Operating Hours
Open year-round.

Visitation
Highest June-September; lowest October-May.

Permits
A free permit must be obtained for overnight wilderness camping. Permits are available at the Painted Desert Visitor Center or the Rainbow Forest Museum. Commercial photography requires a permit which must be obtained well in advance of your visit.

Visitors Center and Programs
Visitor Center: The Painted Desert Visitor Center presents an orientation film and provides visitor information. Painted Desert Inn National Historic Landmark is a museum with exhibits. Rainbow Forest Museum has exhibits of early reptiles, dinosaurs, and petrified wood.

Programs: Ranger talks and tours are scheduled mostly during the summer months. With advance notice the park has several programs for school groups. March - Archeology Month; Summer Solstice - Watch an ancient solar calendar at work. Programs are presented at Puerco Pueblo for a 2-week period around June 21, at 8:30 am.

Food Supplies and Concessions
Food/Supplies: At the north end of the park is the Cougar Cafe and a gas station with a travel store. The Rainbow Forest Store, at the south end of the park, has packaged foods and a soda fountain.

Concessions: Near the north entrance, Painted Desert Visitor Center sells books, postcards, posters, maps, slides and videos. There is a U.S. Post Office adjacent to the visitor center. Painted Desert Inn National Historic Landmark sells books. Near the south entrance, Rainbow Forest Store has a gift shop, and the Rainbow Forest Museum sells books.

Visitor Impact
The disturbance or removal of petrified wood or other features of the park is prohibited by law. Gift shops sell petrified wood that comes from private land, outside the park. No petrified wood is removed legally from the park.

Additional Information
The park closes when the road is unsafe due to snow or ice.