How big is the painted desert?

The Painted Desert isn't a single, clearly defined area with set boundaries like a national park. It's more of a broad term for a colorful, arid landscape encompassing portions of northern Arizona.

Here's a breakdown of some key areas related to the Painted Desert:

* Petrified Forest National Park: This park is often considered the heart of the Painted Desert, spanning 220 square miles (570 square kilometers). It showcases colorful, eroded badlands, petrified logs, and ancient volcanic formations.

* Painted Desert Region: This broader region extends beyond the park's boundaries and includes areas like the Navajo Nation, where the Painted Desert extends for hundreds of miles.

So, while there's no official size for the entire Painted Desert, you can think of it as a vast, colorful landscape that includes Petrified Forest National Park and stretches far beyond its borders.