Crystal Forest Trail
Photo: Alexander Hatley, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)- Apr–May, Sep–Oct
- best months
Is Crystal Forest Trail open right now?
Closure in the area
There's a closure order in Petrified Forest National Park. It doesn't name Crystal Forest Trail, so check the source for the area it covers.
Painted Desert Visitor Center Closed for Construction
Park closure covering Petrified Forest National Park · NPS · Petrified Forest National Park
As of · Source: NPS · Petrified Forest National Park. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.
Crystal Forest Trail is a hike in Petrified Forest National Park in eastern Arizona, managed by the National Park Service. The nearest town is Headquarters, about 5.4 miles away, and the trailhead is named Crystal Forest Trailhead. A fee is charged for the visit, so plan for that before you go. Spring and fall are the most comfortable times to hike. Typical averages from a nearby weather station show April highs around 72°F and October highs around 74°F, while July and August average in the low 90s. Several other trails sit close by. Jasper Forest Trail is about 1.9 miles away and Agate Bridge about 2 miles. Hamilili Point is roughly 3.6 miles off, and Long Logs Trail is about 5.3 miles away.
Local outfitters
- OK RV Park21 mi away
Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.
Best time to go · Apr–May, Sep–Oct
Best time to visit Crystal Forest Trail
Best months: April–May and September–October. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.
Jan
50° / 21°
5 wet
Feb
56° / 24°
5 wet
Mar
65° / 30°
5 wet
Apr
72° / 36°
4 wet
May
81° / 43°
3 wet
Jun
91° / 53°
3 wet
Jul
93° / 60°
8 wet
Aug
90° / 59°
9 wet
Sep
85° / 52°
6 wet
Oct
74° / 39°
5 wet
Nov
61° / 28°
4 wet
Dec
50° / 21°
5 wet
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Petrified Forest Np, AZ, 6.9 mi away at 5,446 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.
Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive
Photo: Šarūnas Burdulis from USA, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)Crystal Forest Trail
Next door
Easy 0.82-mile out-and-back forest walk in Arizona.
HIKE
Agate Bridge
~3 min drive
Agate Bridge, original called Natural Bridge, is a partially exposed petrified log spanning a gully at Agate Mesa, forming a “bridge”. This landmark has long been one of the most popular attractions in Petrified Forest since the beginning and in the early history of the park m…
Photo: Alexander Hatley, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)Jasper Forest Trail
~3 min drive
2.04-mile out-and-back trail in Arizona with 137 ft elevation gain.
Photo: RuggyBearLA, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)Hamilili Point
~6 min drive
Hamilili Point is located along the main park road just west of the Flattops of the park. It is the access point for the south unit of the Petrified Forest National Wilderness Area. The pullout overlooks the Martha’s Butte and Jim Camp Wash beds of the Sonsela Member of the Ch…
Photo: dconvertini, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)Long Logs Trail
~9 min drive
Easy 1.14-mile out-and-back trail in Arizona.
HIKE
Long Logs Trail
~9 min drive
Length: 1.6 mile (2.5 km) loop Trailhead: Rainbow Forest Museum parking area Long Logs is one of the largest concentrations of petrified wood in the park. Explore this ancient log jam at the base of gray badlands. Please leave petrified wood for others to enjoy. Report any rem…
Photo: Navin75, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)Historic Blue Forest Trail
~9 min drive
2.56-mile out-and-back trail in Arizona with 332 ft elevation gain.
Photo: dconvertini, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)Agate House Trail
~9 min drive
Length: 2 miles (3.2 km) round trip Trailhead: Rainbow Forest Museum parking area Archeologists believe that this small pueblo was occupied for a short time about 700 years ago. Agate House was an eight room home with entered through the ceiling. Please leave any archeological…
Photo: Alexander Hatley, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)Giant Logs Trail
~9 min drive
Easy out-and-back walk through petrified wood in Arizona.
HIKE
Giant Logs
~9 min drive
Giant Logs is part of Rainbow Forest in Petrified Forest National Park. Once an ancient log jam in a Late Triassic river, Giant Logs was the heart of the original national monument set aside in 1906 by President Theodore Roosevelt. This area is located behind the Rainbow Fores…
