Revisiting Petrified Forest National Park, Arizona

Petrified Wood @ Petrified Forest National Park, Arizona

Visiting the past, that's how it feels like at Petrified Forest National Park which has preserved plants and animal fossils of the Late Triassic period going back more than 200 million years ago. The park is best known for globally significant Late Triassic fossils, attracting geologists, paleontologists, archaeologists, historians, and biologists, just to name a few. Its mind boggling and stark beauty is also a haven for those searching for scenic vistas, wilderness, hiking, dark skies, and beautiful, vast landscapes.

Come, let us revisit this geological wonderland must see.......

Fossilized Woods and Badlands @ Petrified Forest National Park

Where: Petrified Forest National Park is located in northeastern Arizona, about 50 miles from the New Mexico border on Interstate 40. Nearest major airports are in Phoenix, Arizona and Albuquerque, New Mexico.

There are also smaller airports in Flagstaff, Arizona, and Gallup, New Mexico. From the airport, you may want to rent a car to drive to the park. For private planes, there is a small airport located in Holbrook, Arizona.

Sights to See: Fossilized Petrified Woods and Colors of The Naked Earth.

Ever wondered what the colors of the Earth if not clothed with vegetation? Is it all just dab and dirt, or is it full of colors?

Earth in its starkness is beyond fascinating! Could you imagine how many chemical reactions have occurred from the various colors of the fossilized woods and badlands? A walk here at Petrified Forest National Park is like walking in a GIANT SCIENCE MUSEUM, navigating through so many surreal landscapes.

Experiencing the Science that turned into a great work of art that NO MAN CAN EQUAL is beyond words for me to describe. Nature is always healing for me, knowing that we have a GOD who takes care of us and of everything around us. We owe to HIM this beautiful world we live in. However, it is our turn to take care of our present and the traces of our past so we could enjoy these gifts today and tomorrow, and to hopefully also make use of what we learn for the better.

Ahhh, somehow, revisiting Petrified Forest through my old pictures ( went here last year, spring 2013) makes me long to experience the unequaled peacefulness and serenity in the desert again. Let me end this post by a few lines from "The Desert Through My Eyes" post I wrote a few years back......

"The Desert....

First time I met you

Tears ran down my face
For you left us a trace

To look at our geological past

of what was before

that will prepare us for what is to come!!

Barren you may be

but for the few who took a closer look

Uncovered your beauty beyond compare
That shows depth and strength of character
Built by persevering all the harshest tests of time

Your beauty
Whipped so intelligently and masterfully

Reminds Us not to look on The Surface Alone

For depth of beauty is not on what is obvious

But what is deeply etched inside!!"

~ Betchai ~

♥♥