Extended Day Hike: Living with the Land

Instructor: Mike Campbell

For over ten thousand years, humans have inhabited the land that is today protected within Petrified Forest National Park. During that time, this area has been a crossroads of the Southwest. It’s no coincidence that prehistoric travel routes and Route 66 both traverse today’s parklands.

During this one-day field trip, you’ll learn how the land and environment influenced human history and culture at Petrified Forest National Park. The field trip consists of several sessions, including two moderately difficult hikes.

The first hike, about 2.5 miles round trip, will take us into the Painted Desert. The second hike, also about 2.5 miles round trip, will follow an abandoned roadbed that explores a dense collection of petrified logs called Jasper Forest.

Between the two hikes, we’ll stop at Puerco Pueblo, where partially excavated walls and other archaeological evidence tell the story of a village inhabited about seven hundred years ago.

Length: All day session
Morning Route: Out-and-back hike to Lithodendron Wash from Painted Desert Inn
Mid-Day Route: Puerco Pueblo
Afternoon Route: Jasper Forest Road
Max group size: 7 (solo instructor) or 9 (with co-instructor)

Cost:

• $119 – Non-Member
• $110 – Member

Registration Form

Class Notes

The hikes on this course are moderately difficult and cover some cross-country terrain. This field trip should only be undertaken only by those in good physical condition with past hiking experience.