Arizona · National Park trail

Giant Logs Trail Stop #9

in Arizona

Stop 9: Tap into the Past Note: image isn't working properly right now! As you round the bend, take a look at the massive log next to the trail. Roots and branches fall away from rotting trees, but this one still shows the stump of its taproot.

A taproot is a central, dominant, deep-anchoring root. A tree is more than its trunk. Fossilized cones, needles, and roots tell us as much about the ancient trees as the fossilized logs do. Fossilized cones tell us the trees were conifers, reproducing through seed-bearing cones, like a modern pine tree.

The taproot itself is also like some modern pines. Its purpose is to stabilize and nourish the tree during severe storms and drought. Nearly a dozen types of petrified wood have been formally described.

States: Arizona
Trail type: National Park trail
Centroid nearest city: Flagstaff, AZ · 104 mi · ~3.0 hr drive
Centroid coords: 34.8146°, -109.8667°

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-9.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 #9 and have current notes (water sources, trail closures, permit changes), tell us at /contact — we update pages as we learn.