On my way from NM, I stopped at Petrified Forest National Park in Arizona and spent about 2 hours exploring the 28 mile park (mainly the Painted Desert and Crystal Forest areas).

After stopping at the Painted Desert Kachina Point look-out to get the overlook views, I traveled to Blue Mesa and Blue Forest, walking around with Bella and enjoying the sunshine. We then walked the Crystal Forest to view the petrified wood.

Petrified wood looks like precious gems in the sunshine. As the trees from long ago (that's a very scientific reference, just FYI) died or were knocked down by wind (boy is it windy!) or water, many were carried downstream and buried by layers of sediment. The logs soaked up groundwater and silica from volcanic ash and over time, crystalized into quartz. Different minerals created the rainbow of colors seen in my pictures (check out the album! and the videos!)