Camels, a seasonal river and a 19th-century expedition are part of the rich history of a viewpoint above a Martian-looking landscape.
Whipple Point is a scenic cliff overlooking the Painted Desert in Petrified Forest National Park. The side of its otherworldly rock face glows with a reddish-pink hue, while the plateau is covered in low shrubs. Drive or climb to the table atop its flat peak and gaze into the distance for a picture-perfect vista of the undulating red landscape.
Consider how the terrain resembles what you might imagine seeing in a valley on Mars. Learn about the waterways that carved the valley through erosion and the history of camels in the region. The desert animals were brought here by retired military officer Edward F. Beale in the 19th century.
Take a relaxing break with water and snacks in these scenic surroundings. You can also have a picnic at the Chinde Point or Rainbow Forest shelters. Snap photos of the views, taking in surrounding highlights such as the Badlands of Chinle rock formations and the seasonal Lithodendron Wash river.
Sunrise and sunset lighting create particularly stunning landscapes, with soft illumination beaming golden rays onto the red rocks.
Note that the mesa was named for the Whipple Expedition of 1853. U.S. Army Lieutenant Amiel Whipple led a team that surveyed the region in the mid 1800s for a railroad route from western Arkansas to the Pacific Ocean. They recorded an account of the petrified wood that gives the park its name.
The park opens daily from morning until early evening. Bring sufficient water for hikes in this arid zone. Get a camping permit to experience this beauty outside the park’s daily operating hours.
Find Whipple Point toward the northern end of Petrified Forest National Park in the northeastern corner of Arizona. Purchase a day pass to the park or an annual parks system pass. Drive northeast from Phoenix for 216 miles (347 kilometers) to get to this Apache County landmark in 3 to 4 hours.
While in the area, see surrounding sights such as the Painted Desert Inn, Nizhoni Point and Tawa Point.
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