Tawa Trail, AZ

The Tawa Trail is a paved trail that runs 1.2 miles one way between Tawa Point and the Painted Desert Visitor Center.


Trail Features & Route Description
The trail starts (or ends, depending on direction) at Tawa Point, which is the starting point of the much more interesting Rim Trail. From Tawa Point, the paved trail traverses through grassland/desert plain, with interpretive signage in places, guiding you towards or away from the Painted Desert Visitor Center.The views along the trail end at the Painted Desert section. The trail itself doesn't traverse deep badlands; it gives distant views of these features. The scenery around the trail itself is unremarkable, consisting of desert scrub/grassland.

Trail Conditions & Useful Details
The surface is paved and flat, making it suitable for families and strollers.
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General Comments
This trail seems more like a route to get park service staff from the visitors center and parking area to the Painted Desert Inn than a route designed for tourists/visitors. Despite this, the National Park Service lists it on the Petrified Forest website, in the "Things to do" section, under hikes. We were not very impressed and would not have bothered with it had we known what it was. Your time and energy are better spent on any one of the other trails in the park.

Because of its location, it’s a great warm‐up or wind‐down hike — either starting your park visit here to acclimate or doing it as you depart, to soak in the landscape one more time.

2025-10-08 KingLeonidas