Located on I-40 about midway between the New Mexico border and the mountain community of Flagstaff, Holbrook is Arizona's official Welcome Center. To the east of this historic town are the eerie lands that make up the Painted Desert and the Petrified Forest National Park. In January, Holbrook hosts the recreation of the Pony Express when the Hashknife Pony Express Riders carried the mail from Holbrook to Scottsdale. Be sure to visit the Navajo County Court-house/ Museum.
Things to do in Holbrook
Petrified Forest National Park / (Painted Desert)
Millions of years ago when the dinosaurs still roamed the earth, the tall trees that fell in the area rolled into a swamp and were buried under tons of mud, silt and volcanic ash. Instead of rotting, they were mineralized to rainbow-colored rock, also known as petrified wood. Today, much of the wood is still in massive logs. This is one of the world's largest concentrations of petrified wood. There are many easy loop walking paths to explore, plus a fascinating park museum. Also included in the park's 93,533 acres are the multi-hued badlands of the Chinle Formation known as the Painted Desert, historic structures, archeological sites and displays of 225 million-year-old fossils. Call 928-524-6228 for more information.