Long Logs Trail in Petrified Forest National Park

Long Logs Trail

This 1.6-mile loop trail begins at the Rainbow Forest Museum parking area.

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Long Logs Trail Details

This 1.6-mile loop trail begins at the Rainbow Forest Museum parking area. This ancient logjam offers one of the biggest concentrations of petrified wood in the park at the base of gray badlands. The petrified wood is the result of periodic flooding and erosion that took place 218 million years ago, when sediment and ash were carried downstream, settling over fallen trees. Over time, groundwater dissolved silica from the volcanic ash into the porous bodies of the fallen trees; the brilliant colors of the wood come from impurities in the quartz, such as iron, carbon and manganese.  The first half-mile of the trail is paved and suitable for strollers and mobility equipment. The loop can also accommodate strollers, but it's not recommended for wheelchairs and walkers. A 1.2-mile segment of the trail beginning at the park road also is open to bicyclists. Long Logs and Agate House Trails can be combined for a total of 2.6 miles (4.2 km) round trip.

Difficulty

Low

Distance

1.6 miles

Estimated time

Region

N/A

Nearby Parks Around Long Logs Trail

Compare nearby parks around Long Logs Trail when deciding whether to expand the route after this stop.

17.9 mi away

Petrified Forest

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153.0 mi away

Grand Canyon

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188.9 mi away

Saguaro

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192.2 mi away

Mesa Verde

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233.8 mi away

Bryce Canyon

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240.1 mi away

Zion

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Nearby Points of Interest Around Long Logs Trail

Use nearby POIs to quickly expand your options beyond Long Logs Trail while the map context is still fresh.

0.1 mi away

Jim Camp Wash

The middle Jim Camp Wash beds are made up of of blue, gray, and purple mudstone, and numerous small gray and white sandstone beds.

0.2 mi away

Rainbow Forest Museum

Rainbow Forest Museum near the south entrance of the park offers exhibits of petrified wood, fossils and dioramas of prehistoric animals that lived in the park.

0.2 mi away

Rainbow Forest

Beginning at the southern entrance station and including the Rainbow Forest Museum is the Rainbow Forest area of the park.

0.3 mi away

Giant Logs Trail

This .4-mile loop trail begins behind Rainbow Forest Museum, where there's a trail guide available.

0.3 mi away

Giant Logs Trail

This .4-mile loop trail begins behind Rainbow Forest Museum, where there's a trail guide available.