This Scenic National Park in the Painted Desert Has a 'Rainbow Forest'-and Route 66 Retro Vibes

"Petrified Forest National Park is best known for its plant and animal fossils that date to the Triassic Period, or the 'Dawn of the Dinosaurs.' The structures we see today are comprised of nearly solid quartz, and the impurities within the quartz result in a display of stunning colors."

"There are plenty of rare migratory birds that see our sparse number of trees as a much-needed resting place on their way, but some tree dwellers that are surprisingly more interesting than the birds are the largest rodent in the park: the porcupines."

"In the winter and spring, porcupines are easily seen high up in the branches, munching on buds. You can usually spot pronghorn, elk, mule deer, and the 'star of the show,' collared lizards, which make a regular appearance in the summer."

Petrified Forest National Park is notable for its plant and animal fossils from the Triassic Period and is the only national park with a section of Historic Route 66. The park features petrified logs formed from ancient trees buried in a river system 200 million years ago. Visitors can explore petroglyphs, hike in the backcountry, and observe wildlife, including rare migratory birds, porcupines, pronghorn, elk, mule deer, and collared lizards, especially during summer.

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