Activities For Dogs In Petrified Forest National Park

Although Petrified Forest National Park is absolutely beautiful every direction you look, it's also quite unforgiving. It can host days of over 100 degrees and can be brutally dry, so planning will be the key to comfort. There are several important areas throughout the park to check out, so you'll first want to identify which you'd like to see and how far you and your dog are willing to hike - much of which could depend on the weather/temperature. You'll also want to figure out which way you're entering the park as well, as there are attractions that can act as starting points on either end. We highly recommend the Agate House and Agate Bridge, Puerco Pueblo, Newspaper Rock and the Route 66 alignment, but you can put together your own list as you see fit.

To make sure you get the most out of your visit, it's best to map out what you'd like to see and when. Given the park's shape and layout, it's generally best to start at one end of the park and move to the other, either by car or on foot (or both), depending on the weather. Generally speaking, the Visitor's Center in the northern part of the park is the most comprehensive in terms of access and information, so we recommend that as a good place to start. Grab an analog map or look online to find the easily navigable digital one to keep track of things. Plus, if there is any further information you want on the park's attractions, both brochures and park rangers will be helpful in attaining the most accurate. (Hint: having the park's historic attraction list on your phone is also super helpful, as it doesn't waste paper but allows you access to information on each site that you can read as you visit).

Before you head out, make sure you double check the weather and outfit yourself with necessary supplies, many of which can be purchased in the gift shop if need be. Sunscreen and water are the two most important things to have, as well as a way to share the water with your dog. Once you've gotten your bearings and gathered your supplies, you can get started. Head to your first location (most likely Route 66 or the Painted Desert Inn) and start soaking up some history!

Before you just grab a tent and head out into the wilderness, there are things you should know and prepare beforehand. You should first decide how long you plan to stay and where you're able and interested to post up. Do yourself a favor by packing more supplies than necessary and trimming back once you get everything solidified. The necessities are a tent, sleeping bag (and comfortable bedding for your dog), food, water, sunscreen and first aid. Once you've got the basics, head into the main visitor's center to procure an overnight pass. Rangers will be able to direct you to areas you are allowed to camp as well as let you know where you can park your car overnight. It's a good idea to check the weather and temperature to ensure you'll have a tolerable stay overnight.

Once you've gotten your camping permit, supplies and information from the rangers, it's time to find a spot to camp. Before you head back out, consider asking for suggestions based on what type of area you'd like to be in or what you'd like to see. There are still restrictions on where you can go, but the rangers are experts on the park and can direct you based on your preference. Once you get an idea, you can mark a general location on your physical or digital map. Then, it's time to head out.

Once you've chosen your location and marked it, you can finally head out to it. It's always advised that you stay on developed paths as long as possible to preserve the natural integrity but it should be pretty obvious when that's no longer an option. If you do have a digital map you can drop markers on, head to the nearest parking lot (if there is one nearby) after properly parking your car at an appropriate off-site location (as the rules dictate, your camping spot must be at least 1-mile from two designated parking spots). Use these spots if available to drop pins/markers to use for proximity measurements before heading out. Once you find your spot, set up and arrange your gear and hunker down if it's late or drop a pin so you can find your spot again, grab your dog and go explore some more!

It would be rather purposeless to leave the house without all necessary supplies. While you don't need much, you will want basic dog-specific supplies to follow park rules (a leash and dog bags) as well as sunscreen, water and good walking or hiking shoes. You'll also want to get a GPS if you don't have a smartphone. If you do have a smartphone, there are several geocaching apps you can add, as well as EarthCache, which is similar but features no physical box or final location, but more so just requires another proof of visiting the site you discovered.

Once you've got your supplies in order, pay your fees and head into the park. For amateurs, stop in at a visitor's center and talk to the rangers about geocaching, as they may be able to provide further insight as to how to go about it or how to derive as much fun as possible from the activity.

Once you've gotten your supplies, bearings and basic info, it's time to cache in! Turn on your GPS or app and start hiking! Our best tip is not to keep your head down or glued to the screen too much. There is plenty to see and tons of space in between each location, so make sure you don't miss out on all the beautiful scenery by being too focused on the screen than the experience. Above all else, stay hydrated, keep your dog hydrated as well and have fun! If your dog has a good nose, see if they can find the cache with their nose alone!