Blue Mesa, Petrified Forest National Park, AZ

 Blue Mesa in the Petrified Forest National Park

    So. Much. YES! As I said in a previous post, Michael and I rented an SUV to drive from The Grand Canyon to New Mexico.  We planned to stop along the way and take in all the new (to us) and beautiful views we found along the way.  If you ever have the chance--DO NOT pass up visiting the Petrified Forest National Park.  The drive from Mather Campground to Santa Fe is about 7 hours, but this was such an easy stop because it is not far from the highway and you can drive the entire park within in hour and take your time getting good pictures.  It costs $25 to enter the park and they ask that you please not take any of the petrified wood with you to preserve the park to the best of their ability.  However, if you want to purchase some petrified wood, there is a gift shop a the entrance of the park and at other gift shops close by.  

    There are many places to stop in the National Park, but I will talk about the specific places we decided to park, walk, and take pictures.  But it should be noted there is more to see than what I will be discussing!  We first stopped at the Crystal Forest, which is only .75 miles total.  This trail was given its name due to the crystals found in the petrified logs.  It was a really impressive trail to walk because you were able to see up close the petrified wood deposits.  I think what was the most wild to me was remembering that these wood deposits had been here since the time of the dinosaurs.  These log deposits took over a few million years to become the way they did.  Originally, these logs started as fallen trees and were washed down a river and buried under layers of mud, dirt, and other minerals that crystalized within the wood's cellular structure.  The effect was that a hard, stone-like material formed, known as petrified wood.  What's cool is that even though it feels as hard as stone, its remained in the original structure of a tree.            

Isn't nature cool?  

    Next up is Agate Bridge.  This was the longest petrified log we saw at Agate Mesa forming a "bridge".  It is 100' in length and 4' in diameter.  At one point in time people used to be able to stand on the bridge, but that is not longer allowed for fear of collapse.  Concrete beams were put in place in 1917 to keep it standing and are still there today.    

 

    Finally, the main, and my favorite, event--the Blue Mesa!  This loop is 1 mile long and completely breath taking.  Perhaps I'm partial since it contains my favorite color 💙 , but I never knew that rock and soil formations could form such intricate and beautiful colors.  It is a truly unique view and experience.  Numerous plant and animal fossils have been found by paleontologists in the sedimentary layers of the Blue Mesa.  10/10 recommend taking the time to stop, enjoy nature, and take some pictures!