ARIZONA NEWS

Petrified Forest National Park trails, wilderness areas to reopen Friday

May 28, 2020, 7:32 AM | Updated: 8:10 am

(Flickr Photo/Martin LaBar)...

(Flickr Photo/Martin LaBar)

(Flickr Photo/Martin LaBar)

PHOENIX – Hiking enthusiasts, strap on your boots.

On Friday, Petrified Forest National Park will be re-opening park roads, trails and wilderness areas.

It will be a phased reopening with several facilities not fully open and no wilderness camping permits, according to a National Park Service press release on Wednesday.

“The staff at Petrified Forest are eager to welcome visitors back into their national park. Since the park’s closure we have been working on making improvements to visitor centers and gift shops to ensure visitors will have a safe and meaningful experience when they visit,” park Petrified Forest Superintendent Jeannine McElveen said in a statement.

The following facilities are scheduled to open in phases: Painted Desert Visitor Center, Painted Desert Inn National Historic Landmark, Rainbow Forest Museum, Painted Desert Diner and Gift Shop and Rainbow Forest Lodge.

The entrance fee for vehicles is $25, $20 for motorcycles and $15 for a biker or walker.

Only credit cards or America the Beautiful Passes are accepted.

There is some construction on the park road that could delay travel for up to 15 minutes.

Three bridges and sections of the road are being repaired and replaced as part of a $9.5 million project. Currently in the second phase, construction is expected to be finished in late June.

Guests are asked to follow local heath orders and socially distance while walking and hiking to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released guidelines to help mitigate the risk.

We want to hear from you.

Have a story idea or tip? Pass it along to the KTAR News team here.

Arizona News

Peoria Police department...

Roxanne De La Rosa

Peoria police search for vandals who caused $30-40K worth of park damage

The Peoria Police Department is asking the public for help in finding the suspect responsible for vandalizing and causing tens of thousands of dollars of damage to a local park.

56 minutes ago

Phoenix-Pittsburgh nonstop flight offered through Allegiant...

Serena O'Sullivan

Fly high: Phoenix travelers getting new nonstop flight option for Pittsburgh through Allegiant

Planning a business trip? You can now book a Phoenix-Pittsburgh nonstop flight through Allegiant at Sky Harbor International Airport.

2 hours ago

fentanyl pills, fentanyl bust Phoenix...

Roxanne De La Rosa

Phoenix man charged after police seized 100,000 fentanyl pills

A man in Phoenix was pulled over by police during a routine traffic stop, which led to the seizure of about 100,000 blue fentanyl pills.

3 hours ago

Thomas Galvin AZ Political Podcast...

Jim Sharpe

AZ Political Podcast: Thomas Galvin on public funding for sports teams, speed of election results

On this week's edition of AZ Political Podcast, Thomas Galvin discusses public funding for sports teams and how election results can be sped up.

4 hours ago

US 60 between Superior and Miami will be closed until Friday due to blasting work that was performe...

David Veenstra

US 60 between Superior, Miami reopens following blasting

US 60 between Superior and Miami has reopened following blasting work that was performed in the area.

5 hours ago

Maricopa County 1 of 4 pharmacists sentenced for fraud...

Serena O'Sullivan

Maricopa County pharmacist among 4 sentenced in fraud conspiracy

A Maricopa County pharmacist named Raef Hamaed was one of four pharmacists sentenced for their roles in a $13 million conspiracy, officials said.

6 hours ago

Sponsored Articles

...

Asset Preservation Wealth & Tax

How to optimize the most money in 2024 tax returns

As tax season begins, getting your financials in order is important to maximize your tax return.

...

Bright Wealth Management

How IRAs are a helpful tool in retirement planning

When it comes to retirement planning, individual retirement accounts (IRAs) can be a great tool for income growth.

...

Schwartz Laser Eye Center

Don’t miss the action with this game-changing procedure

PHOENIX -- The clear lens exchange procedure has emerged as a popular alternative to LASIK eye surgery.

Petrified Forest National Park trails, wilderness areas to reopen Friday