Blue Mesa Trailhead — Attraction in Four Corners States

This was by far my most favorite stop and walk out of petrified national forest park. Even from the parking lot I could tell by the views and the start of the walk that it would be amazing. You start on this amazing hill too and amazing surrounding views. It’s a pretty easy beautiful loop trail that loops you back to the parking lot, couple off spots that will lead up a couple of the cool hikes if you wanted too. The walk is about 1.5/2 miles walking. Form the beginning of the walk you start up a little bit higher and have amazing views all around, then you start to zig zag down the little hills and down into a “canyon” like thing and surrounded by the cool hills. It’s not officially a canyon but feels that way in a sense. The trail will bring you around in a small circle around and back up to the parking lot. The unique hills are multi colored and blew my mind again, really cool shaped and looking. There’s also a ton of the cool rock/logs throughout the walk. There’s even one that like on display and help up by something that really cool. At the bottom of the hills there’s a ton of the log/rocks that just look like rocks but if you look closer there a ton of small pieces of the petrified rocks! So cool. The drive here is just a small drive of the main petrified forest highway and again was my favorite and so worth the stop if you come here! After the trailhead there’s a cool overlook viewpoint a like 80 feet from the trailhead after you leave! Really cool to check that...

Blue Mesa is a vista point and trail head. The vista point overlooks the slate blue rock formations that gives the mesa it's name. The elevation of the vista point allows for views across a large swath of the north end of the Park.

The trail that leads down into the 'badlands' is a 1 mile (1.6 km) paved loop that drops down 100' (30 m) and twists among the blue rock formations. While the trail is well-paved, it is not recommended for wheelchairs due to the steep grades during the descent and ascent into and out of the badlands.

There are no facilities at this site. An interpretive sign provides more information about the area. A covered bench provides respite from the sun for party members who do not wish to descend the trail. RVs may be able to park at the trail head if there...

Top! Simply top! This is the highlight of the Petrified Forest National Park! Just park your car at the trailhead (be careful, available spaces are limited) and start your walk in the middle of the Blue Mesa. The trip takes about 20-30 minutes and is fairly easy and accessible, since all the trail is made of asphalt (maybe not the best choice in a natural park...): it will take you through many marvelous views that you will never forget. We visited in August 2022 and on that morning we were completely alone: no other person in sight for miles and miles. The sound of silence, the colors, the views and the light were truly amazing! It felt like being on an other planet! Great pieces of petrified wood as well, scattered over the trail. One of the best places I have...