Parks Peaks & Paths

Meteor Crater reset the scale of the whole stop before the park even began, making the eastern Arizona landscape feel bigger and stranger right away.

Winslow gave the drive some humor and road-trip texture before the more ancient landscapes took over.

Giant Logs was the first close look at the petrified wood itself and a good introduction to how surreal the whole park feels.

Agate House showed how people once built directly with the stone around them, which made the human history feel tied to the geology rather than separate from it.

Blue Mesa was one of the most visually distinct walks, with those bentonite hills and colors that almost look painted on.

Newspaper Rock and Puerco Pueblo added the human timeline to a place already overflowing with geological time.

The Painted Desert Inn side of the park gave the stop a strong finish, with overlooks, old Route 66 traces, and the huge painted badlands beyond.