Blue Mesa Scenic Drive & Trail in Petrified Forest National Park

Blue Mesa is a colorful badlands section of Petrified Forest National Park with a three mile scenic drive and a one mile hiking trail. It is known for its stunning views of the Painted Desert.

Blue Mesa Scenic Road is a 3.5 mile round trip driving loop off the main north-south route through the park. The Blue Mesa trail pullout contains a covered picnic table and is located about two miles in.

The Blue Mesa trail is a 1.1 mile loop from the parking lot that travels through the badlands present in the area. Petrified wood is scattered around the area in addition to the trail’s views of the surrounding geological features. The trail starts out paved and descends to the canyon floor. where there is a .6 mile interpretive loop.