If you are looking for a fun and unique place to recreate nearby, visit the Petrified Forest National Park! Petrified Forest is a beautiful and safe place to get out and explore after feeling cooped up. Exercise has proven to be an excellent stress reliever and the park has a wide variety of wonderful trails and backcountry hiking opportunities for the entire family, dogs included! The park also celebrates being dog friendly by offering an official bark ranger program for canine visitors. The park is open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. MST daily (except Christmas day). The north park entrance is accessed via exit 311 off Interstate 40, one hour west of Gallup, N.M., and 30 minutes east of Holbrook. The south entrance is 30 minutes east of Holbrook via Highway 180. For those who like to visit the park often, consider purchasing the Petrified Forest Annual Pass. The pass is $45 for an entire year of unlimited visits. A seven-day entrance pass is $25 per vehicle. The National Park Service offers a variety of free and one-time pay passes. For more information on them, visit www.nps.gov/planyourvisit/passes.htm The following are 2021 fee free days for all National Parks: Jan. 18: Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr. April 17: First day of National Park Week. Aug. 4: One year anniversary of the Great American Outdoors Act. Aug. 25: National Park Service Birthday. Sept. 25: National Public Lands Day. Nov. 11: Veterans Day. Weekend guided hikes begin Jan. 8. Visit the park website www.nps.gov/pefo or our Facebook page to learn more. We hope to see you out on the trails!
