The Giant Logs Trail in Petrified Forest is designed to be your one-stop hike in Petrified Forest National Park. If you have time to see only one thing, you can stop at the Rainbow Forest Museum and, without even moving your vehicle, walk to see the Giant Logs. This doesn’t mean that the hike is the best or the most impressive, but it does get you up close and personal with petrified wood – and said petrified wood is pretty neat to see!
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The other good thing about the Giant Logs Trail is that it is somewhat mobility-friendly. There are stairs along the way, not to mention steep grades, so some of it is not really wheelchair-friendly. But if you can go slowly and handle a few short stairs, it’s fine for strollers and non-wheeled mobility devices.
0.0 Giant Logs Trailhead (5,479ft.). The trailhead is located just right (north) of the Rainbow Forest Museum. Walk up the sidewalk on the right side of the museum to pass through a gate in a black fence. It’s likely this fence was one of many initiatives to protect the petrified wood from thieves (taking or moving petrified wood is illegal, but it’s been a problem for over a century). Almost immediately, you’ll come to the loop junction. (34.815301°, -109.865650°)
75ft. Loop Junction (5,482ft.). If you want the shortest hike possible, turn left here, then take a quick right to ascend the hill to Old Faithful, one of the largest and most complete logs in the area. However, to hike the trail, turn right here to begin ascending the loop. There isn’t too much petrified wood immediately, but don’t worry – there will be more later. (34.815306°, -109.865915°)
325ft. Spur to Mather Monument (5,493ft.). A short spur on the right takes you to a monument honoring Steven Mather, the first director of the National Park Service. Continue around the loop, passing many nice petrified logs. There are also a few views to the surrounding area (mostly grasslands). (34.815944°, -109.866182°)
0.15 Old Faithful Log area (5,511ft.). The log is on the left; it was named by an early park superintendent who wanted something in his park that was just as iconic as Old Faithful in Yellowstone. An official trail from here is a shortcut back to the museum. However, the trail continues in a loop. (34.815408°, -109.867207°)
0.17 Trail Junction (5,509ft.). A loop path turns right here, passing by a few more specimens of petrified wood. At the far end of the loop, an old trail may go off – this guide does not follow it, though you can guess what I did when I visited. The loop doubles back on itself and returns to the main trail a few feet from where you left it. (34.815284°, -109.867286°)
0.25 Return to the main path (5,506ft.). Turn right to complete the loop back to the Rainbow Forest Museum. This side of the path is steep with quite a few stairs. While there is petrified wood along much of the trail, I especially liked the specimens on this side of the loop. There are also some very nice views over the southern part of the park. If you know where to look, you might even spot Agate House, a reconstructed dwelling built of petrified logs. (34.815086°, -109.867392°)
0.4 Shortcut Trail junction (5,483ft.). Turning left here would take you back up to Old Faithful Log. Turn right, then take another right, to return to the trailhead and the parking area. (34.815219°, -109.866049°)
0.45 Giant Logs Trailhead (5,479ft.). (34.815301°, -109.865650°)
Short, sweet, and to the point – but you saw some really neat petrified wood!
Round Trip Trail Length: 0.4 miles (or less, depending on if you take the short cut to or from the Old Faithful Log)
Elevation Gain: 71ft. (5,476ft. to 5,511ft.)
Facilities: Restrooms, visitor services, and more are located in the Rainbow Forest Museum (don’t forget to look up to see the dinosaur skeleton!) The nearby “fountain” or “lodge” offers a small selection of snacks for sale.
Trail Notes: This was not my favorite trail in Petrified Forest. It was short, overused, and didn’t have the nicest specimens of petrified wood in my opinion. However, it is short and lets you see petrified wood – so if you’re short on time, it’s definitely worth doing! (And if you have a few extra minutes, the Long Logs Trail has even better specimens!) If you only want to do half of the loop, take the shortcut up to Old Faithful Log, then turn left and take the southern side of the loop back to the museum – the petrified wood is unquestionably better on this side than the northern side of the loop. The trail is paved, but it’s also not in the greatest shape (it looked like they were making improvements when I visited in November 2023). So be ready for cracked pavement and several sets of shallow stairs, especially on the southern side of the loop.
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Would I go 100 miles out of my way for this?
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GPS Coordinates for the Giant Logs Trail
Trailhead: 34.815301°, -109.865650° (34°48.91806′, -109°51.93900′ / 34°48’55.0836″, -109°51’56.3400″) (5,479ft.) (0.0)
Loop junction: 34.815306°, -109.865915° (34°48.91836′, -109°51.95490′ / 34°48’55.1016″, -109°51’57.2940″) (5,482ft.) (75ft.)
Spur to Mather Monument: 34.8159440°, -109.8661820° (34°48.95664′, -109°51.97092′ / 34°48’57.3984″, -109°51’58.2552″) (5,493ft.) (325ft.)
Old Faithful Log Area: 34.815408°, -109.867207° (34°48.92448′, -109°52.03242′ / 34°48’55.4688″, -109°52’01.9452″) (5,511ft.) (0.15)
Trail junction: 34.815284°, -109.867286° (34°48.91704′, -109°52.03716′ / 34°48’55.0224″, -109°52’02.2296″) (5,509ft.) (0.17)
Return to the main path: 34.815086°, -109.867392° (34°48.90516′, -109°52.04352′ / 34°48’54.3096″, -109°52’02.6112″) (5,506ft.) (0.25)
Shortcut trail junction: 34.815219°, -109.866049° (34°48.91314′, -109°51.96294′ / 34°48’54.7884″, -109°51’57.7764″) (5,483ft.) (0.4)
Return to the trailhead: 34.815301°, -109.865650° (34°48.91806′, -109°51.93900′ / 34°48’55.0836″, -109°51’56.3400″) (5,479ft.) (0.45)
The gpx file for the Giant Logs Trail can be downloaded – please note that this and the GPS Coordinates are for reference only and should not be used as a sole resource when hiking this trail.
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Interactive Trail Map
Getting to the Giant Logs Trailhead
The Giant Logs Trail begins beside the Rainbow Forest Museum, which is on the Main Park Road 2.3 miles north of the Southern Entrance Gate. Or, from the northern entrance of the park, take the Main Park Road 26.1 miles from the visitor center (5.8 miles south of the Crystal Forest).
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