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Hike Onyx Bridge and Angel's Garden in Petrified Forest National Park, Arizona - Stav is Lost

Hike Onyx Bridge and Angel's Garden Petrified Forest National Park, AZ

Class 1 5.5 miles 600 gain 2-4 hrs Loop
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Google Maps marked Onyx Bridge incorrectly (as of January 2016). It's off by a solid quarter mile, and although they do point you to a fallen tree, the actual Onyx Bridge is much more interesting.

Jan 13, 2016 — Petrified Forest National Park is located within Arizona's Painted Desert, whose stunning overlooks of colorful hills make you want to explore the backcountry trails where countless fragments of petrified wood, dry washes, and color banded sand hills were otherworldly.

From the Painted Desert Inn (no, it's just a preserved historic inn and you can't sleep there) head down to the desert floor on a well-beaten trail. Hike directly north through the badlands. It doesn't matter if you don't follow any specific route since no trail exists. After some hiking, you'll reach Lithodendron Wash, a wide drainage that you can't mistake for anything else. Follow it east until it curves north. Head left into a narrow wash, easy to miss if you're not paying attention, as Lithodendron Wash curves away and to the east. This wash is really tempting to explore regardless of the destination. Once within the smaller wash, keep right and you'll begin to ascend a tiny bit before reaching Onyx Bridge at the top of the hills.

Continue southwest for a quarter mile to head over to Angel's Garden, an area highly concentrated with chopped up full trees. After finishing Angel's Garden, keep going south for about a quarter mile and check out Gregory's Stump.

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photo protector Heading down the trail from the Painted Desert Inn.
Heading down the trail from the Painted Desert Inn.
photo protector At the desert floor, just before the trail sort of starts to fade.
At the desert floor, just before the trail sort of starts to fade.
photo protector Along the way to the Lithodendron Wash, there's some cool rock formations.
Along the way to the Lithodendron Wash, there's some cool rock formations.
photo protector
photo protector The Lithodendron Wash, hard to miss. That being said, I did miss it my first time I was in Petrified Forest. It's just a lot farther than you'd think from the Painted Desert Inn.
The Lithodendron Wash, hard to miss. That being said, I did miss it my first time I was in Petrified Forest. It's just a lot farther than you'd think from the Painted Desert Inn.
photo protector When you get to the wash, turn right. Follow it as it curves left (after that butte in the distance).
When you get to the wash, turn right. Follow it as it curves left (after that butte in the distance).
photo protector Cool runoffs into the Lithodendron Wash.
Cool runoffs into the Lithodendron Wash.
photo protector After it swerves back right (after that butte on the left), keep an eye out for the small wash to the left.
After it swerves back right (after that butte on the left), keep an eye out for the small wash to the left.
photo protector Great colors on all the random hills.
Great colors on all the random hills.
photo protector
photo protector Cracked dirt on the banks of the Lithodendron Wash.
Cracked dirt on the banks of the Lithodendron Wash.
photo protector Entering the correct turnout wash from the Lithodendron Wash,
Entering the correct turnout wash from the Lithodendron Wash,
photo protector A big stump, pretty cool.
A big stump, pretty cool.
photo protector Onyx Bridge!
Onyx Bridge!
photo protector Onyx Bridge from a above.
Onyx Bridge from a above.
photo protector Some random overlapping big pieces of petrified wood.
Some random overlapping big pieces of petrified wood.
photo protector Crystals within a piece of wood.
Crystals within a piece of wood.
photo protector The
The "Onyx Bridge" that Google Maps thought was correct. It's neat, but not the intended tree.
photo protector Heading south toward Angel's Garden.
Heading south toward Angel's Garden.
photo protector
photo protector
photo protector Angel's Garden is full of petrified wood.
Angel's Garden is full of petrified wood.
photo protector You'll know you're there when there's a ton of it concentrated between two small washes.
You'll know you're there when there's a ton of it concentrated between two small washes.
photo protector A cut-up tree in almost perfect alignment.
A cut-up tree in almost perfect alignment.
photo protector Overlooking Angel's Garden on the way south.
Overlooking Angel's Garden on the way south.
photo protector Another random tree. This is located right near Gregory's Stump.
Another random tree. This is located right near Gregory's Stump.
photo protector Gregory's Stump!
Gregory's Stump!
photo protector
photo protector Footprints in the muddy Painted Desert.
Footprints in the muddy Painted Desert.
photo protector The Painted Desert Inn is up on top of that ridge in the distance.
The Painted Desert Inn is up on top of that ridge in the distance.
photo protector Enjoying the view. :)
Enjoying the view. :)
photo protector Panorama of the Painted Desert.
Panorama of the Painted Desert.

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DISCLAIMER: All activities you find on this site are dangerous. I am not responsible for anything you do in the outdoors. Please practice good ethics, and don't take any risks that put yourself or others in danger.