From the Mississippi River in the east to the Missouri River in the west, and from Minnesota in the north to Missouri in the south, Iowa’s diverse landscape holds hidden treasures for rock enthusiasts.

Finding petrified wood in Iowa can be challenging and time-consuming, often leading to frustration for collectors. But don’t worry!

We’ve done the hard work for you. We’ll show you the 17 proven locations where you can discover petrified wood in Iowa.

We’ve researched and compiled the best spots, saving you time and energy. Get ready to explore these prime locations and uncover ancient fossilized wood across the Hawkeye State.

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.

Types of Petrified Wood Found in Iowa

Iowa’s geological history has blessed the state with various types of petrified wood, each with its unique characteristics and appeal. Two of the most common types found in the state are waterworn petrified wood and opalized petrified wood.

Waterworn petrified wood is a favorite among collectors in Iowa. These specimens have been smoothed and shaped by water over millions of years, resulting in rounded edges and polished surfaces.

They often display beautiful patterns and colors, ranging from earthy browns to vibrant reds and yellows.

Opalized petrified wood is a rarer and highly prized variety. This type of petrified wood forms when silica-rich solutions fill the wood’s cellular structure, creating a stunning opal-like appearance.

The Best Locations For Finding Petrified Wood in Iowa

Exploring the top places in the state can significantly boost your chances of finding crystals. By focusing your search on these well-regarded locations, you’ll be well on your way to uncovering some of the state’s hidden gems.

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.

Acme gravel pit

Located approximately 5 miles south of Muscatine in southeastern Iowa, the Acme gravel pit is a renowned site for finding petrified wood.

This region, shaped by glacial activity during the Illinoian period, is known for its diverse mix of minerals and stones deposited by ancient glaciers.

Rockhounds searching the gravel pit’s sandy and gravelly layers often uncover fascinating pieces of petrified wood, along with other gems like quartz, agate, and chalcedony.

The presence of glacial outwash, consisting of sand and gravel carried by meltwater, creates an ideal environment for finding these unique fossils.

Cedar River

The Cedar River flows through eastern Iowa, particularly in Linn County, where it offers a rich environment for finding petrified wood. This area is known for its lush landscapes and glacial deposits, making it a prime location for rockhounding.

Along the riverbanks, you can discover fragments of petrified wood, which have been formed from ancient trees that turned to stone over time.

In addition to petrified wood, you may also find fossils, agates, and geodes scattered along the gravel bars and tributaries.

The unique geological features of the Cedar River Valley, combined with natural erosion processes, expose these treasures, especially after rainstorms.

For the best chance of finding petrified wood, explore the gravel bars and the banks of smaller creeks that feed into the Cedar River. 

Davenport Area

Davenport is located in the eastern part of Iowa along the north bank of the Mississippi River. This area is rich in geological history, shaped by glacial deposits from the last Ice Age.

The Mississippi River has deposited a variety of sediments, creating ideal conditions for rockhounding. Collectors can explore the riverbanks and gravel bars, which are prime spots for finding fragments of petrified wood.

Additionally, smaller creeks and streams feeding into the Mississippi offer further opportunities to uncover these unique specimens.

The Davenport area is also known for its diverse mineral deposits, including geodes and agates, making it a well-rounded destination for rockhounds. 

Orient Area

Located in the southwestern part of Iowa, Orient in Adair County is a hidden gem for rockhounding enthusiasts. This small city, shaped by glacial movements, features rich sedimentary deposits ideal for discovering unique geological treasures.

Among these treasures is petrified wood, a fascinating fossilized form of ancient trees.

Rockhounds can explore gravel beds, creeks, and open fields around Orient, where glacial-age gravels often reveal fragments of petrified wood.

The area’s glacial history has created a landscape that transports and deposits various minerals, making it a prime location for finding not just petrified wood, but also agates and fossils.

As you wander the gravel beds and stream banks, keep an eye out for the distinctive patterns of petrified wood, which showcase the intricate details of ancient tree rings. 

Burlington Area

Burlington is located in southeastern Iowa along the scenic Mississippi River. This area is known for its unique geological features, including limestone bluffs and rich sedimentary deposits.

Rockhounding in Burlington is best along the riverbanks and nearby creeks, where you can sift through gravel bars. The constant flow of the river often reveals interesting geological specimens.

Additionally, the bluffs provide excellent opportunities to discover fossils and other sedimentary rocks. The area’s rich Native American history adds a layer of significance to your rockhounding adventure.

Places Petrified Wood has been found by county

After discussing our top picks, we wanted to discuss the other places on our list. Below is a list of the additional locations where we have succeeded, along with a breakdown of each place by county.