Pros & cons
PROS
- Fee‑free access if you start from Painted Desert Visitor Center
- Easy link to Painted Desert Rim Trail for extended views
- Usually quieter than the busier overlooks
CONS
- Little to no shade along the route
- Few landmarks and no petrified wood on the trail
Park at the Painted Desert Visitor Center or at Tawa Point; both have ample parking. Starting at the Visitor Center allows a fee‑free hike, while parking at Tawa Point may require the park entrance fee.
Open prairie offers little shade—bring water and sun protection. Stay on the marked path to protect fragile grassland. Entrance fee may apply if you park at Tawa Point.
Why hike it
If you’re near the park’s north entrance and want a low‑commitment sampler of the Painted Desert, Tawa Trail delivers. It’s a quiet, easy walk across open shortgrass prairie with rewarding rim views at Tawa Point. Don’t expect petrified wood here—the payoff is space, color, and calm.
Route and distance
The trail runs between the Painted Desert Visitor Center and Tawa Point for 1.2 miles one way (2.4 miles round trip). It’s mostly flat on a hard‑surfaced path with gentle grades. Benches along the way offer a chance to sit and soak in the scenery.
Scenery and what to look for
You’ll traverse big‑sky prairie and end at sweeping vistas of the Painted Desert’s banded badlands—colorful Triassic sediments tinted by iron and manganese. Spring (April–May) can bring wildflowers that light up the grassland. The name “Tawa” honors the Hopi Sun Spirit, hinting at the landscape’s cultural resonance.
Logistics and access
Start from either end: the Painted Desert Visitor Center (ample parking) or Tawa Point. Uniquely, beginning at the Visitor Center lets you enjoy this walk without paying the park entrance fee; parking at Tawa Point may require it. From Tawa Point you can continue on the separate Painted Desert Rim Trail for even more panoramas.
Who it’s for (and not)
Perfect for road‑trippers who want a leg‑stretch with outsized views and minimal crowds. If you came specifically to see petrified wood or ruins, this isn’t your stop—choose other trails. Here, it’s all about open landscape, light, and quiet.
Best time to hike
Mornings or late afternoons for cooler temps and the best light on the Painted Desert. Spring wildflower season (April–May) is the sweet spot. Sunrise and sunset reward photographers with soft, saturated color.
Tips
Bring water, sun protection, and a brimmed hat—the route has virtually no shade. Stay on the designated path to protect fragile grasslands. For a longer outing, link from Tawa Point onto the Painted Desert Rim Trail toward other overlooks.
Elevation
2.4 mi · 1 hrWhere it starts
35.0656, -109.7817Near Tawa Trail
All places →All trails →
0 mi awayPainted Desert Visitor CenterNorth gateway for info, permits, plus the park’s only food and fuelVisitor Center · Restroom
0 mi awayPainted Desert OasisFood, fuel, and gifts at the north entrance hubFood · Restaurant
0.5 mi awayTiponi PointFirst Painted Desert overlook with big panoramas and easy pull-offPullout · Parking
0.8 mi awayNizhoni PointQuick stop for Painted Desert vistas and a rare geologic boundaryParking · Scenic Viewpoint
1 mi awayPainted Desert Rim TrailEasy rim walk with nonstop Painted Desert panoramas and history.Easy · 1 mi · 30 min
1.3 mi awayWilderness LoopRemote off-trail loop through Painted Desert badlands and petrified woodChallenging · 8 mi · 5 hr
1.3 mi awayOnyx Bridge TrailPainted Desert ramble to a shattered petrified log in a wild washModerate · 4.5 mi · 2.5 hr
1.3 mi awayPainted Desert Wilderness Access TrailQuick descent from the rim into the Painted Desert’s wild badlandsChallenging · 1 mi · 48 min
