More than 200 million years ago, even before dinosaurs were roaming in Arizona, some trees fell into a river and were swept away until they reached calm swamp waters. They sunk to the bottom only to surface back in the form of multi-colored rock. The park has only one road – 28 miles from south to north. The south of the park has a high concentration of petrified wood.
![Petrified log](http://35.87.225.207/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/6R8C5815.jpg)
![So many colors](http://35.87.225.207/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/6R8C5821.jpg)
The Painted Desert region on the north side has very distinct multicolored clay hills.
![Painted Desert - Blue Mesa](http://35.87.225.207/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/6R8C5832.jpg)
![Painted Desert - Blue Mesa](http://35.87.225.207/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/6R8C5856.jpg)
![Painted Desert](http://35.87.225.207/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/6R8C5901.jpg)
Rain is heaviest from July to September and we experienced some of it and rainbows, so many rainbows!
![Rainbow after rain](http://35.87.225.207/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/6R8C5945.jpg)
![Painted Desert Inn](http://35.87.225.207/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/6R8C5965.jpg)
![Painted Desert colors](http://35.87.225.207/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/6R8C6045_mix.jpg)
![Painted Desert hills](http://35.87.225.207/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/6R8C6048.jpg)
![Orange desert rain](http://35.87.225.207/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/6R8C6123.jpg)
On the way to the park we had some yummy Indian fry bread โ deep-fried carbs, canโt get better than that.
![Indian Fry Bread truck stop on the way to Petrified Forest NP, AZ](http://35.87.225.207/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/6R8C5779.jpg)
![Indian Fry Bread truck stop on the way to Petrified Forest NP, AZ](http://35.87.225.207/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/6R8C5783.jpg)
![Another certification to look forward to :)](http://35.87.225.207/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/6R8C5786.jpg)
![Wigwam motel near Petrified Forest NP](http://35.87.225.207/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/6R8C6150.jpg)