Long Logs Trail

Long Logs Trail passes through the largest concentration of petrified wood on Earth, where individual logs up to 100 feet in length and 6 feet in diameter lie scattered across red badland clay as if a giant forest was felled overnight. These are the remains of Araucarioxylon arizonicum trees — relatives of the modern Norfolk Island pine — that grew in a subtropical river delta 225 million years ago during the Late Triassic period. Buried by volcanic ash and silica-rich groundwater, the original wood cells were replaced atom by atom with quartz, jasper, and amethyst, preserving growth rings, bark texture, and even the occasional woodworm burrow in crystalline detail. The logs display a spectacular palette — iron oxides produce reds and yellows, manganese creates blacks and purples, and pure silica yields translucent white. The trail surface is well-maintained gravel and poses no navigation challenge, making it ideal for visitors of all ages. Rangers emphasize that removing even a small chip of petrified wood is a federal offense, and the park estimates more than 12 tons of material are taken illegally each year despite this prohibition.