- I was 5 years old, on a family trip from El Paso, Texas to Reno, Nevada to visit my aunt and her family. We drove through New Mexico and Arizona, and stopped at Petrified Forest. I think it was still a National Monument at that time. We also stopped at the Grand Canyon. This was the first of many later visits to our National Parks. I have been to Yosemite, Yellowstone, Sequoia, Carlsbad Caverns, Hawaii Volcano, and the National Mall. I will be returning to Petrified Forest and the Grand Canyon next month. We need to be able to escape to nature to refresh and restore our souls.
Sincerely,
Petrified Forest National Park
Petrified Forest is best known for its ancient trees that have crystallized over 225 million years into rainbow colors. The park also features fossils from huge 18-foot crocodile-like creatures known as Phytosaurs, as well as remnants from 13,000 years of human history, including the remains of villages, tools, and grinding stones. A 28-mile road runs through the park, offering a number of short hiking trails into the diverse landscape of wild grasslands and Painted Desert vistas and colorful badlands.
State(s): Arizona
Established: 1962
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Greetings from Petrified Forest National Park
I have loved the National Parks for about as long as I can remember. They protect some pretty awesome creations in nature, places where I've personally experienced freedom and peace. One of my favorites that I've seen is Petrified Forest, and I had the opportunity to see it after a…
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