Pefo Audio Tour North Stop 26 and South Stop 7, Petrified Forest National Park
Attractions in Arizona
Photo: Akos Kokai / CC BY 2.0
Part of Petrified Forest National Park
Near Petrified Forest Natl Pk, AZ in Arizona
What to Pack for Pefo Audio Tour North Stop 26 and South Stop 7, Petrified Forest National Park
Given these conditions, here's what to pack for a safe and comfortable visit.
The right gear turns potential problems into non-issues. Here's what Pefo Audio Tour North Stop 26 and South Stop 7 demands.
Essential
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Water (minimum 2L) — Dehydration impairs judgment and endurance long before you feel thirsty; 2L is the minimum for a moderate day hike.
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Navigation (map/GPS/compass) — Phone batteries die, cell service disappears, and trail signs get vandalized; a paper map and compass always work.
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Sun protection (sunglasses, sunscreen) — UV exposure intensifies at elevation and near reflective surfaces like water and snow; sunburn can happen in under 30 minutes.
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First aid kit — Blisters, cuts, and sprains happen on even the easiest trails; basic supplies let you treat problems before they force a retreat.
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Extra food — A wrong turn or unexpected storm can extend any outing by hours; extra calories prevent fatigue and poor decision-making.
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Headlamp with extra batteries — Trails that seem short in daylight can take twice as long with route-finding or elevation; a headlamp keeps you moving safely after dark.
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Fire starter — Hypothermia can set in even during summer at higher elevations; a reliable fire starter provides warmth and a signal for rescuers.
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Emergency shelter (space blanket) — A space blanket weighs under two ounces and reflects up to 90% of body heat, buying time in an unplanned overnight.
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Knife or multi-tool — From cutting cord to preparing food to improvising gear repairs, a knife is the most versatile tool you can carry.
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Extra clothing layer — Mountain weather can shift from sunshine to sleet within an hour; an extra layer prevents dangerous heat loss.
Wildlife Gear
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Hiking buddy (avoid solo) — Groups of three or more are almost never involved in serious bear incidents; larger groups make more noise and appear more intimidating.
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Noise maker — Clapping, whistling, or using an air horn warns wildlife of your approach, preventing surprise encounters on blind corners.
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Gaiters — Snake-proof gaiters provide a physical barrier against venomous bites below the knee, where most strikes occur.
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First-aid snakebite kit — While evacuation to a hospital is the priority, a snakebite kit helps you stay calm and follow proper first-aid protocols.
Climate Gear
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Layering system (wide temp swings) — Desert and mountain environments can swing 40+ degrees between dawn and midday; layers let you adapt without overheating or freezing.
Terrain Gear
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Wide-brim hat — A wide brim shades your face, ears, and neck simultaneously, reducing UV exposure and lowering heat stroke risk.
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Sunscreen SPF50+ — Reflected UV from water, sand, and snow can burn exposed skin even on overcast days; SPF50+ blocks 98% of UVB rays.
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Extra water (desert) — Desert water sources are unreliable and often seasonal; carry all the water you need rather than counting on finding more.
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SPF50 lip balm — Lips lack melanin and burn faster than other skin; cracked, sunburned lips at altitude are painful and slow to heal.
Seasonal Gear
- Spring: Camera, Wildflower field guide
- Fall: Camera, Binoculars (foliage viewing)
- Winter: Microspikes/traction devices
Activities & Best Time to Visit Pefo Audio Tour North Stop 26 and South Stop 7, Petrified Forest National Park
The Desert terrain here lends itself to a range of outdoor activities throughout the year.
Pefo Audio Tour North Stop 26 and South Stop 7 draws visitors for photography, but the 4 available activities mean there's more here than most expect.
Photographers rate this area 65/100, with Exceptional dark sky (Bortle 1-2) and 3 excellent meteor showers being a major draw.
Activities
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photography — Capture landscapes, wildlife, and changing light across trails, coastlines, and mountain vistas.
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picnicking — Spread a blanket, unpack a meal, and enjoy food outdoors surrounded by fresh air and open views.
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sightseeing — Take in scenic overlooks, landmarks, and natural features at a relaxed pace.
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walking — A simple way to explore trails, shorelines, and park paths at your own pace while taking in the scenery.
Best months: May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep
Terrain: Desert — Desert terrain features sparse vegetation, exposed soils, and wide temperature swings between day and night.
Wildlife Safety at Pefo Audio Tour North Stop 26 and South Stop 7, Petrified Forest National Park
While the wildlife here is part of the experience, some species require caution and preparation.
Awareness is the best safety tool at Pefo Audio Tour North Stop 26 and South Stop 7. Here are the wildlife considerations for this area.
- Mountain lions
- Venomous snakes
- Remote (161mi from city)
- Exceptional dark sky (Bortle 1-2)
- 3 excellent meteor showers
- Fall foliage
- Spring wildflowers
Venomous Snakes
Venomous snakes here include . They're most active during warm months.
- Watch where you step and place hands
- Stay on trails
- Wear boots and long pants in snake country
- Do not reach under rocks or logs
- If bitten: stay calm, immobilize limb, seek medical help immediately
- Do NOT: cut wound, suck venom, apply tourniquet, ice, or alcohol
Nature & Wildlife at Pefo Audio Tour North Stop 26 and South Stop 7, Petrified Forest National Park
The Desert terrain here supports a rich ecosystem worth noticing as you explore.
10 bird species have been documented near Pefo Audio Tour North Stop 26 and South Stop 7, alongside 9 mammals and a rich variety of native plants.
Wildflowers (5)
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golden mariposa lily — Bright yellow cup-shaped flowers with darker markings. -
Flaxflowered Ipomopsis — Slender stems with pale pink to lavender tubular flowers. -
Stansbury's Cliffrose — Evergreen shrub with finely divided gray-green leaves. -
Pinkflower Hedgehog Cactus — Spiny cylindrical stems forming clumps. -
Rose Heath — Low shrub with small evergreen leaves.
Shrubs (2)
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Fourwing Saltbush — A gray-green shrub with narrow leaves and papery four-winged seed bracts. -
tree cholla — Spines detach easily and cling to fur or clothing. The plant produces greenish to yellow flowers in spring.
Other Plants (5)
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Whipple Cholla
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Plains Pricklypear
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Desert Prince's Plume
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crispleaf buckwheat
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silverleaf nightshade
Mammals (9)
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Pronghorn — A slender tan-and-white ungulate with distinctive black facial markings. -
Mule Deer — A large deer with oversized mule-like ears and a black-tipped tail. -
Desert Cottontail — Gray-brown rabbit with large ears and white underside to tail. -
Coyote — A medium-sized canid with gray-brown fur and bushy tail tipped in black. -
White-tailed Antelope Squirrel — A small desert squirrel with tan fur and white stripe along sides.
Birds (10)
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Rock Pigeon — Blue-gray with two black wing bars -
Horned Lark — Pale brown with black facial mask -
Common Raven — Large all-black bird with shaggy throat -
Sagebrush Sparrow — Gray face with white eye ring -
American Kestrel — Rusty back
Reptiles (13)
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Eastern Collared Lizard — A colorful lizard with two black collar bands around the neck. -
Plateau Fence Lizard — A medium lizard with spiny scales and gray to brown coloration. -
Common Side-blotched Lizard — A small slender lizard with mottled brown or gray coloration. -
Gopher Snake — A large tan or yellowish snake with dark brown blotches along the back. -
Greater Short-horned Lizard — A stout-bodied lizard with short horns on the back of the head.
Amphibians (3)
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Great Plains Toad -
Mexican Spadefoot -
Couch's Spadefoot
Insects (4)
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Rough Harvester Ant -
Purslane Moth -
White-lined Sphinx -
Pallid-winged Grasshopper
Other Wildlife (1)
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Common Desert Centipede
Nature Bingo at Pefo Audio Tour North Stop 26 and South Stop 7, Petrified Forest National Park
Can you spot them all? Check off each species as you find it on your visit.
Wildlife Challenge
Botany Challenge
Pefo Audio Tour North Stop 26 and South Stop 7, Petrified Forest National Park Climate & Sun
For detailed planning, here's the climate data for this area.
The weather at Pefo Audio Tour North Stop 26 and South Stop 7 follows a Arid pattern — here's the monthly breakdown.
Climate type: Arid
Annual avg temp: 54.7°F
Annual precipitation: 9.6 in
With an average annual temperature of 54.7°F and 9.6 inches of precipitation, Pefo Audio Tour North Stop 26 and South Stop 7 has mild, arid conditions. Summer highs average around 76°F, while winter lows drop to 35°F.
Best months to visit: Apr, May, Jun, Aug, Sep, Oct.
| Month | Avg Temp | Precip |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 35°F | 0.7 in |
| Feb | 40°F | 0.6 in |
| Mar | 46°F | 0.7 in |
| Apr | 53°F | 0.4 in |
| May | 61°F | 0.4 in |
| Jun | 71°F | 0.2 in |
| Jul | 76°F | 1.6 in |
| Aug | 74°F | 1.6 in |
| Sep | 68°F | 1.0 in |
| Oct | 56°F | 0.9 in |
| Nov | 44°F | 0.7 in |
| Dec | 34°F | 0.8 in |
Daylight & Sun Times
Daylight ranges from 9.8 hours in winter to 14.5 hours in summer — a difference of 4.7 hours.
Summer: 5:04 AM – 7:33 PM
Winter: 7:19 AM – 5:09 PM
Pefo Audio Tour North Stop 26 and South Stop 7, Petrified Forest National Park Trip Planning & Access
Planning your trip to Pefo Audio Tour North Stop 26 and South Stop 7 — here's the practical information you'll need.
From Phoenix, Pefo Audio Tour North Stop 26 and South Stop 7 is a drive covering 161 miles.
Visitor Friendliness
This location rates likely_allowed for dogs, excellent for families, and highly_suitable for elderly visitors.
- Dogs: likely_allowed — No restrictions found
- Families: excellent
- Elderly: highly_suitable
- Strollers: excellent (100/100)
- Beginners: Perfect for beginners (Moderate difficulty (+5), Good information available (+5))
- Accessibility: Generally accessible to most visitors (90/100)
Places Near Pefo Audio Tour North Stop 26 and South Stop 7, Petrified Forest National Park
There's more to explore in this part of Arizona.
Here's what else is nearby if you want to expand your itinerary beyond Pefo Audio Tour North Stop 26 and South Stop 7.
Nearby Trails
- Crystal Forest Trail (N, 0mi), Petrified Forest National Park 2.7 mi
- Long Logs Trail (N, 0mi), Petrified Forest National Park 2.74 mi
- Agate House Trail (N, 0mi), Petrified Forest National Park 2.74 mi
- Giant Logs Trail (N, 0mi), Petrified Forest National Park 2.91 mi
- Rainbow Forest Sidewalk, Petrified Forest National Park 2.91 mi
Nearby Attractions
Stargazing & Night Sky at Pefo Audio Tour North Stop 26 and South Stop 7, Petrified Forest National Park
Once you're geared up and settled in, the night sky here offers its own rewards.
Pefo Audio Tour North Stop 26 and South Stop 7 sits under Bortle class 2 skies — Typical truly dark site for stargazing in Arizona.
Constellations
From Pefo Audio Tour North Stop 26 and South Stop 7, you can trace Ursa Minor, Cepheus across the sky on clear nights.
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Ursa Minor — Home to Polaris, the North Star, Ursa Minor forms a small dipper shape that circles the northern sky year-round. -
Cepheus — Cepheus appears as a faint house-shaped pattern near Polaris in the northern sky.
Meteor Showers
Time your visit around December 13-14 for the Geminids, the strongest meteor shower visible from this latitude.
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Geminids — peaks December 13-14 (excellent)One of the most reliable and active showers of the year; best viewed after 10 PM when Gemini rises higher in the sky.
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Quadrantids — peaks January 3-4 (excellent)This brief but intense shower peaks before dawn; early morning hours offer the best chance to see multiple meteors.
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Perseids — peaks August 11-13 (excellent)A summer favorite with warm nighttime viewing; look northeast after 10 PM.
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Eta Aquariids — peaks May 5-6 (good)Best seen before dawn in the southeastern sky as Aquarius rises.
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Delta Aquariids — peaks July 28-29 (fair)Best viewed after midnight when Aquarius is higher in the southern sky.
Planets
Planets visible to the naked eye from this location:
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Venus — The brightest planet, often called the Morning or Evening Star -
Jupiter — The largest planet, bright and steady in the night sky -
Saturn — Famous for its rings, visible as a golden steady light -
Mars — The Red Planet, recognizable by its reddish-orange hue
Equipment Guide
- Naked eye: Venus, Jupiter, Saturn, Mars, Mercury (with care)
- Binoculars: Jupiter moons, Uranus, Saturn rings (barely)
- Small telescope: Saturn rings, Jupiter bands, Mars surface features, Neptune
Viewing Tips
- Check planets rise/set times for your specific date
- Planets appear along the ecliptic (zodiac path)
- Planets don't twinkle like stars - steady light
- Venus and Jupiter are unmistakable - brightest objects after Moon
- Use a stargazing app to confirm planet positions
- Best viewing: when planet is highest in sky (transit)
Best Viewing Months
- Evening: Oct, Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb
- Morning: Jul, Aug, Sep
Seasonal Highlights at Pefo Audio Tour North Stop 26 and South Stop 7, Petrified Forest National Park
The sky isn't the only thing that changes with the seasons at Pefo Audio Tour North Stop 26 and South Stop 7.
Pefo Audio Tour North Stop 26 and South Stop 7 is a year-round destination, but each season has its own character and highlights.
Spring Wildflowers
Peak bloom: March - April
Check local park websites for bloom reports
Fall Foliage
Peak color: October 15 – November 5
Best trees for color: Maple, Oak, Aspen
Higher elevations peak 1-2 weeks earlier
Bird Migration
Spring peak: March - April
Fall peak: October - November
Best spots: Wetlands, coastlines, mountain ridges
Indigenous Land at Pefo Audio Tour North Stop 26 and South Stop 7, Petrified Forest National Park
This area sits on land with a deep human history that predates modern recreation.
The 3 Indigenous groups connected to this land include Diné Bikéyah, Pueblos, Shiwinna (Zuni).
Territories
Languages
Indigenous languages connected to this territory include Shiwi’ma Bena:we, Diné Bizaad.
Data from Native Land Digital
Pefo Audio Tour North Stop 26 and South Stop 7, Petrified Forest National Park Geology & Natural History
Beyond the trails and wildlife, Pefo Audio Tour North Stop 26 and South Stop 7 sits within a landscape shaped by millions of years of geological processes. Here's what researchers and surveys have documented about this area.
Bedrock Geology
- Rock Type
- Moenkopi Formation
- Formation
- Moenkopi Formation
- Lithology
- Major:{sandstone,mudstone}, Minor:{gypsum}
- Age
- Triassic
Fossils
- Fossil Occurrences
- 132
- Unique Species
- 51
- Oldest
- 246.7 million years ago
Mineral Deposits
- Deposit Sites
- 23
- Richness
- High
- Minerals Found
- Uranium, Sand and Gravel, Construction, Helium, Vanadium, Gypsum-Anhydrite, Halite, Semiprecious Gemstone
Endangered Species
- Species at Risk
- 1478
- ESA Endangered
- 29
- ESA Threatened
- 16
- Conservation Score
- 100/100
Temperature Records
- Record High
- 110°F (2007-07-10)
- Record Low
- -27°F (1971-01-06)
Wildfire History
This area has a relatively low wildfire risk, but always follow posted fire regulations.
- Recorded Fires
- 1
- Largest Fire
- OLD WOODRUFF (1.4 acres)
- Most Recent
- 2021
- Fire Risk
- Low
Caves & Karst Features
- Feature Types
- Evaporite rocks at or near the land surface in a dry climate, evaporite_basin
- Karst Score
- 40
Watershed
- Watershed
- Woodruff Lake-Little Colorado River
- Water Quality (Good)
- 0%
- Impaired
- 26.858%
Meteorite Landings
- Meteorites Found
- 1
- Largest
- Holbrook (220 kg)
Reported Phenomena
- UFO Sightings
- 4 (NUFORC)
- Eeriness Score
- 8/100
Pefo Audio Tour North Stop 26 and South Stop 7, Petrified Forest National Park Safety & Conditions
Before heading out, check these real-time safety resources for current conditions.
Check these official resources for current conditions at Pefo Audio Tour North Stop 26 and South Stop 7 before you go.
Coordinates: 34.832933, -109.819443