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 Utah

Here’s are the following excellent places in the state to find petrified wood. Even though rockhounding in Utah is more broad, you can still do it for more chances to find petrified wood.

Cedar Breaks National Monument

Cedar Breaks is renowned for its breathtaking amphitheater, showcasing vibrant rock formations that resemble a colorful canvas painted by nature. This awe-inspiring destination showcases a unique blend of geological formations, dramatic landscapes, and a rich variety of flora and fauna.

Cedar Breaks National Monument is on the Markagunt Plateau, which is a high-elevation area with limestone and sandstone formations that have been lifted up. The different minerals and oxidation processes are what give the cliffs and hoodoos in the amphitheater their bright colors.

The erosion and revealing of rock layers in the monument sometimes reveal small pieces of petrified wood. This gives you a chance to find and admire the fossilized remains of ancient trees.

Where we found petrified wood at the Cedar Breaks National Monument

Petrified wood can be found through the hiking trails of the area, which has a lot of different and rough terrain.

Before you bring your petrified wood finds home, make sure you know the recent rules and regulations about collecting in Utah.

Green River

The Green River is known for making important contributions to the geology of the area. It gives a unique look at how the Earth has changes throughout millions of years. It has tall canyon walls and a variety of ecosystems.

This river is a beautiful place for nature lovers and those who are looking for petrified wood. The combination of geological activity, ancient forests, and mineral deposition has created favorable conditions for the preservation and discovery of petrified wood in the area.

Where we found petrified wood at Green River

Explore the riverbanks and sandbars along the Green River, particularly where the water has eroded the surrounding areas. Erosion can expose fragments of petrified wood that have been washed downstream from their original locations.

Horse Canyon

Horse Canyon is a geological uplift that shows layers of sedimentary rock from different time periods. The canyon cuts through sandstone, shale, and limestone, creating a geological tapestry that tells the story of ancient environments and the forces of nature at work.

Horse Canyon’s landscape is made up of high cliffs, deep canyons, and interesting rock formations. Its remote and rugged nature adds an element of exploration and adventure to your petrified wood hunting experience.

Where we found petrified wood at the Horse Canyon

Examine the exposed canyon walls and slopes for any signs of petrified wood. Erosion processes can reveal fragments or larger pieces embedded within the rock layers.

Also keep an eye out for areas of disturbed ground, such as landslides or rockslides. These disturbances can expose petrified wood that was previously buried or hidden.

San Rafael Swell

The San Rafael Swell is a prominent anticline, which is a fold in the Earth’s crust that shows sedimentary rock layers that date back millions of years. Formations of sandstone, shale, limestone, and even volcanic ash can be seen in this geological masterpiece, which reveals a mesmerizing story.

Petrified wood hunters are drawn to the San Rafael Swell because of the ancient forests that used to grow there. Through a process called mineral replacement, the trees have turned to stone over time.

Wind and water, which are both eroding forces, have exposed pieces and specimens of petrified wood, which are waiting to be found among the different geological formations in the Swell.

Where we found petrified wood at the San Rafael Swell

This drainage system within the San Rafael Swell, called Cane Wash, is known for its petrified wood deposits. Explore the wash and its surrounding banks, as erosion may expose fragments or larger pieces of petrified wood.

Sweet Water Canyon

In Sweet Water Canyon, there are deep canyons, tall cliffs, and streams that wind around. The remote and rough nature of the canyon adds a sense of exploration and adventure to the hunt for petrified wood.

Its varied landscape, which includes sandy washes, rocky slopes, and exposed rock outcrops, gives petrified wood plenty of chances to be found and exposed by natural erosion.

Ancient forests that used to grow in the area make Sweet Water Canyon a good place to find petrified wood. As the canyon is worn away by erosion, pieces and specimens of petrified wood may become visible, waiting for the keen eye of collectors and fans.

Where we found petrified wood at Sweet Water Canyon

As you walk through Sweet Water Canyon, look at the ground. Small bits of petrified wood can sometimes be found on the surface, especially in places where erosion or weathering has brought them closer to the surface.

Other Great Places To Find Utah Petrified Wood

After we recommending the best places to look for petrified wood in the state, we’ll give you more locations and other options to find these specimens in Utah. We put them in order by county to make things more convenient for you.

Common Questions About Finding Petrified Wood In Utah

It’s important to know the answers to the following questions about petrified wood in Utah.

How old is petrified wood in Utah?

The age of petrified wood in Utah varies depending on the specific location and geological formation. It can range in age from tens of millions to hundreds of millions of years old.

Other regions in Utah, such as the Morrison Formation, contain petrified wood that is around 150 million years old, originating from the Late Jurassic period. These fossilized remains provide insights into ancient ecosystems and the diverse flora that existed during that time.

Can you find petrified palm wood in Utah?

Yes, you can find petrified palm wood in Utah. Petrified palm wood is the fossilized remains of ancient palm trees that went through the process of petrification, in which the organic material was replaced by minerals over millions of years.

The Best Places To Buy Petrified Wood In Utah

Not everyone likes to spend all day looking for petrified wood outside. Sometimes, all you need is one piece to display or add to your collection. Here’s a list of rock shops where you can buy petrified wood:

• Escalante Rock Shop – 1075 N Reservoir Rd, Escalante, UT 84726
• Healing Mountain Crystals – 363 S 500 E #210, Salt Lake City, UT 84102
• Inclusions Rock Shop – 48 S Main St, Brigham City, UT 84302
• Orderville Mine Rock Shop – 430 W State St, Orderville, UT 84758
• Wandering Stones – 439 S Pleasant Grove Blvd, Pleasant Grove, UT 84062