10 Stops to see the Natural Wonders of Route 66
The Mother Road offers plenty of opportunities to stop and enjoy the view.
National Trust for Historic Preservation
Marianne Dhenin
Petrified Forest (2022-10-08) by Philip (outdoorPDK) via Flickr CC BY-NC-SA 2.0National Trust for Historic Preservation
While Route 66 is best known for its cultural landmarks and historic charm, travelers will also find wonders of the natural world at every bend.
Visit these seven sites along the historic route for breathtaking landscapes and opportunities to learn about the nation’s diverse flora and fauna.
1. Chain of Rocks Bridge view (Illinois-Missouri Border)
The historic Chain of Rocks Bridge, spanning the Mississippi River on the northern edge of St. Louis, Missouri, offers visitors a picturesque and accessible way to enjoy the riverfront.
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The bridge once carried Route 66 traffic but fell into disrepair after it was closed to motor traffic in 1970. It was saved from demolition, renovated, and repurposed as a cycling and pedestrian route in the 1990s.
Today, the bridge is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is a critical link in the Mississippi Greenway.
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2. Devil's Elbow Bridge view (Missouri)
The Devil’s Elbow Bridge, an iconic steel truss bridge along Route 66, spans the Big Piney River in southcentral Missouri. Constructed in 1923 as part of State Highway 14, the bridge was later incorporated into Route 66.
A major rehabilitation project restored the bridge in 2013 and helped it earn designation in the National Register of Historic Places.
Today, the bridge serves motor traffic and offers drivers striking views of the Big Piney River and the sharp turn or “devil’s elbow,” from which it derives its name.
Tucumcari Mountain (2016-01-16) by Rachel James via Flickr CC BY-NC-SA 2.0National Trust for Historic Preservation
3. Tucumcari Mountain (New Mexico)
Tucumcari Mountain, a mesa known for its distinct shape, stands just outside Tucumcari, New Mexico.
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The site has an odd modern history — famed geologists flocked to it in the 19th century, local leaders proposed opening a sanitorium for tuberculosis patients on it in the 1920s, and the National Park Service rejected a bid to grant it national park status in the 1960s.
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Today, travelers along Route 66 can view the mesa and stop into Tucumcari to hear more of its local lore.
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4. Petrified Forest National Park (Arizona)
Explore the surreal landscape of the Painted Desert alongside remnants of plants and animals from over 200 million years ago at the Petrified Forest National Park in northeastern Arizona.
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The park is most famous for its Triassic Period fossils, including its namesake fallen petrified trees. Today, these fossils mingle with a vibrant living ecosystem.
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Learn about the park’s ancient or modern flora and fauna at one of its labs, discover them for yourself using one of its many trails, or attend a cultural demonstration to learn about the art and culture of the area’s Indigenous Navajo and Apache peoples.
5. Meteor Crater (Arizona)
A massive nickel-iron meteorite struck the earth some fifty thousand years ago in what is today northern Arizona.
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Its impact formed Meteor Crater, also known as Barringer Crater, a remarkable impact site 3,900 feet in diameter, over 550 feet deep, and wrapped by a rim rising 148 feet above the surrounding plains.
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Visitors can view the crater from lookout points, join a guided rim tour, or go to the Barringer Discovery Center and Space Museum at this National Natural Landmark, hailed as one of the world’s best-preserved meteorite craters.
6. Bearizona Wildlife Park (Arizona)
In Williams, Arizona, a wildlife park named for some of its most memorable residents sprawls across 160 acres of pristine wilderness.
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Turn off Route 66 to enter Bearizona Wildlife Park, where you can walk through Ponderosa Pine forest and encounter rescued badgers, beavers, and prairie dogs. Or opt for the three-mile driving route to see bighorn sheep, bison, and bears—oh my!
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Bearizona provides a home for orphaned wildlife and champions conservation initiatives to fulfill its mission of promoting preservation and providing unforgettable educational experiences.
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7. The Mojave National Preserve (California)
The Mojave Desert, nestled among the southern Sierra Nevada Mountains and Transverse Ranges, is a must-see natural wonder that stretches across southeastern California and southwestern Nevada and extends into parts of Arizona and Utah.
Travelers heading west can stop at the Mojave National Preserve before reaching Route 66’s end point in Los Angeles, California.
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The 1.5-million-acre site offers a slew of outdoor recreational activities and opportunities to learn about the desert’s diverse ecosystems and the Indigenous Mohave people, who call the desert home.
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8. Meramec Cavern (Missouri)
Missouri's Meramec Cavern offers Route 66 road trippers an opportunity to dip below the Mother Road's surface and explore seven levels of striking mineral deposits. Visitors can take guided, well-lit tours of the cavern and learn about both the natural and social history of the site.
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9. Palo Duro Canyon State Park (Texas)
Not far from Amarillo, Palo Duro Canyon State Park is the gem of the Texas Panhandle. The park offers some of the most scenic views in the Lone Star State. Travelers can even ditch their car for a bit and embark on a horseback ride through the canyon.
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10. Painted Desert (Arizona)
The Painted Desert runs along the northern boundary of the aforementioned Petrified Forest National Park, so Route 66 road trippers can easily explore both destinations.
Painted Desert Community Complex by Dawn KishNational Trust for Historic Preservation
The desert owes its name to the vibrant and diverse hues of its mesas.
Route 66 merges some of the most kitschy and charming manmade sites in the U.S. with some of the country's most awe-inspiring natural landscapes. On a long, windy road trip, there's little reason not to make room for both.
Learn more about the National Trust for Historic Preservation's campaign to preserve Route 66, sign our petition to advocate for the Mother Road, and then share your Route 66 story with us.
Explore other stories on the Mother Road
8 Roadside Attractions Along Route 66
16 Places That Will Make You Want to Explore Route 66
Adapted by Tim O'Donnell from 7 Stops to See the Nation’s Natural Wonders on Route 66 by Marianne Dhenin.
Marianne Dhenin is an award-winning journalist and historian.
Tim O'Donnell is a former editor at Preservation magazine and freelance journalist who covers architecture and urban design.
This story is made possible by the generosity of David and Julia Uihlein.
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