The layers of different colors occur because of the manganese, iron and other minerals in the soil. The minerals were dissolved into the sandstone and clay soil, which were deposited throughout different geologic periods. You will see the hues of red, blue, green, grey and purple within the formations. The best time to view the colors are near sunset when the colors seem to become more vibrant.

Standing on the edge of a vast badlands landscape, a Spanish explorer is rumored to have named the area "El Desierto Pintado" (The Painted Desert) because the hills looked like they were painted with the colors of the sunset.

The Petrified Forest as well as the Painted Desert were millions of years in the making. In fact, geologists have deemed the park to have one of the best geologic and fossil records of the Late Triassic period in the world. In addition to providing a geological historical record (including fossils more than 225 million years old), included within the park’s boundaries are historical structures and archeological sites. Pictured is Agate Bridge, a complete unbroken log lying over a streambed.

The petrified wood located within the park and much of the surrounding region is made up of almost solid quartz. What forest visitors see today does not include stands of trees but rather rock logs scattered throughout the landscape. From the force of the geologic upheaval, occurring approximately 60 million years ago, the petrified logs were broken into segments.

Portions of the Painted Desert are located within Petrified Forest National Park. The Painted Desert is comprised of colorful mesas, buttes, and badlands. The desert stretches southeast from the Grand Canyon to the Petrified Forest National Park.

The Painted Desert takes its name from the multi-hued badlands of the Chinle Formation rocks that cover the Petrified Forest National Park. The Painted Desert is located in the northern portion of the park. The park's roadway system allows visitors to travel through the park from end to end without backtracking.

Winslow's Standin' on the Corner Park features a mural by John Pugh and a sculpture by Ron Adamson. The mural is based on the lyrics from The Eagles song "Take It Easy".

Some of the larger ruins within Homolovi Ruins State Park. The park now serves as a center of research for the late migration period of the Hopi from the 1200's to the late 1300's.

Many scenic areas are near Williams. A short distance from Williams are Homolovi Ruins State Park, Little Painted Desert County Park and Clear Creek.