Blue Mesa is the most common place in Petrified Forest that I’ve seen talked about on social media. It has stark maroony, purple, and grey stripes that make for cool photos and surprisingly *really do* look like that in person.

After visiting the Agate Bridge and walking the Crystal Forest trail, we arrived here. There’s a pretty good parking area and people were cycling in and out of it constantly.

Like, how gorgeous is that?! And that’s not even what this trail is supposedly about haha. I was so overwhelmed with the scale. I could have stood there and traced the salty desert lines with my eyes for hours.

You’re led along yet another asphalt-paved trail for a mile-long loop – starting at the top with an amazing view of the salty desert badlands, then heading down into a valley where you’re surrounded by stripey cool-toned hills.

We were here a couple of weeks ago on a cloudy day, so I think we lucked out with pretty mild temperatures and a constant breeze. But there is no shade here whatsoever, so I can imagine that it becomes oppressively hot here in the summer.

I mentioned the internet popularity of this place before – it definitely lived up to that in-person and the trail was one of the most crowded we did in the park. Not enough that it was super annoying, but enough that I noticed it and we were nearly never alone.

Smol lizard buddy. 😉

Then we walked straight up hill on the windy asphalt path we came and admired this view onneee more time.

And just like that, we were onto the historic Painted Desert Inn… but not without a few tiny pit stops along the way.

Blue Mesa trail via AllTrails:
https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/arizona/blue-mesa-trail

More about Petrified Forest via the National Park Service:
https://www.nps.gov/pefo/index.htm