park staff.

Accessibility Tread width: 71 in (179.8 cm), min 65 in (165.1 cm) Grade: 5.2%, max 22.5% Cross Slope: 2.2%, max 11.3% Depending on the individual, most of this trail is accessible for mobility devices. The surface is hard, paved or graveled. Exhibits have proper contrast for visibility challenges.

This hike on nps.gov

On the parks map

About this trail's facts

The lines are the National Park Service's public trails layer, the trailheads and the waterfalls, views, peaks and historic places along them the Service's public points of interest, read 2026-10-16 and simplified for the map; the length is the line's, end to end. The write-ups are the Service's own "things to do" text, unedited. Heights come from USGS 3DEP through Terrain Tiles on AWS (Mapzen/Tilezen), read along each line and rounded; a short trail on steep ground can be off by a few tens of feet. Closures change: check the park's own site before you go.