The Blue Mesa Trail at Petrified Forest National Park is a 1 mile (1.6km) loop on a steep path that winds through vibrant blue, purple and gray badlands dotted with colorful petrified wood.
The Blue Mesa Trail
Badlands are a dry terrain where softer sedimentary rocks and clay-rich soils have been eroded extensively by wind and water. They are characterized by steep slopes and minimal vegetation; they commonly include canyons, ravines, gullies, buttes, mesas and hoodoos. They are often difficult to navigate by foot.
Luckily there is a paved walkway here that makes it easy to explore.
The Blue Mesa Trail
bands of blue, gray and purple
The Blue Mesa Trail
The Blue Mesa Trail
The striped slopes have a subdued palette.
blue bands
close-up of sediment
Blue Mesa Trail
From the higher elevations, I find great views of the surrounding area of Billing’s Gap and various washes.
view from top of Blue Mesa Trail to the surrounding area
Blue Mesa Trail
view from top of Blue Mesa Trail to the surrounding area
view from top of Blue Mesa Trail to the surrounding area
view from top of Blue Mesa Trail to the surrounding area
*Tuesday, May 15, 2018*
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On Sundays, I post about hikes or walks that I have taken in my travels; I may also post on other unrelated subjects. I will use these posts to participate in Jo’s Monday Walks or any other challenges that catch my fancy.
This post is in response to Jo’s Monday Walk: The Last Lap.
~ wander.essence ~ 
It seems to extend forever, Cathy! How hard it must have been on the feet and knees before the paved trail was built. It must have given you some good practise at ups and downs before the Camino. I can’t wait to read about your experiences on that. I know you said you wouldn’t do it diary style as that’s been done many times (and would take forever 🙂 ) but I’m sure there must be some impressions/thoughts coming up.
Thanks again for linking, Cathy. No post from me tomorrow. We loose our UK Internet (we had to give a month’s notice to our providers and Mick chose a random date, 19th 🙂 ) and I need to set up a new email address. That’s on my urgent list for today. Next Sunday we’ll be on our way. Hugs, darlin!
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All my walking out west certainly helped on the Camino, but now, after having done it, I’m convinced people can simply let the Camino train them. A person’s body adjusts quite quickly to long walks, even though it can be painful at first!
I’ll be posting my first Camino post on Wednesday. My intention was not to write about it diary-style, and I actually have some different intentions about it, but I’m not sure how I will approach the whole thing as of this moment. All I do know is that it will evolve slowly, as I’m ready, and as ideas come to the surface.
As for the link, I figured you wouldn’t be posting for a while, but I linked anyway just out of habit. Exciting! One more week. 🙂
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Looking forward to the Camino posts, though I felt I got a sneak preview on Facebook. I’ll be able to read posts on my phone till we’re there next week. Checked with ‘he who knows all’ 😃😃
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You probably know all you need to know about my Camino from my Instagram/Facebook posts. 🙂
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Hi Cathy. I was reading about the badlands of Dakota today. Are your photos of that area? I am interested to read your experiences of the Camigo too.
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Funny you mention Dakota, Suzanne, as I’m considering a road trip for 2019 that encompasses the Dakota badlands, but no, this area is from Arizona’s Petrified Forest National Park.
I will post my first post on the Camino on Wednesday. It has yet to be written. It will come out slowly but surely over the next months. 🙂 Thanks so much for asking about it. 🙂
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Those Badlands certainly look like inhospitable country whicever state they are in!
I’ll look forward to your Camino impressions. I imagine it had some intene moments. Finding the words could be tricky.
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You’re right, Suzanne. And there is a lot I can’t post because it’s too personal and and involves a close family member.
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I found northern Spain had a strange effect on me too. A lot of the time I was caught up in memories – well more stuff I’d forgotten about that came back there. Maybe you could say things like – ‘a strangely pensive day where I processed family stuff’ 🙂
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Where were you in northern Spain, Suzanne? I wonder if I was there too. I had quite a few days like you describe. Almost my whole walk, in fact. 🙂
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I was in Spain in the summer of 2012 for a short while. There is something about the light in northern Spain (kind of melancholic and shadowy) plus the intense religiosity of Catholicism that results in these kinds of thoughts I think. I touched on it briefly in a post about my Spanish travels that I linked to your blog earlier in the year – https://beinginnatureblog.wordpress.com/2018/08/24/dark-and-light-spain/
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Oh yes, Suzanne, I remember this wonderful post about your experience in Spain. There is certainly an intense religiosity of Catholicism throughout northern Spain, especially in the eastern part.
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I find this type of landscape fascinating. One day I hope to visit again.
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Me too. Did you go to Petrified Forest National Park? I’m thinking of going through the Dakotas next year, and stopping at the badlands there. 🙂
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We did. Not been to the Dakotas though.
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I’m thinking of a Dakotas road trip this spring or summer. 🙂
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Quite subdued colours here compared to some of the other places, but fascinating
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It was quite subdued, Pauline. I had seen pictures where Blue Mesa actually looked blue, but I had to concentrate hard to see the blue tones here!
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Definitely a blue/grey haze. I guess the colours will change with the light and time of day. But these photos are beautiful
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Thanks so much, Pauline. 🙂
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Such dramatic landscapes and so barren. Great photos, Cathy!
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That whole area seemed so barren, Carol! Thank you. 🙂
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When I view the photographs of your walking trails I realise how narrow my surroundings are. Years ago when we were on safari in Kenya it only took two days for my eyes to become accustomed to the wide spaces and from not being able to pick anything out I was able to see miles ahead and all around me. It was then I knew that all senses need to be stretched, eyes especially. However, not always possible. I would love another chance to see great vistas and scenery such as you have on your doorstep, but I doubt I shall now. My blogging friends must be my eyes now and I’m grateful that so many travel to such great places.
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Thank you, Mari, for your kind words. Actually, my daily surroundings are not nearly so scenic in northern Virginia, where I live, and I find them quite narrow as well. I had to push myself out of my comfort zone last May when I made this month-long trip to the Four Corners area in the southwest USA. It was quite an extensive trip. I wish I had these scenic vistas on my daily walks! I frankly am so bored by my walks here in Virginia that I’ve barely walked at all since I returned from my 799km walk across the Camino Frances in Spain! 🙂 I’m having trouble getting motivated at home.
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[…] The Blue Mesa Trail at Petrified Forest National Park […]
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These photos are a real study in quiet colors, very calming – I suppose the soft contrast and lots of horizontals contribute to that. There’s something about these very dry, open spaces that’s instantly relaxing. Very nice!
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You’re so right, Lynn. Very subtle. I was hoping, I guess, for something more dramatic. It was very relaxing here! 🙂
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This is probably my favourite of all your dry landscapes. And what poetry there is in names: “canyons, ravines, gullies, buttes, mesas, hoodoos.” I’d love walking this trail.
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Thanks so much, Meg. This was such a subdued landscape but very pretty to walk through. Thank you for coming along! 🙂
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