Please note that masks may be required for classes while in enclosed areas, such as vehicles and buildings, based on local and regional health conditions.

  • Skip to content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Petrified Forest Field Institute

Learn - Explore - Discover

  • Home
  • Custom Trips
    • Guided Custom Trips
    • “Step-On” Bus Tours
  • Classes
  • Upcoming
  • Instructors
  • FAQs
  • Webcam
  • Interactive Map
  • Contact
    • General Contact Form
    • Class Registration
Loading Events

« All Events

  • This event has passed.

In the Land of Color: An Exploration of Petrified Forest’s Black Forest and Onyx Bridge

May 1, 2016 @ 9:00 am - 3:00 pm MST

  • « In the Land of Color: Exploring the Devil’s Playground
  • Extended Day Hike: Living with the Land »
Onyx Bridge | NPS Photo

Instructor: Christa Sadler

Petrified Forest National Park is known as one of the best records of Late Triassic paleontology and geology in the world; important new finds are being made regularly here. But the thing that always amazes people more than any other feature at the park is the incredible petrified wood that literally lies scattered across the landscape. The wood and the colored rocks tell an amazing story of ancient rivers flowing across  a supercontinent that stretched end to end on the globe.

Petrified Forest is also one of the most beautiful and fantastical landscapes anywhere! Join us on this half-day adventure in the Petrified Forest and Painted Desert, as we explore the park’s geology, paleontology, history, flora and fauna—and whatever other surprises we discover!

We will begin with a short introduction at the Painted Desert Visitor Center to learn about the park’s unique natural and cultural history. Following this, we will carpool to the Painted Desert Inn to begin our hike to Onyx Bridge in the Black Forest, an unusual deposit of petrified wood that has been colored black, and preserves several species of wood not found elsewhere in the park. Onyx Bridge is a 30-foot long section of petrified wood that has eroded out of the land and crosses a small drainage, creating a unique petrified log “bridge.”

The Black Forest is an exceptional area to explore the famous trees that give this park its name, as well as the processes that preserved them for us to see.

Schedule

  • Meeting time: 9:00 AM
  • Class will be over by 3:00 PM

Cost:

  • $119 – Non-Member
  • $100 – Member

Registration Form

 

Class Notes

  • Trail length: 4 miles, 300 foot elevation change one way
  • Difficulty: moderate; there is no constructed trail and the footing is sometimes scrambly and loose
  • Please wear sturdy shoes and sun and rain protection. Bring a lunch and at least two liters of water in a small daypack.
  • Other useful items: binoculars and camera, walking stick(s)

Maximum number of participants: 12
Minimum age of participants: 12 (must be accompanied by parent or guardian)

  • Google Calendar
  • iCalendar
  • Outlook 365
  • Outlook Live

Details

Date:
May 1, 2016
Time:
9:00 am - 3:00 pm MST
Event Categories:
Discovery, Ecology/Biology, Geology, Hiking, Paleontology
Event Tags:
Christa Sadler

Venue

Painted Desert Visitor Center
1 Park Road
Petrified Forest National Park, AZ 86028 United States
Phone:
(928) 524-6228 ext. 239
  • « In the Land of Color: Exploring the Devil’s Playground
  • Extended Day Hike: Living with the Land »

Primary Sidebar

Petrified Forest Field Institute

Petrified Forest Field Institute (PFFI) is a program of the official nonprofit park partner, the Petrified Forest Museum Association (PFMA). PFFI is proud to offer guided hiking tours exploring a variety of fun and compelling subjects led by world-class guides and field experts.

Newsletter

Stay up to date with park news. Unsubscribe at any time.

Hamsters spinning wheel...

Thank you for signing up!

  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Copyright © 2023 · Petrified Forest Field Institute · All Rights Reserved · Privacy Policy · Log in

Photos courtesy of Petrified Forest National Park unless stated otherwise.