Travel Tails: Petrified Forest National Park (Arizona)

Last visit: 3/22/25

If you’re looking for a luxurious, pet-friendly stay-cation, let me tell you, this place was PAWSitively perfect! From comfy beds to tasty treats, this hotel knows how to treat its four-legged guests right. Here’s why I think you and your humans should check it out!

Park Overview:

• Location: Northeastern Arizona, along I-40

• Dog Rules: Pets allowed on all park trails and paved roads, but must stay on leash (6 ft max)

• Cost: $25 per vehicle, valid for 7 days (covers all passengers, including pups!)

• Amenities: Bark Park at the Painted Desert Visitor Center, water available seasonally

Dog-Friendly Highlights:

Here are a few of my favorite stops during my visit:

• Petrified Fur-Rest Bark Park – Located at the Painted Desert Visitor Center, this small fenced dog park was perfect for me to stretch my paws off leash before we explored.

• Tiponi Point – Stunning views of the Painted Desert. The name comes from the Hopi word tiiponi, which can mean a sacred badge of authority—often decorated with corn and other symbolic features.

• Pintado Point – From here, you can see landforms and mountains over 100 miles away. Talk about wide-open views!

• Nizhoni Point – At this overlook, we learned how artifacts, rock art, and structures show continuous human occupation for 13,000 years.

• Lacey Point – Named for Congressman John Fletcher Lacey (of the Lacey Act, which protects plants and wildlife). From here, you can spot Pintado Point and Pilot Rockies.

Cultural & Historical Notes

Before this land became a National Park, it was ranchland. Long before that, it was the traditional homeland of the Zuni, Pueblo, Hopi Tutskwa, and Diné Bikéyah peoples. Their connection to this painted desert landscape goes back thousands of years, and the park preserves traces of their presence through petroglyphs, archaeological sites, and artifacts.

Snow's Take

I think Petrified Forest might be the most dog-friendly National Park out there! Not only could I walk almost everywhere on leash, but I even had my own bark park to play in. My paws loved exploring the overlooks, and my humans loved soaking up all the desert views and history. If you’re road-tripping through Arizona with your pup, this stop is a must. Just pack extra water—desert hikes are no joke!