Albuquerque: New Mexico to Payson: Arizona – Point of Interest: Petrified Forest National Park

After 2 nights in Albuquerque it was time to hit the road to Arizona. For the first night in Arizona to break up to journey I found Payson which looked like a very scenic destination. Whenever I think of Arizona I think of deserts and cacti, but Payson was a beautiful forest area – with log cabins and great places to hike – but between that is 330 miles of driving so I found some interesting stops along the way.

Pueblo Cultural Center

The first stop was at the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center where I learnt the story of the Pueblo people of the region. Inside the cultural center the museum presented the Pueblo people’s story using video interviews in the style of a documentary, murals painted by local artists depicting their stories and exhibits displaying their history from the ancient to present times. I learnt about their clothing, dance, how they build their homes and live with the land, and the conflicts and struggles they had.

There is also a market and shop available at the center where local artists sell their jewellery, leather goods, pottery, dream catchers and other items.

Petrified Forest National park

Not much to see between Albuquerque and Payson on the open road, but the Petrified Forest National Park was definitely worth a stop. The Park showcases beautiful views of The Painted Desert which has a range of bright colours and fossils from the Triassic period from an ecosystem over 200 million years old which hosted tropical plants and Triassic animals.

There are lots of areas where you can stop over and see the petrified wood. The forests trees were petrified as a result of being buried under layers of mud in streams where bacteria and oxygen couldn’t reach to prevent decay. Silica present in the groundwater seeped into the tree, replacing its organic components with quartz crystals. Caused the tree to become ‘petrified’ into the hard structure we see today.

At the Park there are many stopping points at the various attractions with information boards available. There are 2 visitors centers available: one in the north and one in the south of the park where you can get a map, books and gifts.

To ensure that the petrified wood remains in the same condition for future generations, remember to leave the wood as you find it.

The sign warning visitors to be in their vehicles by 6:30pm otherwise they might get eaten by hungry coyotes was humorously downplayed on this sign which I found entertaining: