Bike the Parks

Parks / Arizona

Petrified Forest National Park

Painted Desert vistas and a piece of old Route 66 on a quiet park road.

3/5
Worth bringing a bike

A low-traffic paved park road plus a few unpaved stretches, including a piece of old Route 66, make a pleasant half-day ride.

Riding here

Petrified Forest crosses the Painted Desert on a single paved road, with petrified logs, petroglyphs and badland colors along the way. It's an easy park to ride end to end, and it allows bikes on a few unpaved routes, including part of old Route 66 and the road to the Long Logs trailhead.

Where you can ride

Bikes and e-bikes may use the paved park roads and parking areas, plus a few unpaved routes: Old Route 66 from the main road to the east boundary fence, old Highway 180 in the Rainbow Forest area, the Long Logs Trail to its trailhead loop (about half a mile), and a trail from the Rainbow Forest Picnic Area to the base of the mesa (about a mile).

Where you can't

Bikes are not allowed on paved trails or anywhere off pavement other than those routes.

Rides

  • Main park road

    • Road
    • 28 mi one way, Painted Desert to Rainbow Forest
    • Paved
    • Moderate

    The park's only through road, linking the Painted Desert overlooks with the petrified wood areas in the south. Exposed and often windy.

    Start: Painted Desert Visitor Center (I-40 exit 311) or Rainbow Forest Museum

  • Old Route 66 alignment

    • Gravel
    • Main road to east boundary fence
    • Unpaved
    • Easy

    A short ride along the old highway's path, one of the few places to ride historic Route 66 in a national park.

    Start: Route 66 marker on the main park road

When to go

Spring and fall. Summer is hot and exposed; wind is common in spring.

Safety

Drivers are looking at the view, not at you. Carry water; there's no shade on the road.

E-bikes

E-bikes (working pedals, motor under 750 watts) may go wherever regular bikes can; using the motor without pedaling is barred except where cars are allowed.

Fees

Arriving by bike, you pay the park's individual (per-person) entrance fee, normally valid for 7 days, or ride in on an annual or America the Beautiful pass. Amounts change, so check the park's Fees & Passes page.

Rentals, tours and shuttles

  • Your bike shop hereSample listing

    This spot is for one rental shop, guide service or shuttle near Petrified Forest: your name, what you offer, and a link straight to your booking page, at the top of this section.

    Feature your shop on this page, free until spring 2027

Run a shop near Petrified Forest? Add it here.

Sources

Checked November 2026 against these sources. Rules, closures and fees change; confirm with the park before you ride.

  1. Bicycling — Petrified Forest National Park (NPS)

Edited by David Bussell. Spot something out of date? Tell us.

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