Blue Mesa is truly a sight that must be seen to be believed. It looks more like the work of an artist’s paintbrush than natural geologic processes. Perhaps that is why the area surrounding it is called the Painted Desert. No visit to Arizona’s Petrified Forest National Park is complete without exploring the remarkable Blue Mesa. Drive the 3.5-mile (5.6-kilometre) loop trail around the mesa or hike into the badlands.
Admire the blue-hued bentonite clay that gives the area its distinctive look. Millions of years of geologic processes left behind the thickly banded deposits of blue, green, grey and purple mudstones that stretch out before you.
Hike for 1 mile (1.6 kilometres) on the loop through Blue Mesa. Find the trailhead at the Blue Mesa sun shelter. The alternatively paved and gravel trail takes you through the badland hills. The trail is very well maintained, but be aware that there is a steep grade at its start.
Begin on the mesa, which can be relatively cool and windy. Continue along the trail and descend below the rim, where it immediately becomes calmer and warmer. See petrified trees, which are 225 million years old, scattered alongside the trail. The Painted Desert was named by Coronado in 1540 for the multitude of colours he saw while passing through on his search for the Seven Cities of Cibola.
Visit the rest of the Painted Desert and Petrified Forest National Park. One of the best ways to explore the park is through its many hiking trails. To see its highlights, hike the Painted Desert Rim, Puerco Pueblo, Crystal Forest, Giant Logs, Long Logs and Agate House trails.
Be sure to bring plenty of water and sun protection along, as there is no shade except for the sun shelter near the trailhead. Blue Mesa is a visual spectacle in any conditions, but its colours are most brilliant after rainfall.
Interstate 40, paralleling the famous Historic Route 66, cuts through Petrified Forest National Park and the Painted Desert, almost bisecting it. Find Blue Mesa conveniently located just off the Petrified Forest Road that runs north and south through the park. You’ll find a small number of on-site parks at the trailhead.
