The Tepees

"Layers of Time. Exploring the Painted Desert Hills at Petrified Forest National Park We absolutely loved our stop at the Painted Desert hills inside Petrified Forest National Park. This spot looks like something straight out of a painting massive striped formations with surreal layers of red, gray, and purple clay that tell a story millions of years old. The views are wide open and stretch endlessly under the Arizona sky, giving you a real sense of how ancient and vast this landscape is. There’s a great viewpoint with an interpretive sign called “Buried in Time”, explaining how these colorful layers formed more than 225 million years ago. Each band represents a different era, created by floods, volcanic ash, and tropical forests that once covered this land. It’s incredible to think about how these hills have preserved Earth’s natural history for so long. The stop is easy to access with parking right next to the viewpoint, and you can take photos safely from the paved area no hiking required. The lighting is especially beautiful in the morning or late afternoon when the sun brings out every shade of red and gray. Highly recommended for photographers, geology lovers, and anyone looking for a moment of peace surrounded by one of the most unique desert landscapes in the U.S. 🌄📸"

"They are AMAZING nothing like it else where It really does look like a multi layered ice cream. Cost $25 to get into the petrified forest. Suggest combine visiting this with other sites like petrified wood and other sites. The Tepees were amazing. Do note the sun direction when taking photos or else everything will look black or lacking contrast. Leave enough time Park closes at 5:30pm I remember. Wasnt too many people that it wasnt manageable Was able get shots easily without waiting There is visitor center with bathrooms Things are well maintained I got my shots off the road I didnt walk in the trail to take the photos as it was too cold Pics look real nice off main road already!"

"Amazing painted rocks! The Tepees are the gateway to even more spectacular views that will come next. Just pull out on the side of the road and admire this spectacular nature!"

"Dated on Sunday, September 29th My mother and I cruised through Petrified Forest National Park to the end of it but we saw similar close to our home back in South Dakota. It’s Blue Mesa as “Blue Badlands.” It’s very similar to our home, Badlands National Park, SD! It’s worth a visit!"