The Painted Desert was named by a Spanish expedition under Francisco Vázquez de Coronado during his 1540 quest to find the Seven Cities of Cibola.

Numerous layers of silicic volcanic ash occur in the Chinle and provide the silica for the petrified logs of the area.

Wind, water and soil erosion continue to change the face of the landscape by shifting sediment and exposing layers of the Chinle Formation.

An assortment of fossilized prehistoric plants and animals are found in the region, as well as ancient dinosaur tracks and evidence of early human habitation.

The Painted Desert extends roughly from Cameron–Tuba City southeast to past Holbrook and the Petrified Forest National Park.