Giant Logs
Photo: NPS / public domain- Apr–May, Sep–Oct
- best months
Is Giant Logs open right now?
Closure in the area
There's a closure order in Petrified Forest National Park. It doesn't name Giant Logs, 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.
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 Forest Museum. Rainbow Forest was first called the Third Forest (based on tours leaving the once closest town of Adamana). An interpretive trail passes through the area and major features include some of the largest, most colorful petrified logs, Old Faithful log, and the Mather Plaque. There is a booklet available at the museum that corresponds to the numbered posts on the trail. There is a nearby geocache, seasonal drinking fountain, and wayside exhibit as well as the museum. Giant Logs is geologically in the Rainbow Forest bed of the Sonsela Member (mostly sandstone and conglomerate with some mudstones) of the Chinle Formation. The Sonsela Member contains the majority of the petrified wood deposits in the park and was deposited between 219-213 million years ago.
Local outfitters
- OK RV Park18 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 Giant Logs
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, 1.5 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: Alexander Hatley, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)Giant Logs Trail
Next door
Easy out-and-back walk through petrified wood in Arizona.
Photo: dconvertini, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)Agate House Trail
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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…
HIKE
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~25 min drive
5.58-mile out-and-back hike in Arizona with 218 ft elevation gain.
Photo: dconvertini, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)Long Logs Trail
~1 min drive
Easy 1.14-mile out-and-back trail in Arizona.
HIKE
Long Logs Trail
Next door
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: dconvertini, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)Agate House Trail
~1 min drive
Easy out-and-back hike to a historic agate house structure.
Photo: RuggyBearLA, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)Hamilili Point
~3 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: Šarūnas Burdulis from USA, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)Crystal Forest Trail
~9 min drive
Easy 0.82-mile out-and-back forest walk in Arizona.
Photo: Alexander Hatley, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)Crystal Forest Trail
~9 min drive
Length: 0.75 mile (1.2 km) loopTrailhead: Crystal Forest parking areaNamed 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. Please leave the petrified wood…
Photo: Alexander Hatley, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)Jasper Forest Trail
~10 min drive
2.04-mile out-and-back trail in Arizona with 137 ft elevation gain.
