Petrified Forest National Park

Petrified Forest National Park Welcome to Petrified Forest National Park, located in northeastern Arizona
http://www.nps.gov/pefo Mailing

Saturday, June 6 is Dinosaur Day! This year we are partnering with our gateway community of Holbrook, Arizona to celebra...
05/26/2026

Saturday, June 6 is Dinosaur Day! This year we are partnering with our gateway community of Holbrook, Arizona to celebrate all things dinosaur! There will be fun activities and opportunities to chat with paleontologists in two places from 10 am – 2 pm:

Rainbow Forest Museum (Petrified Forest National Park)
-Fossil preparation demonstration lab
-Ranger-lead hikes to a fossil site (11 am and 1 pm)
-Museum exhibit walkthroughs with a paleontologist
-The film A Whopping Small Dinosaur (Rainbow Forest Lodge)
-Dinosaur coloring and construction activities

Navajo County Historic Courthouse (Downtown Holbrook)
-Simulated fossil dig
-Magnifying glasses to look at real fossils
-Make-your-own fossil activity
-Local artists and groups
-The film A Whopping Small Dinosaur (Courthouse Theater)

If you come to both places, you can stamp a passport and be eligible for a drawing to WIN dinosaur toys, books, or shirts donated by the Petrified Forest Museum Association!

We welcome you to join us in celebrating the 1985 collection of Petrified Forest's dinosaur celebrity Gertie the Chindesaurus!

Holbrook Chamber of Commerce

Navajo County Historical Society

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Calling all Junior Rangers! A rare sea otter was sighted in Petrified Forest National Park! Well, sort of. On Saturday, ...
05/07/2026

Calling all Junior Rangers! A rare sea otter was sighted in Petrified Forest National Park!

Well, sort of.

On Saturday, May 2, a helpful visitor brought a lost sea otter stuffie to a ranger at Painted Desert Inn.

This sea otter is having many more adventures at Petrified Forest National Park! He has been having a great time marveling at the surreal scenery, appreciating Native art, visiting historic sites, and learning about paleontology.

As much fun as this sea otter is having, he’s missing his home and family. If you can help this sea otter, find his way home, please email ranger Sarah at [email protected]

Have a “Hoppy” National Amphibian Week!Paleontologists in Petrified Forest National Park have discovered many fascinatin...
05/04/2026

Have a “Hoppy” National Amphibian Week!

Paleontologists in Petrified Forest National Park have discovered many fascinating prehistoric amphibians in the Park’s badlands.

The Late Triassic was a time of great innovation for evolution. New forms arose as life found a way to start again following the largest mass extinction in Earth’s history. While the Triassic is often considered the dawn of the age of reptiles, giant amphibians still had their moment to shine.

Massive metoposaur fossils are often found in the Chinle formation. These ambush predators grew as long as small alligators. They could have been 2-3 times the weight of the largest modern amphibian, the Chinese giant salamander (Andrias davidianus).

While metoposaurs perished in the End-Triassic Extinction, it was no big deal for some recognizable (or less recognizable) Triassic innovations. Researchers for Petrified Forest National Park discovered North America’s oldest frog and Earth’s oldest caecilian!

What is your favorite obscure prehistoric animal?

Learn more about the caecilian discovery, and what a caecilian is, here: New Triassic amphibian is the oldest (and funkiest) of its kind in the world www.nps.gov/pefo/learn/news/new-triassic-amphibian.htm

Learn more about Triassic amphibians found in Petrified Forest National Park here: www.nps.gov/pefo/learn/more-triassic-animals.htm

In celebration of Earth Day 2026 staff from Petrified Forest National Park participated in the 4th Annual Puerco River C...
04/23/2026

In celebration of Earth Day 2026 staff from Petrified Forest National Park participated in the 4th Annual Puerco River Cleanup. The crew filled 37 bags worth of debris, in addition to a half a dozen tires, dozens of glass bottles (to be recycled), among many other items. (jh) 🌎

The Petrified Forest National Park Cultural Demonstration Program is back in action. Please check our website for more i...
04/22/2026

The Petrified Forest National Park Cultural Demonstration Program is back in action. Please check our website for more information.

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KBRFqFpzryY
01/12/2026

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KBRFqFpzryY

In this episode of the Safe Travels Podcast, I’m joined by Bill Parker, Chief of Resources and Park Historian at Petrified Forest National Park, for a wide-r...

Address

PO Box 2217 1 Park Road #2217
Holbrook, AZ
86028

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 5pm
Tuesday 8am - 5pm
Wednesday 8am - 5pm
Thursday 8am - 5pm
Friday 8am - 5pm
Saturday 8am - 5pm
Sunday 8am - 5pm

Telephone

+19285246228

Website

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