Driving from Albuquerque to Phoenix
The drive from Albuquerque to Phoenix is full of national parks and natural wonders. We intentionally did this drive over one-and-a-half days. We started on the afternoon of the first day.
The first stop was the Church Rock hiking trail in Red Rock Park. It’s a relatively flat, 2.6 miles hike.
Church Rock
We stayed overnight at Gallup and the next day, our first stop was Tee Pee Trading Post.
Teepee Trading Post
At the next stop, Yellowhorse Trading Post We got Navajo fried bread, it tastes similar to Indian “bhatoora”. I would recommend trying it.
Yellowhorse Trading Post
Next, we entered Petrified Forest, National Park. There are several small hikes and stops here to check out. You can spend the full day here. First, the science, of petrification happens when silica sediments along with the water enter a log of wood. Over time, the wood piece starts to resemble an amalgam of wood and quartz stone. This park is full of petrified wood.
A view of the desert-like national park
And the drive
Petrified wood
Water level leaving a mark on the mountains
A closer look at the Petrified wood
There was petrified wood everywhere
Our last stop in the journey was the city of Sedona before reaching Phoenix.
A view of mountains from Sedona