Blue Mesa in Petrified Forest National Park is an unforgettable stop in this Arizona National Park. We decided to stop at the park in en route from Missouri to Utah and I was not disappointed. I knew that this park doesn’t have the star-value of other parks, but in my opinion, it’s absolutely worth the visit. The top of the list, for us, is absolutely the Blue Mesa section.
The Blue Mesa Section of the Park
Blue Mesa in Petrified Forest National Park, is a section made up of a fairly large area of badlands and other crazy rock formations. To get to this section, you take the Blue Mesa Scenic Road which spurs of the main Petrified Forest Road to the east. Don’t worry, it’s clearly signed so you shouldn’t miss it! Plus, it’s just about a halfway point along Petrified Forest Road, so that should make it easy to find as well!
Blue Mesa Road is a short, 3.5-mile loop drive, but it packs a lot of wow into a small area. The drive takes you over a large section of mind-blowing badlands striped with different-colored striations. There are several overlook areas that you can pull over on and take the time to walk around the rim of these. Beyond the badlands, it seems like endless views of desert all the way to the horizon. This vastness is one of the things about the desert that makes my heart swoon. It seems that eventually the land and the sky just meet somewhere in the far off distance.
In addition to the vastness, I also love the shapes and colors of the desert. And the Blue Mesa section of this desert is no exception. In fact, I would call it exceptional! The array of colors here is wider, there are all kinds of wavy lines, textured, conical forms rise up from the ground. Desert plants are spotted all throughout adding pops of sage green and bright yellow. The views along this road are just unparalleled within the park. The loop drive meanders to the parking area of the Blue Mesa Trail. The views here are spectacular if you decide not to do the trail. But I have to say, they’re nothing compared to what you see when you take on this quick, easy trail.
Blue Mesa Trail – Our Favorite Hike in the Park
Blue Mesa Trail Quick Info
TRAIL LENGTH: This trail is a 1 mile loop trail.
TRAIL DIFFICULTY: This trail is relatively easy, but has a slightly moderate finished when you come up out of the badlands. All in all, I would classify the trail as easy.
TRAIL HIGHLIGHTS: The highlights of this trail are the blue-ish-purple striped badlands and chunks of petrified wood along the way are an added bonus.
TRAIL HOURS: When we visited, there were signs at the trailhead telling you to be back at your car by 6 pm. I’m not sure if this is permanent, but as of Oct. 2021, this was the case.
RECOMMENDED TRAIL SHOES: I love my Teva Hurricanes! They’re lightweight, cool and have spectacular grip!
Hitting the Trail
The Blue Mesa Trail starts off across the top of a small section of badlands and the interesting colors of the formations are visible almost immediately. The trail, though paved, is pretty narrow and a bit bumpy + gravely, so a really motivated parent could probably get a stroller down and back, but I don’t feel like it’s wide enough for a wheelchair. But I feel like any level of fitness could do this hike, it just might take longer for some to get back up the hill than others.
Before you get down into the valley, there are several overlook areas for you to take in the beauty from above. There are also a couple of benches along the path to sit and take it all in. Then, the path leads down to the base of the formations. At this point the trail leads to a loop that you can take either direction. We chose “the path of least resistance” and picked the direction that had fewer people on that side. Which meant we had half of the Blue Mesa loop to ourselves before we came across the people hiking from the opposite direction.
The beauty of the Blue Mesa Trail is absolutely in the amazing and vastly varied colors that make up the badlands. The funky shapes are amazing, but the striated mineral rainbow is what makes these formations unforgettable. From tans + taupes to pinks + grays and purples + blues. It’s so interesting to think of the time and the history that passed between each line.
Badlands, in general, are formed by torrential downpours that come infrequently, but powerfully, in typically dry areas like this desert. The water seeps down into the earth but drains via the path of least resistance which results in the seemingly random patterns that create the badlands you see all around the world. This process creates the shapes within the badlands and the rough, cracked, crepe-paper-like texture across the surface. If you fall in love with Blue Mesa, I highly recommend planning a trip out to Badlands National Park in South Dakota.
An added bonus beauty to the Blue Mesa badlands is that there are chunks of contrasting, brightly-colored petrified wood tucked in crevices and out in the open spaces. These were some of the first pieces we saw, and while they’re beautiful, if you’re coming from the north and pressed for time, don’t count these are the bits of petrified wood you see. Take the time to go to the Crystal Forest Trail.
Petrified Forest is absolutely a unique national park, and Blue Mesa is one of the highlights of the park. Its ease and beauty make it something to not be missed. I highly recommend taking the time to do the trail, but if you’re uninterested in the trail or pressed for time, at least drive the loop road. You truly won’t be sorry you took the time.
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