Onyx Bridge Hike
The 4-mile roundtrip Onyx Bridge Trail offers a dramatic example of petrified wood eroding out of the Black Forest Bed within the Chinle Formation.
Plan Around Onyx Bridge Hike
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Onyx Bridge Hike Details
A brochure is available at the visitor's center detailing this hike. The 4-mile roundtrip Onyx Bridge Trail offers a dramatic example of petrified wood eroding out of the Black Forest Bed within the Chinle Formation. The Onyx Bridge is a Triassic conifer tree, and is one of many preserved logs in the Black Forest. The exposed portion of this fossilized log is approximately 30 feet long and 210 million years old. There's no defined trail to get to or from Onyx Bridge. The hike begins at the Painted Desert Inn, and it can be seen from many points along the way, functioning as a visual landmark. Begin the hike on the Wilderness Access Trail on the left side of the Painted Desert Inn. The trail has a steep descent with several turns and will be moderately difficult on the return ascent. The developed trail ends at the bottom and becomes wilderness. Hikers should continue north towards the Lithodendron Wash and either cross or follow it north towards the second bend. From the bend, hikers should follow a small drainage west until it splits, and then follow the right side until it splits again to reach a rock fall. Climbing up the left side of the rock fall, hikers will see Onyx Bridge above and to the right. GPS Coordinates for the Onyx Bridge, not the trail head.
Difficulty
Moderate
Distance
4 miles
Estimated time
2 hours
Region
N/A
Nearby Parks Around Onyx Bridge Hike
Compare nearby parks around Onyx Bridge Hike when deciding whether to expand the route after this stop.
Nearby Points of Interest Around Onyx Bridge Hike
Use nearby POIs to quickly expand your options beyond Onyx Bridge Hike while the map context is still fresh.
0.4 mi away
The Black Forest
The Black Forest is a wilderness region in the park's northern unit, and is home to badlands, eroded rock formations and a fair bit of petrified wood.
0.8 mi away
Lithodendron Wash
Lithodendron Wash begins in the western part of the park and starts as an offshoot of the Puerco River.
1.8 mi away
Chinde Point
The Navajo word "chinde" means ghost or unwelcome spirit, perhaps a reference to the dinosaur bones found in abundance here.
1.8 mi away
Kachina Point
The Painted Desert Inn National Historic Landmark at Kachina Point once served as a way station for travelers along historic Route 66.
1.9 mi away
Painted Desert Inn
This inn has spend almost 100 years overlooking the Painted Desert.
