Petrified Forest Field Institute: Exploring a Crazy Landscape

The Devil’s Playground: Exploring a Crazy Landscape October 31, 2025 @ 8:00 am – 5:00 pm MST Instructor: Christa Sadler Petrified Forest National Park is one of the most interesting landscapes in the world. Geologically, the deposits of petrified wood and colored rocks tell an incredible story of this region more than 200 million years ago. Ancient peoples have called this landscape home for hundreds of years and desert plants and animals have adapted beautifully to life in this arid region. Plus, Petrified Forest is also one of the most beautiful and fantastical landscapes anywhere! Join us on a day-long adventure in the unique and little-visited (and really bizarre!) Devil’s Playground area of the park, as we explore its geology, paleontology, history, flora and fauna—and whatever other surprises we discover! We will meet at the Painted Desert Visitor Center for a quick overview of the park’s unique environments and history. From here, we will carpool to the trailhead for the Devil’s Playground hike. High-clearance vehicles are recommended but not required, and four-wheel drive is not necessary. Devil’s Playground is only accessible to a few people every year and is an absolutely extraordinary landscape of strange eroded rock, hoodoos, and badlands. This 7 to 8-mile round trip hike takes us through colorful rock layers and petrified wood that make this an exceptional area to explore the nature of Petrified Forest National Park. Schedule Meeting time: 8:00 AM Class should be over by 5:00 PM Cost: $185 – Non-Member $150 – Member *Learn more at PFMA’s site