Hiking Suggestions
Painted Desert Wilderness
The Petrified Forest National Park provides lots of opportunities to get out and enjoy the fresh air. If you want to see the park away from the tour buses and motor homes check out the parks "Off the Beaten Path" web page for some route suggestions that will guide you to some interesting destinations: https://www.nps.gov/pefo/off-the-beaten-path.htm
However, there is no need to even get back in your car for some of the best hiking in the park! There are numerous hiking destinations in the northern wilderness area, and you can hike to these destinations right from the cabin. Here are some suggestions you might enjoy.
Painted Desert Inn
Moderately easy hike with a steep climb up 500 feet in elevation at Kachina Point (approx 8 miles- 16 miles round trip)
The Painted Desert Inn is a historic building originally built as a trading post around 1920. The oldest portion of the building was constructed out of petrified wood. To get to the Painted Desert Inn simply follow the Lithodendron Wash upstream to the Chinde Point trail, then follow the trail up onto the mesa top. You can then follow the park road a short distance to the Painted Desert Inn. From the Inn you can even follow the Rim Trail and Tawa Trail all the way to the visitor center.
Approximate GPS coordinates: 35.0834° N, -109.7886° W.
Onyx Bridge
Easy hike with minimal elevation change (approx 7.5 miles- 15 miles round trip)
Onyx Bridge is a natural feature where a large intact section of a petrified conifer tree has eroded out of the Chinle Formation. It is called Onyx Bridge because it is in the Black Forest and water runs underneath the feature when it rains. It is approximately 30 feet long and 210 million years old. To get to the Onyx Bridge simply follow the Lithodendron Wash up stream to Onyx Bridge!
Approximate GPS coordinates: 35.1086° N, -109.7922° W.
Devils Playground
Very easy hike close to the cabin (approx 1.5 miles- 3 miles round trip)
The Devil’s Playground is a strangely beautiful, highly eroded part of the park, worthy of exploration. To get to Devils Playground hike north west from the cabin and follow the Wildhorse Wash into the park. About one half mile north of the park boundary head west into the Devils Playground area.
Approximate GPS coordinates: 35.044843° N, -109.8832705° W.
Pilot Rock
Very difficult hike over extremely rough terrain and approximately 1000 feet in elevation gain (approx 10 miles- 20 miles round trip)
Pilot Rock is the highest point in Petrified Forest National Park. The elevation at the top of the feature is 6,234 feet. To get to Pilot Rock you will want to follow the Wildhorse Wash drainage north. Then it will be a rough climb over steep and unaccommodating terrain to cross over into the Digger Wash drainage. After crossing Digger Wash it is a steady uphill hike to Pilot Rock. It is possible to get pretty far up onto Pilot Rock without any technical climbing, however, it is strenuous and difficult... but the views are pretty spectacular.
Approximate GPS coordinates: 35.152241° N, -109.8942946° W.