Storms along Park Road - Petrified Forest National Park

During our May 2015 visit to Petrified Forest National Park, several storms popped up. While the clouds provided striking shadows across the landscape, the wet weather also meant that we missed a few hiking opportunities. On the whole, it evened out.

Dark clouds overhead, sunshine in the distance

Gray skies couldn't mask the beauty of the badlands

Rain on The Flattops

Rain mutes the mesa colors at Lacey Point

Thunderstorms on the horizon

Rain and a rainbow from Newspaper Rock

Rain brackets Interstate 40

Virga: wisps of precipitation evaporating before reaching the ground

Water flowing in Lithodendron Wash

Rainbow over Interstate 40

Another day, another squall line

An entry fee of $10 per private vehicle is good for seven consecutive days. Other fee payment options include the America the Beautiful - National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands passes including the Annual Pass ($80), Senior Pass ($10 for lifetime), Access Pass (free with documented disability) and Military Annual Pass (free for active duty personnel).

The park website is http://www.nps.gov/pefo/index.htm.