Exploring the state’s rugged terrain offers a unique opportunity to discover petrified wood, a fossilized treasure from ancient forests. With the right tips, you’ll be ready to embark on your own adventure and uncover these fascinating remnants of prehistoric life.

Knowing where to look and what to expect will increase your chances of spotting these remarkable pieces scattered across this great state’s terrain!

Petrified wood you can find in the US

In the United States, several types of petrified wood can be found, each with unique characteristics based on the original tree species and the minerals involved in the fossilization process. Here are some of the types you’ll be able to find.

Araucarioxylon

Found in the Petrified Forest National Park in Arizona, this is one of the most famous types of petrified wood. It comes from an extinct species of conifer. As Arizona’s state fossil, Araucarioxylon holds a special place in the state’s natural history.

These trees once formed vast forests during the Late Triassic period, about 225 million years ago. The vibrant colors in this petrified wood come from minerals that replaced the original tree material over time.

Metasequoia

Often referred to as dawn redwood, this type of petrified wood can be found in various parts of the U.S., including the Pacific Northwest. Metasequoia was once thought to be extinct until living trees were later discovered in China.

Furthermore, its fine grain and reddish-brown color are characteristic features.

Palmoxylon

This petrified wood originates from palm trees and is often found in the Gulf Coast states like Texas and Louisiana. Recognized as the state stone of Texas, Palmoxylon is abundant and holds cultural significance.

The wood’s unique speckled or dotted pattern comes from the vascular bundles of the original palm tree. These fossils date back to the Cretaceous period, when the area was tropical and teeming with life.

Taxodium

Also known as bald cypress, this petrified wood can be found in the southeastern U.S., particularly in areas that were once swampy. Taxodium wood is often found in places that were ancient swamps, where these trees thrived millions of years ago.

The wood is durable and shows intricate grain patterns, with growth rings and knotholes that tell the story of its long history. It’s a fascinating glimpse into the wet environments that once dominated the Southeast.

Sequoioxylon

Petrified wood from ancient sequoia trees, found in places like California, where sequoia forests once thrived. These trees are the ancestors of the giant sequoias that still stand in California today.

The petrified wood is notable for its large, straight grain and reddish color, reflecting the immense size and age of the original trees.

Ginkgoxylon

Petrified wood from ancient ginkgo trees, which can sometimes be found in states like Oregon and Washington. Ginkgo is one of the oldest tree species on Earth, with fossils dating back over 200 million years.

Ginkgo petrified wood often has a light color and may show patterns similar to the fan-shaped leaves of the living ginkgo.

Dicotyledonous Wood

Found across various states, this type of petrified wood comes from broadleaf trees, making it more common and varied in appearance. You can spot dicotyledonous wood by the distinct vessels and growth rings that indicate seasonal changes.

This type of petrified wood is often found in regions that were once temperate forests, offering clues about the diverse plant life that existed millions of years ago.

Piceoxylon

Petrified wood from ancient spruce trees, commonly found in areas like Wyoming and Montana, where coniferous forests once thrived. Piceoxylon is known for its straight grain and pale color, often showing growth rings that tell the tree’s life story.

These trees were part of the ancient boreal forests that covered large parts of North America during cooler periods.

A Quick Request About Collecting

What Rough Petrified Wood Looks Like

Most of the photos you find of petrified wood are pieces that have been cut and polished. That is certainly useful but isn’t super helpful once you are out in the field. This is what you should look out for once you start hunting:

Exteriors like this

Every type of petrified wood has a different exterior and pattern but this is a good starting point on what to look for.

Texture and grain patterns

One of the most distinctive features to look for is the texture and grain patterns. Petrified wood often retains the original structure of the tree, including the grain, knots, and even growth rings. These patterns can appear similar to modern wood but are typically more rigid and fossilized.

Examine the surface for any linear patterns or striations that indicate the original wood grain. The texture may feel smoother or more polished in certain areas where mineralization has created a glassy effect.

Coloration and mineralization

The color of petrified wood can vary significantly due to the minerals that replaced the organic material during the fossilization process. Common colors include shades of brown, red, yellow, orange, and black.

Some pieces might even exhibit multiple colors in intricate patterns. These colors are often more vivid and diverse than those found in regular rocks. When inspecting potential petrified wood, look for these distinct and varied hues, which can indicate the presence of different minerals such as silica, iron, manganese, and others that contributed to the petrification process.

Bark and exterior features

Another telltale sign of petrified wood is the presence of bark impressions or external textures that resemble tree bark. These features are often well-preserved and can include the rough, fibrous texture of bark, knots, or other surface irregularities typical of natural wood.

The exterior of rough petrified wood may also have a weathered appearance, with cracks and fractures that occurred as the wood fossilized over millions of years. Look closely for these natural wood features, as they can be a strong indicator that you have found a piece of petrified wood.

Weight and density

Petrified wood is typically much heavier and denser than regular wood due to the mineralization process. When rockhounding, pick up the specimen to feel its weight. Even small pieces of petrified wood will feel significantly heavier than an equivalent-sized piece of non-fossilized wood.

This increased density is due to the replacement of organic material with minerals, making petrified wood feel more like a rock than wood. Comparing the weight and density of your find with known samples of petrified wood can help confirm its authenticity.

General Areas To Try First

Before we get into the specific places you should be looking we wanted to give you some more general advice. Once you get to your hunting area you should head straight for these areas if you want to have the best results:

Lakeshores

Lakeshores are like natural garbage cans because all things wash up and get left there over time. That includes wood that has turned to stone. As the water rises and falls, it carries sediment and rocks. It also takes the fossilized remains of trees from long ago.

Most lakeshores have a variety of rocks and minerals, which makes them an excellent place for petrified wood to grow and thrive. You’ll find a nice mix of sedimentary and volcanic rocks, the best sites for preserving wood fossils.

Roadcuts

When building roads, parts of the ground are often cut away to make a smooth path. The magic happens when the road cuts through layers of rock and soil. Petrified wood is often buried deep underground, and roadcuts let us see these underground wonders.

As workers blast through the rock layers, they accidentally find petrified wood that has been there for hundreds of years. Petrified wood is easy for collectors to spot because the exposed rock layers of roadcuts make it easy to see its unique patterns and colors.

Streams and creeks

Streams and creeks can move loose sediment away, which can reveal old wood that has turned to stone. As the water moves around, it exposes small pieces or even more significant amounts of petrified wood that have settled on the streambed.

Streams and creeks are more accessible for collectors because they are not as big. You can easily walk along their banks, jump from rock to rock, and look for petrified wood at the water’s edge.

River beds

Riverbeds are excellent for finding petrified wood due to their unique geological and environmental conditions. Rapid burial by sediments like sand, silt, and mud protects fallen trees from decay, initiating the fossilization process.

Mineral-rich waters flowing through rivers facilitate the replacement of organic material with minerals such as silica, turning wood into stone. Over time, erosion exposes these buried treasures, making them accessible for discovery.

This dynamic environment, with constant sediment deposition and mineral infiltration, creates ideal conditions for the formation and eventual exposure of petrified wood.

The tools every petrified wood hunter will need

When you're out looking for petrified wood having the right tools for the job is really going to make or break your success. You don't need a lot for most trips but there are a handful that are critical and will make your life a lot easier.

We get asked a lot about the equipment we use. Over the years we've found a handful of tools that we recommend to both new and experienced petrified wood hunters which we outline in great detail in our complete rockhounding tools and kit guide. These are quality options that also happen to be relatively inexpensive.

Below are the basic tools that make your life so much easier and save you a ton of time. Check out the full guide to see everything we recommend bringing. One quick note, as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases but we try very hard to only recommend gear we would use ourselves and often recommend brands you can't find on Amazon.

At a minimum you should have:

1 - Sturdy rock hammer: The Estwing Rock Pick is our standard

2 - Rugged chisels: Try Kendo' 3-piece Chisel Set

3 - Compact shovel: The Koleiya 28-inch shovel works well

4 - Rock screen pan: The Wazakura Soil Sieve Set fits the bill

5 - Eye protection: DeWalt Safety Glasses are cheap and comfortable

6 - Head protection: Malta's Safety Helmet has been our go-to

7 - Jewelers lens with at least 20x magnification: Jarlink's Jewelers Loop is perfect

The petrified wood-finding books that we use most

There are also a few books that have been extremely helpful in the search for gems. These books have great recommendations and tips:

National Audubon Society Field Guide to Rocks and Minerals: North America 

Southwest Treasure Hunter's Gem & Mineral Guide 

Earth Treasures: The Southwestern Quadrant 

We provide links to find these tools on Amazon but some can also be found at your local hardware stores. For more recommendations check out the link to our full tool guide above.

The Best Places To Find Petrified Wood In Alabama

Here are the most amazing places in the state to find petrified wood. Even though there are more places to go rockhounding in Alabama, you can also try to do it to see more petrified wood.

Black Warrior River

Black Warrior Creek shows how much time has passed. The creek’s basin has a lot of sedimentary rocks that formed in ancient riverbeds and lakes millions of years ago. There is a treasure trove of petrified wood in these sedimentary layers.

As you follow the winding path of Black Warrior Creek, you’ll see many different kinds of scenery. The landscape here is as varied as it is beautiful. As far as the eye can see, there are lush forests, rolling hills, and green valleys.

Its geological history and unique terrain make it an excellent location to find a plethora of petrified wood specimens. With a keen eye and a sense of adventure, you may discover ancient trees immortalized in stone, showcasing the captivating beauty that nature has preserved for generations to come.

Where we found petrified wood at Black Warrior River

Demopolis is along the Black Warrior River, known to have areas with petrified wood. To find these ancient treasures, you can look along riverbanks and in exposed sedimentary rock formations.

Before you bring home all the petrified wood you found in Alabama, ensure you know the updated state collecting rules.

Cahaba River

The lovely Cahaba River that flows through Alabama has much more to offer than just beautiful views and calm floats. It’s a treasure trove of geological wonders, different landscapes, and exciting terrain, making it a popular place for people who want to find petrified wood and love nature.

Floating down the Cahaba River, you’ll see many landscapes, and you can check out its twists and turns. There are lush forests, dreamy valleys, and even some beautiful bluffs. It gives you access to ancient trees turned into timeless treasures.

Where we found petrified wood at Cahaba River

Start your search along the riverbanks and exposed sedimentary rock formations. The natural erosion from the river’s flow might reveal some petrified wood specimens.

Chalk Bluff

This hidden gem in Alabama isn’t like most places to hike. It’s a geological wonderland that will make you lose your breath. Chalk Bluffs has everything, from beautiful views to the many petrified woods you can discover.

The layers of chalky limestone that make up the bluffs give them their unique look and name. This old rock formation is a treasure chest for people who want to find petrified wood.

If you hike through Chalk Bluffs, you can expect to see some amazing things. The geography is something from another planet! The bluffs look out over the Cahaba River and provide sweeping views.

Where we found petrified wood at the Chalk Bluffs

Explore the base of the chalk bluffs where erosion and weathering may expose petrified wood fragments that have become dislodged from the rock layers.

You should also keep an eye on gravel beds and scree slopes at the foot of the bluffs. Petrified wood may be mixed in with other rocks and debris.

Coosa River

Adventure at Coosa River is waiting around every bend. This lively river isn’t just a place to splash around; it’s also a geological wonderland with a twist of history that’s perfect for anyone looking for petrified wood.

The river’s basin is made up of many different kinds of sedimentary rocks, and there is always a chance of finding petrified wood where there is sedimentary rock. Mineral-rich water did its magic over time, turning old trees into real-life stone works of art.

Where we found petrified wood at the Coosa River

Start your search on the banks of the river. Along the water’s edge, pieces of petrified wood could be exposed by erosion and other natural processes.

Tallapoosa River

Tallapoosa river isn’t just great for kayaking; it’s also a geological wonderland that will make any petrified wood hunter’s heart skip a beat!

As you float down the Tallapoosa River, you will see many different kinds of scenery. From thick forests to rolling hills to sandy riverbanks, the land is a great place to explore.

Many people have found beautiful things in the Tallapoosa River, which makes it a great place for fossil hunters and other curious explorers.

Where we found petrified wood at Tallapoosa River

Look for exposed rock layers along the river. Petrified wood might be embedded within the sedimentary rocks.

In areas where water levels are low, such as during dry seasons, you might be able to search the riverbed for petrified wood. Please be cautious and avoid disturbing the riverbed.

Other Great Places To Find Alabama Petrified Wood

After suggesting the best locations where to find petrified wood in Alabama, we can give you more excellent places to find these specimens. We put them in order by county to make things easier.

Common Questions About Finding Petrified Wood In Alabama

The following questions need to be answered about petrified wood in Alabama.

How old is petrified wood in Alabama?

The age of petrified wood in Alabama depends on where it is found and what kind of geology is there. Most petrified wood found in Alabama dates back to the Late Paleozoic and Mesozoic periods, which means it is usually between 251 million and 66 million years old.

Can you find petrified palm wood in Alabama?

Petrified palm wood can be found in various locations throughout Alabama, especially in areas with sedimentary rock formations and ancient riverbeds where petrified wood is known to be present.

The Best Places To Buy Petrified Wood In Alabama

Not everybody wants to spend the whole day looking for petrified wood outdoors. Sometimes, you just want to add something new to your collection or give it as a gift. Here are some Alabama rock shops that sell petrified wood:

• Alabama Rock – 3761 US-80, Phenix City, AL 36870
• Dream Maker – 4004 Triana Blvd SW, Huntsville, AL 35805
• Earthforged Rock Shop – 429 Shields Rd, Huntsville, AL 35811
• Keepers Korner Rocks & Oddities – 103 Simpson St, Florence, AL 35630
• Soulmates Jewelry and Crystals – 55 Co Rd 551, Trinity, AL 35673