Located near the Eastern Arizona border, the Petrified Forest National Park features the world’s largest concentration of petrified wood, along with some very scenic drives that boast magnificent desert views. And although none of the trails are officially rated as wheelchair-accessible, some are at least partially doable for many slow walkers and wheelchair-users.

Desert Views & Wheelchair-Accessible Overlooks
It’s easy to take a driving tour of the park, and to be honest; you can see a good deal of it without ever getting out of your car. The whole drive takes about an hour, and there are plenty of places to stop along the way. There are two entrances -- one off Interstate 40 and another off Highway 180 -- so it’s easy to drive the 28-mile route, take the other exit and continue on along your way.

The drive is dotted with pullouts and overlooks, but one of the best desert views can be had at the Painted Desert Inn. Once a popular stop for weary Route 66 travelers, the inn is now a National Historic Landmark; however the overlook behind the inn is nicely wheelchair accessible. Just take the paved trail to the right of the adobe structure, for stunning views of the Painted Desert badlands.

And for a great driving tour through the desert, be sure and take the Blue Mesa Loop Drive. This 3.5-mile spur features spectacular views of the colorful badlands, several log falls and even some massive pedestal logs.

Petroglyphs Galore
Another must-do is the Puerco Pueblo trail, located near the north entrance. This .3-mile loop trail winds around the ruins of a 100-room pueblo, which dates back 700-1200 years. As an added bonus, the rocks along the south end of the trail are dotted with pertroglyphs.

Although the trail is paved, there are some cracks and uneven pavement along the way, so some wheelchair-users may need a little help. There is also a step up to one of the petroglyph viewing spots; however, you can easily see it without taking the step. All in all, it’s very interesting, and definitely worth a try.

Lots of Petrified Wood, Via an Accessible Trail
Of course, you can’t leave the Petrified Forest National Park without a close-up look at some petrified logs; and the best place to do that is that on the Giant Log Trail, just behind the Rainbow Forest Museum. Although it’s not rated as wheelchair-accessible, the first half-mile of this loop trail is doable, as it’s fairly level and devoid of steps. Additionally, it’s usually recommended by the rangers.

The Crystal Forest Trail, located just north of the museum, is also worth a try. Although the right side of the .75-mile loop is a bit of an uphill climb, the area to the left, (near the shade structure) is more wheelchair accessible. It’s level, paved and pretty close to some sizable petrified logs. Give it a try! Chances are, you’ll at least be able to access part of the trail and catch a glimpse at the remains of this ancient forest.

Candy Harrington is the editor of Emerging Horizons and the author of 101 Accessible Vacations; Travel Ideas for Wheelers and Slow Walkers. She blogs regularly about accessible travel issues at www.BarrierFreeTravels.com.

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