Arizona · National Park trail

Giant Logs Trail Stop #7

in Arizona

Stop 7: Trace Fossils Examine the surface of the petrified log to your right. Ancient insects and other arthropods left their mark on this tree in the form of finger-width burrows. Footprints, tracks, burrows, borings, and feces left behind by prehistoric animals are called trace fossils.

Most fossils are remains from after the animal’s death. Trace fossils are remains from the animal’s life! They record the movements and activities of a living creature, helping researchers understand animal behavior of long-ago ecosystems.

This is certainly not the only log where you’ll see these distinctive marks. Look for them all along the trail and in the park beyond. Insect burrows highlighted red above. Look carefully! They can be tricky to spot.

States: Arizona
Trail type: National Park trail
Centroid nearest city: Flagstaff, AZ · 104 mi · ~3.0 hr drive
Centroid coords: 34.8154°, -109.8662°

About Petrified Forest National Park

National Park

This trail is inside Petrified Forest National Park, a national park managed by the U.S. National Park Service. Conditions, road status, trail closures, and reservation requirements are published on the park's NPS page — check it before driving in, especially in winter or during major weather events.

Entrance fee: $25 per vehicle (verify current rate on the park page). An America the Beautiful annual pass ($80) covers entrance to all NPS units.

Official NPS trail page: https://www.nps.gov/places/giant-logs-trail-stop-7.htm

Park homepage: https://www.nps.gov/pefo/index.htm

Plan your hike

Practical notes

Maps + permits: long-distance trails like this often require permits for through-hiking, backcountry camping, or specific sections (especially in National Parks). Check with the maintaining organisation listed above and the relevant land manager before booking travel.

Water + supplies: water sources vary seasonally on most U.S. trails. Carry a filter and consult current trail-condition reports — through-hiker journals (PCT-L, AT Reddit, etc.) and the maintaining organisation publish regular updates.

When to go: hiking seasons vary widely with elevation, latitude, and snowpack. Through-hikers traditionally start the AT in March-April (Springer northbound) and the PCT in late April (Campo northbound). High-elevation western trails (CDT, JMT, Wonderland) generally aren't passable until July.

If you've hiked Giant Logs Trail Stop #7 and have current notes (water sources, trail closures, permit changes), tell us at /contact — we update pages as we learn.