Summer Programs at Petrified Forest National Park May/June 2011

Date: May 14, 2011
Contact: Hallie Larsen, 928-524-6228 x274

Petrified Forest, AZ—What are you doing this summer? Come to Petrified Forest National Park for a variety of activities, from self-guided tours to adventures with rangers. This May and June, programs will include:

Daily Program Schedule (starting May 29)—Note: this is a correction for the program times:

12:00 pm Painted Desert Inn Tour: Explore this intriguing National Historic Landmark with a ranger and discover its fascinating past.

10:00 am, 1:00 pm, and 3:00 pm Triassic Program: How did these once living trees turn to stone? Meet in the Rainbow Forest Museum sunroom. Find out on this ranger talk or easy guided walk along the Giant Logs Trail. There are some stairs along the trail.

9:00 am, 1:00 pm, and 3:00 pm Puerco Pueblo Program: Find out about the ancestral Puebloan people who once lived in this 100-room pueblo. Meet at the Puerco Pueblo Trail at the south end of the parking lot for an easy ranger-guided 1/3 mile walk.

Weekly Program Schedule (starting May 29):

Tuesdays, 10 am at Painted Desert Visitor Center: Ranger Choice—who knows what we'll come up with for this program?

Wednesdays, 9 am Agate House/Long Logs Walk—Join a ranger for a walk along a paved path to discover one of the densest concentrations of petrified logs in the park as well as a unique archeological site built of petrified wood. Meet at Rainbow Forest Museum at 9 am. Be sure to bring plenty of water, bring snacks, appropriate shoes, and use sun protection.

Thursdays, 10 am, Keystone Arch Walk—Join a ranger for an off-trail walk to a natural arch formed by a petrified log. This is a very short, easy walk over uneven ground. Meet at the pullout just past the first wayside exhibit along the Blue Mesa loop road at 10 am. This hike is not accessible. Children are welcome. Be sure to bring plenty of water, bring snacks, appropriate shoes, and use sun protection.

Saturdays, 10 am-2 pm Junior Ranger Days activities at various locations in the park.

Other Special Activities

Saturdays, May 28 and June 18, 8 am, Off the Beaten Path: Lacey Point Hike—Enjoy the wild Painted Desert and discover petroglyphs! Meet at the Painted Desert Visitor Center at 8 am before heading into the park. These off-trail hikes are not accessible. Children over 12 are welcome. Be sure to bring plenty of water, bring snacks, appropriate shoes, and use sun protection. Space is limited: first-come, first-served.

Sundays, May 29 and June 12, 1 pm-3 pm at Painted Desert National Historic Landmark: Art in the Afternoon, an interactive activity with a ranger.

Wednesday, June 1, 7 pm Story in the Stars—Meet at the Painted Desert Inn National Historic Landmark at 7 pm, watch the sunset over the Painted Desert at 7:28 pm, program starts afterward with stargazing from 8-9 pm. As this is an after-hours program, you will need to stay with the ranger or immediately leave the park.

Fridays, June 3 and June 17, 8:30 am Off the Beaten Path: The Dying Grounds Hike— Join a ranger for an adventure into the Late Triassic—paleontology at Petrified Forest, past and present. Meet at the Painted Desert Visitor Center at 8:30 am before heading into the park. This off-trail hike will start at the Tepees pullout. Great for kids 7 and up. These off-trail hikes are not accessible. Be sure to bring plenty of water, bring snacks, appropriate shoes, and use sun protection.

Saturday, June 4, 8 am, Off the Beaten Path: Petroglyph Canyon Hike—Discover petroglyphs in the backcountry! Bring field glasses. Meet at the Painted Desert Visitor Center at 8 am before heading into the park. This off-trail hike is not accessible. Children over 12 are welcome. Be sure to bring plenty of water, bring snacks, appropriate shoes, and use sun protection.

Fridays, June 10 and June 24, 8:30 am Off the Beaten Path: Clam Beds/Old 180 Geology—Join a ranger for an exploration of Late Triassic geology—look for clues to an ancient river system. Meet at the Rainbow Forest Museum at 8:30 am before heading to the start of this off-trail hike. Great for kids 7 and up. These off-trail hikes are not accessible. Be sure to bring plenty of water, bring snacks, appropriate shoes, and use sun protection.

Saturday, June 11, 8 am, Off the Beaten Path: Onyx Bridge and Wilderness Petroglyphs—Take a walk into the wilderness to view a long petrified log and discover petroglyphs on the way. Meet at Painted Desert National Historic Landmark at 8 am. This off-trail hike is not accessible. Children over 12 are welcome. Be sure to bring plenty of water, bring snacks, appropriate shoes, and use sun protection.

June 14-28, Celebrate the Summer Solstice! For a two week period, a shaft of sunlight is projected onto the boulder and travels down the side to touch the center of the spiral petroglyph, peaking about 9 am. Rangers will be at the site between 8:30 am and 9:30 pm. Join us for this remarkable event at Puerco Pueblo!

Saturday, June 25, 8 am, Off the Beaten Path: Puerco Petroglyphs—Discover the petroglyphs that can't be seen from the regular trail. Meet at the Puerco Pueblo park lot at 8 am. This off-trail hike is not accessible. Children over 12 are welcome. Be sure to bring plenty of water, bring snacks, appropriate shoes, and use sun protection.

For information call [phone], 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Mountain Standard Time (MST); or write to the Superintendent, Petrified Forest National Park, P.O. Box 2217, Petrified Forest, AZ 86028; or e-mail the park Superintendent.