Jasper 1 Forest
JF Jasper Forest
2.5 miles (4 km) round trip Elevation change: approximately 100 ft (30.5 m)
GPS coordinates: Starting point: N 34º53’18.8” W 109º48’25.6” Eagle Nest Rock: N 34º53’51.4” W 109º48’10.5” This hike into Jasper Forest along an old 1930’s road is a nice stroll through an incredible garden of petrified wood. This area was originally called “First Forest” because it was the first collection of petrified wood that travelers encountered when they came by wagon from the Adamana train station. The road within Jasper Forest was added later for car traffic. After the road was closed it was allowed to erode away, but you can still follow its path if you look carefully for what remains of the gravel road bed. However, if you don’t find the road just follow the general route and enjoy Jasper Forest.
The road was constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corp in the mid-1930s. The road was closed in November of 1965 and replaced by the upper road to the present parking lot and overlook. You can still see
many of the original stone culverts lining the stamp old roadbed where it crosses a wash and other artifacts. Remember to leave everything where you find it. Jasper 5575 5550 Jasper Forest 6 Forest 2 5550 5525 5575 5550
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Jasper Forest 3
Park in the Jasper Forest Overlook parking lot (not along the side of the road). Walk to the east end of the parking lot (when facing the overlook from the parking lot, go to the right towards the main5525 park road). 1
Follow one of the gullies (you will probably see worn social trails) downhill. For your safety 5525 please do not walk on the Jasper Forest loop road because drivers may not be able to see you.
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Once the land flattens out a bit, go north and west to 5550 55003 5500 find the bed of the old road that takes you on an easy slope to the petrified wood deposit below the overlook. 4
Within a quarter mile (0.4 km), the road eventually veers to the right (north) towards the mesa and can be tricky to spot in places. Head towards the small butte.
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What is left of the road will lead you between a small i n
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a Keeping the mesa close to the right, walk along The road turns to the right, up one of the draws d side it until you walk inside the center of the mesa’s between the hills, and ends with a loop around a ampitheater. geological feature once called Eagle Nest Rock.
Eagle Nest Rock pre-1941 Current appearance 5525
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Return by retracing your route, or explore around the valley. Jasper Forest is one of the largest
deposits of petrified wood in the park. These petrified log segments were originally encased in the sandstone bluffs above the route, but thousands of years of erosion have sent them5525 tumbling down into the valley.
Unfortunately Eagle Nest Rock fell in January 1941 after a period of unusually heavy rains. However, you can still see the base in the
center of the loop.
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Things to Know About Off00 the Beaten Path Hikes Hiking off-trail offers the opportunity to enjoy this landscape beyond the experience of the average visitor. These “Off the 0.25
Beaten Path” hikes are suggested routes; not paved or maintained trails—although you may notice social paths or old road 5425
beds. All of the hikes require route-finding skills. Bring a compass and/or GPS tracking device. 5525
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The backcountry5525 of Petrified Forest National Park offers:
Please consider the following and plan accordingly: 5550
5450 • A semi-arid landscape with elevations over 5,500 ft (1,700 5450 You are responsible for your own safety.
m) with no water or shade. 0.5 5525 0.5 Some areas have little to no cell phone coverage. • No marked trails—route-finding skills are necessary. 5500
• Uneven5475 surfaces that may become impassable when wet.
Understand that you are heading5475 into a wild natural region.
The Tepees Pullout, east-side Tepees Pullout, The • Steep hills, narrow canyons, and crumbly surfaces. 5475 5550
Know your personal limits,5500 and of those in your party. • Temperatures that fluctuate widely (>100˚F/38˚C in
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summer and <32˚F/0˚C in winter). 5600 0.75 5600 5625 5600 (Starting Point) (Starting Wear appropriate shoes and sun protection. Bring food • Solitude and beauty.
and plenty of water (1 gal./person/day). 5575 5625 5575
Follow all park rules and regulations. 5575 5500 5525 5575 Onyx Bridge 5600 5525 Unless you have an overnight5550 Wilderness Area Permit, Trail Loop Mesa Blue
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Do not create rock cairns or trail markers. you are required to be5525 out of5575 the park by closing hours.
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5550 5600 5525 Backcountry camping must be one mile away from any
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backcountry5575 camping. 50
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Using This Guide 5525 5575
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5550 Lithodendron
WashThis book is a collaboration5525 of staff and volunteers who
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5500 have wandered these areas to find important landmarks and 5525 5500 5525 5475 5500 5550
beautiful vistas. The maps5575 provide the route to destinations. 5425
TheWilderness photos Boundary are references to help you find your way. 5475 5575
1 5575 5550 Remember to keep an eye5550 on the weather, find a landmark Miles 5575 near where you parked to stay orientated, and be sure to 5500 5450
Onyx5500 Bridge 5525 5600 drink plenty of water!
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5650 4 miles (6.4 km) round trip 5500 5550 5575
5600 5575 5600 5550 5575 5600 5600 3 5625 Elevation Change: 300 ft (91 m) 5700 5625
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5775 5600 5725 5625 5650 5625 5475 GPS coordinates North
5675 5675 Switch acks Trailhead: 5750 left of Inn 5675 (Starting Point)5825 achina Point 5550 5600 5800 Onyx Bridge: 35º6’31.0”N 109º47’32.1”W0 0.125 0.25 0.375 0.5 Miles Painted esert Inn 5675 The numbers on the map Kilometers in Pa 5700 Ma rk Ro a 5600 00.1 0.2 0.45875 0.65850 0.8 5850 d 5675 ± GPS coordinates are set in: correspond to the numbered Degreesº Minutes’ Seconds” photos. 3 Be sure to set your GPS in the appropriate format to prevent confusion. There may be a margin of error up to 30 meters for the listed coordinates. o ed F rest ifi N tr P Use the cancellation stamps found at e the Painted Desert Visitor Center, or P Rainbow Forest Museum to date your
T adventures! h rt e se stamp Painted De
5 Things to Know about Wilderness Areas The Leave No Trace Principles The Leave No Trace Principles are the bedrock of the Leave No Trace program. They provide guidance to enjoy our natural world in a sustainable way that avoids human-created impacts. These principles have been adapted to they can be applied in your backyard or your backcountry. The following are a selection from the Leave No Trace Seven Principles. © 1999 by the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics: www.LNT.org.
Plan Ahead and Prepare Leave What You Find • Know the regulations and special concerns for the area • Preserve the past: examine, but do not touch cultural or you’ll visit. historic structures and artifacts. • Prepare for extreme weather, hazards, and emergencies. • Leave rocks, plants and other natural objects as you find • Schedule your trip to avoid times of high use. them. • Visit in small groups when possible. Consider splitting • Avoid introducing or transporting non-native species. larger groups into smaller groups. • Do not build structures, furniture, or dig trenches. • Repackage food to minimize waste. • Use a map and compass to eliminate the use of marking paint, rock cairns or flagging. Respect Wildlife • Observe wildlife from a distance. Do not follow or approach them. Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces • Never feed animals. Feeding wildlife damages their • Durable surfaces include established trails and health, alters natural behaviors, and exposes them to campsites, rock, gravel, dry grasses or snow. predators and other dangers. • Protect riparian areas by camping at least 200 feet from • Protect wildlife and your food by storing rations and lakes and streams. trash securely. • Good campsites are found, not made. Altering a site is • Control pets at all times, or leave them at home. not necessary. • Avoid wildlife during sensitive times: mating, nesting, In popular areas: raising young, or winter. • Concentrate use on existing trails and campsites. • Walk single file in the middle of the trail, even when wet or muddy. Be Considerate of Other Visitors • Keep campsites small. Focus activity in areas where • Respect other visitors and protect the quality of their vegetation is absent. experience. • In pristine areas: • Be courteous. Yield to other users on the trail. • Disperse use to prevent the creation of campsites and • Step to the downhill side of the trail when encountering trails. pack stock. • Avoid places where impacts are just beginning. • Take breaks and camp away from trails and other visitors. • Let nature’s sounds prevail. Avoid loud voices and Dispose of Waste Properly noises. • Pack it in, pack it out. Inspect your campsite and rest areas for trash or spilled foods. Pack out all trash, leftover food and litter. Look what I found! • Deposit solid human waste in catholes dug 6 to 8 inches One of the marvelous deep, at least 200 feet from water, camp and trails. things about exploring Cover and disguise the cathole when finished. the Wilderness Areas is • Pack out toilet paper and hygiene products. finding all the unique artifacts. We cannot stress enough how of hikers before you and do not pick Petroglyphs are easily damaged by important it is to leave any fossils, up anything you find out on these even the softest touch. The oil on archeology artifacts (i.e. pottery hikes. Take a picture of the artifact, your hands will deteriorate the rock sherds and arrowheads), rocks, and one of the surrounding area, art. These ancient symbols cannot plants, or animals exactly where you and show these to a ranger so we be recovered once lost. found them. Much like a forensic can send a scientist to recover it. Be scientist at a crime scene, when careful not to post where you found Help us protect these awesome artifacts are removed or displaced, a these items online, because those resources for future explorers such wealth of information is lost about locations may encourage looters. as yourself! that item. Please join the millions Off the Beaten Path 6 Petrified Forest National Park 1 Park Rd, Box 2217 Petrified Forest, AZ 86028 www.nps.gov/pefo
These free apps will assist you while you venture through Petrified Forest National Park.
Chimani provides apps for specific iNaturalist offers a chance to National Parks, including Petrified become a citizen scientist! Take Forest! Features include: photos of flora and fauna with • GPS-enabled maps your device and upload. Find • Expert-written details on more out what that critter or flower is than 120 points of interest with in-depth descriptions. Most • Collect points and earn badges importantly, these records give for visiting parks and other biologists a way to track and points of interest monitor life in these ecosystems • And much, much more! with your help. Join the iNaturalist commuity today! *Be sure to download the features inside the app before heading in the park.
Both apps available on:
Sometimes going off the beaten path makes all the difference
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