Best Overlooks

Petrified Forest National Park's overlooks provide access to the colorful Chinle Formation and vast expanses of the Painted Desert. These viewpoints showcase distinct geological features, including the striped badlands of Blue Mesa, the concentrated petrified logs of Jasper Forest, and the 650 petroglyphs at Newspaper Rock. Visitors can observe the park's transition from the high-altitude northern desert to the southern fossil-rich plains, with many sites featuring historic architecture and paved accessibility.

Tiponi Point

Overlook providing views of the red and orange hues of the Painted Desert's Chinle Formation.

Blue Mesa Viewpoint

High-elevation view of badland hills characterized by thick layers of bluish bentonite clay and petrified wood.

Crystal Forest Viewpoint

Overlook of a fossilized landscape where petrified logs once contained high concentrations of quartz and amethyst crystals.

Lacey Point View

Expansive vista of the Painted Desert named after Congressman John Lacey, a key proponent of the Antiquities Act.

The Tepees Viewpoint

View of conical erosion formations displaying vibrant horizontal stripes of blue, purple, and gray mudstone.

Jasper Forest Viewpoint

Panoramic overlook of a valley floor scattered with thousands of petrified log segments.

Agate Bridge Viewpoint

View of a 110-foot-long petrified log that spans a sandstone gully, reinforced with a concrete support in 1917.

Newspaper Rock Viewpoint

Overlook featuring more than 650 petroglyphs etched onto desert varnish by ancestral Puebloan people.

Kachina Point

Overlook located near the historic Painted Desert Inn, offering views of the desert wilderness and the Black Mountains.

Chinde Point

Overlook and picnic area providing views of the northern badlands and distant mesas.

Nizhoni Point

Elevated viewpoint showcasing the multi-colored layers of the Chinle Formation in the Painted Desert.

Pintado Point

One of the highest overlooks in the park, providing views of the Painted Desert and the distant San Francisco Peaks.

Tawa Point

Viewpoint marking the trailhead for the Tawa Trail, overlooking the colorful erosion of the Painted Desert's rim.