Devil's Playground Loop

The Devil’s Playground Loop is a fantastic hike in Petrified Forest National Park that takes you to hoodoos, caves, a dry waterfall, and fields of petrified wood and crystals. This hike is a bit of everything that makes this park so unique. It’s a moderately difficult hike that’s suitable for most skill levels.

A wilderness permit is required to hike the Devil’s Playground Loop. Permits can be obtained from the north visitor center. You have to get your permit the day you plan to hike, and there are a limited number of permits available. Remember that taking any amount of petrified wood from the park is also strictly prohibited and is treated as theft. Don’t lift or move any of the fossils. Close inspection and photos are just fine! Lastly, this route can get hard to follow, especially around the loop. Bring a fully charged phone with a downloaded GPS route and plenty of water with you.

Beginning from the trailhead, the route crosses the wash and heads roughly north to where the loop begins. The trail prior to the loop has the best signage. Our route goes clockwise around the loop, taking a quick side trip to the dry waterfall. Keep an eye on your GPS as you round the loop, then retrace your steps once you get to the main trail again.