Petrified Forest Field Institute: Badlands and Mesas Archaeology

Archaeology-focused Exploration and Camping in the Petrified Forest Wilderness

September 20 @ 12:00 pm – September 21, 2025 @ 4:00 pm MST

Instructor: Jon Hardes

Known for its world-class Triassic paleontology and vast, photogenic landscapes, Petrified Forest National Park is one of the most outstanding destinations in the world. What is sometimes overlooked, however, is its rich archaeological record, spanning some 13,000 years of human presence in the area! Evidence of people in the Petrified Forest includes stunning rock art galleries, the remains of 900-year-old pueblo structures, artifacts representing the origins of farming and ceramics production in the desert southwest, spear points that were used to hunt now-extinct megafauna and much more.

Join Petrified Forest National Park’s Lead Archaeologist Jon Hardes (and additional park staff), for this one-of-a-kind guided archaeological experience into the park’s southern Wilderness area…the oldest designated Wilderness area in the National Park system. We will backpack through a maze of badlands and mesas, stopping and interpreting several unique and seldom-visited archaeological sites along the way, spending ample time at each site, while taking in the fantastic surroundings, before making our way to our overnight camping area.

Once camp is set up (please see Traveling and Camping in a Wilderness Area below), the evening will be yours to enjoy. Expect to be treated to the best sunset Arizona has to offer, followed by unparalleled night skies! The following day, we will continue our looping route back to our starting point, with more archaeological stops along the way.