Self-guided driving audio tour of the Petrified Forest National Park

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Start by downloading the Action Tour Guide app, which acts as your personal tour guide, audio guide and map all in one. Your adventure begins at the visitor centre in the Painted Desert, near the northern entrance of the Petrified Forest National Park. From there, you'll proceed to Toponi Point, where you can enjoy spectacular views of the multicoloured badlands of the Painted Desert.Next, you'll visit the Painted Desert Inn, a recognised National Historic Landmark. Learn about its fascinating history, from its origins as a popular tourist destination in the 1920s to its current role as a park museum. The inn's distinctive Pueblo Revival-style architecture, delightful murals and mesmerising views make it a must-see.After that, you'll travel to Puerco Pueblo, home to a 100-room pueblo that was inhabited over six centuries ago. Here, you'll also encounter a solar calendar — a rock slab adorned with petroglyphs signifying the summer solstice.Next is Newspaper Rock, which is home to over 650 petroglyphs left behind by the Pueblo people hundreds of years ago. Contemplate the stories these symbols might tell, offering a glimpse into the lives and culture of the ancient inhabitants.Then, explore the awe-inspiring Jasper Forest and Crystal Forest trails, which offer intimate views of petrified wood scattered across the terrain.Finally, you’ll arrive at the Rainbow Forest Museum, which is located by the southern entrance of Petrified Forest National Park. Your tour will conclude here.
Highlights
- You'll explore the multicoloured badlands of the Painted Desert with spectacular panoramic views
- You can admire the Painted Desert Inn with its distinctive Pueblo Revival architecture and murals
- It includes ancient sites featuring over 650 petroglyphs left by Pueblo people centuries ago
- The tour features insights into the park's unique geology and its million-year-old fossilised trees
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Activity package
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Facilities
Free cancellation
mobile
3 hours
Available in English
What's included
- Audio-guided tour
- Map. Downloadable APP
- Digital guidebook
Not included
- Food and drinks
- Entrance fees
- Transportation
- Tour guide
Where you'll meet
This is a self-guided experience, not an entrance ticket. You can start the experience outside the Painted Desert Visitor Center.
Operated by
ACTION TOUR GUIDE
Important information
Know in advance:
* This isn't an entrance ticket for an attraction; it's a self-guided tour with no accompanying guide. The local tour operator's app serves as a guide, audio tour and map all in one
* New, Lifetime access, no expiry. Use it anytime, on any trip, as many times as you want
* Based on your location, the audio stories will play automatically. You can start listening at any time and pause at any point
* The tour requires a supported mobile device for navigation. Please use an iPhone with iOS 15 or later, an Android device with Android 9 or later, or an iPad/tablet with GPS and cellular service.