The badlands here don't whisper - they roar in color. Step out onto this 160-acre stretch of Painted Desert terrain and you're standing in the same geologic theater that draws visitors from across the world to Petrified Forest National Park, just two miles east. Except this is yours: no rangers, no visitor center hours, no trail restrictions. Just raw, undulating clay hills, ancient streambeds, and the kind of landscape that makes you want to grab a shovel and start digging for fossils the moment you arrive.

THE LAND

This parcel is actually four contiguous tracts (257, 258, 263, and 264) totaling 160 acres in Section 25 of Painted Desert Ranches, sitting at roughly 5,400 feet elevation with a gentle slope rolling down to the east. A seasonal streambed cuts through the eastern portion of the property, part of a wetland system that comes alive after rains and then quiets back down - adding a dynamic, ever-changing character to the terrain. The southwest corner holds a 3-acre mesa, a natural high point that would make an excellent build site or basecamp, with commanding views over the surrounding badlands and distant mountains to the south.

PUBLIC LAND & RECREATION

Public land wraps two sides of this property: BLM land borders to the east, and Arizona State Trust Land borders to the south. That means your 160 acres effectively connects to thousands of additional acres of land to roam, explore, and hunt for petrified wood and fossils without ever needing a neighbor's permission. With Petrified Forest National Park sitting just two miles to the east, you're in one of the most geologically rich corners of the entire Southwest.

ZONING & WHAT YOU CAN BUILD

The zoning is Agricultural-General, Navajo County's least restrictive classification, and there is no HOA or POA of any kind. You're free to build a conventional home, bring in a manufactured home, or go with an alternative structure - the county allows single-family dwellings of nearly any construction type, plus guest houses on qualifying lots. RV camping is permitted up to 30 days per year without a permit, or up to a year with a Temporary RV Permit, including during construction of a primary dwelling.

ACCESS

Access here calls for an honest conversation. Legal access runs via easements along all the property's boundary lines, which is the access route insured by title. Physically, maps show Driftwood Road approaching from the south, though sources disagree on exactly how close it gets to the parcel before the road peters out - some show it reaching the southern boundary, others show it stopping well short. There's also a two-track trail that runs west to east, passing a neighboring parcel before continuing toward this property's southwest corner near the mesa. That two-track isn't legal access, but it's a usable route in a pinch for the adventurous and properly equipped. Whichever way you approach, expect unmaintained dirt roads that can be impassable when wet, and a high-clearance or 4x4 vehicle is strongly recommended.

UTILITIES & NEARBY TOWNS

This is fully off-grid land: the nearest power line is about 1.3 miles south, and water would come from a private well (area wells typically run around 200 feet deep) or hauling. A septic system would handle wastewater. I-40 is just 1.3 miles south, putting you close to the interstate despite the remote feel of the terrain itself. Holbrook, with fuel and basic supplies, is about 14.5 miles away, and Winslow offers more substantial shopping roughly 53 minutes out.

CLIMATE

The region offers a true four-season high-desert climate: hot, sunny summers with highs in the upper 80s and lows in the mid-60s, and mild winters with highs near 45-49°F. Annual precipitation runs 9-11 inches, with the July-August monsoon bringing brief, dramatic rains that green up the desert and feed the property's seasonal streambed. With around 272 sunny days a year and low humidity, it's a comfortable climate for camping, building, and exploring most months of the year. Beyond the property line, Lyman Lake State Park (about 20 miles away) offers fishing and boating, and Sitgreaves National Forest is roughly an hour and 19 minutes southwest for cooler, forested terrain.

Pricing:

Cash price: $79,400

Owner financing: $20,000 down, then $1,099/month for 70 months (zero interest, total of $96,930)

At Ashbrook Land Company we perform extensive research into all of our properties before listing them, but it is ultimately the buyer's responsibility to perform their due diligence before purchase. The information provided on this page is, to the best of our knowledge, correct, and is deemed reliable but not guaranteed. All prospective buyers are encouraged to contact the county to confirm legality or feasibility of any future development plans. Rural, undeveloped land can be dangerous due to terrain, weather, and poor or non-existent road access and calls for caution when visiting. Ashbrook Land Company will not be held responsible for any action or outcomes by visitors to a property of ours. We make no warranties or representations about the land, its condition, or what can be built on the property. Property lines in photos and the LandID interactive map are approximate and for visual purposes only. GIS/aerial maps vary slightly from actual property boundaries.