Blue Forest Trail

The Blue Forest Trail is the park’s quieter, wilder counterpart to nearby Blue Mesa—same surreal blues and purples, far fewer people. Expect intimate badlands scenery, scattered pieces of petrified wood, and big Painted Desert views without the crowds of the paved loop.

Distance and route

Plan on roughly 2.6–3 miles total for most hikers, depending on where you turn around and whether you tack on a short segment of the Blue Mesa loop. It’s commonly done as an out-and-back from a pullout just south of The Tepees on Petrified Forest Road, but you can also hike it point‑to‑point between the road and the paved Blue Mesa Trail with a shuttle. Note that the final stretch near the highway is widely considered less scenic than the core badlands section—many hikers simply turn around before that.

What you’ll see

The star here is the blue‑, purple‑, and gray‑striped badlands of the Chinle Formation. Those hues pop under direct sunlight. Keep an eye out for chunks of petrified wood tucked in gullies and on benches as you wind through eroded hills and soft “dunes” of bentonite clay. Views open up frequently, with broad panoramas across layered hills and mesas.

Trail feel and difficulty

This is an unpaved, minimally signed route with a backcountry feel. You’ll walk old 1930s roadbed in places and narrower, sometimes gravelly or slick tread elsewhere. Elevation changes are modest (around 200–236 feet total), but footing on bentonite can be precarious, especially on steeper sidehills. Call it easy to moderate if you’re comfortable with light route-finding and uneven ground.

Tips and logistics

Park at the small pullout just south of The Tepees on Petrified Forest Road and look for the fence opening and raised gravel start. There’s no water or restrooms here, so come prepared. Bring sun protection—there’s essentially no shade—and consider downloading a GPS track since the path fades in spots. Leave No Trace applies—collecting petrified wood is illegal.

Best time to hike

Spring and fall offer the most comfortable temperatures. Summer can be brutally hot and fully exposed; winter can be cold and windy. For photography, clear midday light actually enhances the blue and purple tones on these hills, though the low angles of morning/late afternoon can be lovely for contrasts if temps are reasonable.

Who will love it (and an alternative)

If you want solitude and a more adventurous feel than the park’s roadside stops, this is a gem. If you prefer a fully paved, well‑marked experience with overlooks, do the Blue Mesa Trail instead—or combine the two for a best‑of‑both loop.