The Tepees
These cone-shaped hills lie along the park's main road, in the southern unit of Petrified Forest.
Plan Around The Tepees
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Use this detail page to confirm that the stop is worth it, then carry that decision into a trip draft while the park context is still fresh.
The Tepees Details
These cone-shaped hills lie along the park's main road, in the southern unit of Petrified Forest. Named for their resemblance to teepees, these hills are part of the approximately 220-million-year-old Blue Mesa Member; they comprise thick deposits of gray, blue, purple, and green mudstones and minor sandstone beds, and are characterized by stripes of sediment that look purple and blue. The Blue Mesa member is the second-oldest part of the Chinle Formation, which serves as the geological basis for much of the Painted Desert. The Rainbow Forest Museum highlights this area in an exhibit. There are several pull offs located along the park road for viewing the Tepees area. Parking is available for the Blue Forest Trail Off The Beaten Path Hike.
Difficulty
Low
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N/A
Estimated time
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Nearby Parks Around The Tepees
Compare nearby parks around The Tepees when deciding whether to expand the route after this stop.
Nearby Points of Interest Around The Tepees
Use nearby POIs to quickly expand your options beyond The Tepees while the map context is still fresh.
0.3 mi away
Blue Forest Trail
The Historic Blue Forest Trail is 1.5 miles one-way, including 1.2 miles off the beaten path and .3 miles on the Blue Mesa Loop Trail.
0.3 mi away
Blue Mesa
Some of the park's most beautiful badlands, the Blue Mesa area is accessible via a 3.5-mile loop road off the main park highway.
1.2 mi away
Blue Mesa Trail
Beginning at the Blue Mesa sun shelter, this 1-mile loop trail descends from the mesa into the badlands.
1.4 mi away
Billings Gap Overlook Hike
This off-the-beaten-path hike is slightly less than 3 miles round-trip, and takes visitors to a viewpoint of the Billings Gap area and badlands east of Blue Mesa.
1.7 mi away
Red Basin/Clam Beds Hike
This 6-mile round-trip hike is part of newly acquired land within Petrified Forest National Park.
