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 Washington

Here’s a list of the excellent places to find petrified wood in the state. Even though rockhounding in Washington is more general, you can try it to discover more petrified wood.

Columbia River

The Columbia River is a beautiful body of water in the state of Washington. It starts in British Columbia, Canada, and flows about 1,243 miles to the Pacific Ocean. The Columbia River has had a big impact on the geography and history of the area, and it also has a lot of interesting places to explore.

The geography of the Columbia River is a mix of tall cliffs, deep gorges, and wide floodplains. The river flows through the Cascade Range and cuts through the Columbia River Gorge, which is a beautiful canyon known for its stunning views.

There are lush forests, dry plateaus, and fertile valleys in the area, giving ancient trees a variety of places to live and grow.

Where we found petrified wood at the Columbia River

Exploring the riverbanks, cliffs, and nearby areas along the Columbia River gives you the chance to find many different kinds of petrified wood. Each piece gives you a glimpse into the ancient forests and geological processes that have shaped this beautiful area.

Make sure you know the rules and regulation for collecting before you try to take your petrified wood out of Washington state.

Frenchman Hills

Situatued east of the Cascade Range, Frenchman Hills boats a distinct geology, captivating geography, and diverse terrain that make it a great and ideal place to look for petrified wood.

The geology of Frenchman Hills is made up of sedimentary deposits and old volcanic activity. Layers of basalt, sandstone, and shale can be found all over the area. These rocks are what helped petrified wood form and stayed in place.

Petrification happens when sediments build up on top of wood that was once alive. Because of this, the area is a good place to find well-preserved specimens that can tell us about Washington State’s ancient forests and geological changes.

Where we found petrified wood at Frenchman Hills

Explorers can traverse the slopes, scour riverbeds, and investigate the eroded slopes to uncover hidden treasures of fossilized wood.

Gingko Petrified Forest State Park

In Washington state, you’ll find Gingko Petrified Forest State Park, which is a fascinating place known for its geological wonders and large amounts of petrified wood.

Because of its unique geological history and the way the Columbia River keeps wearing away at the land, Gingko Petrified Forest State Park is a great place to find petrified wood. Petrified logs have been slowly revealed by erosion, showing intricate patterns and bright colors.

The park gives people a rare chance to see and collect these amazing things, giving you a unique chance to explore a landscape with a lot of natural history and find interesting things that have lasted for a long time.

Where we found petrified wood at the Gingko Petrified Forest State Park

The “Petrified Forest Trail” is the best place to explore and find petrified wood. On this path, you can see an old forest that was covered by volcanic ash millions of years ago.

Along the trail, fossilized logs can be seen in their original places. There are signs on these logs that explain what the trees are and what the geological history of the area is.

Mount Adams

Mount Adams is a majestic peak and has a long geological history and an interesting landscape to explore. Mount Adams is the second-highest mountain in the state. It’s a great place to find petrified wood and see how geology and ancient forests interact in a fascinating way.

The mountain is made up of alpine meadows, dense forests, and steep, rocky slopes. Glaciers have made deep valleys and U-shaped valleys, which add to the dramatic beauty of the mountain.

Mount Adams’ combination of volcanic activity, diverse geography, and ancient forests makes it a prime location to find petrified wood. Petrified wood is still there and can be seen because of volcanic deposits and erosion that followed.

Where we found petrified wood at Mount Adams

Exploring its different types of terrain gives you the chance to find petrified wood, which can be exposed by erosion and other geological processes.

Saddle Mountains

The Saddle Mountains has a unique geology, beautiful geography, and different types of terrain, which makes them a great place for people who like petrified wood. Its landscape has a wide range of heights and landforms, from gentle hill to steep slopes.

There are dry deserts, deep canyons, and beautiful valleys in the area, so there are many places where petrified wood could be found. The layers of sedimentary rock in the Saddle Mountains, like sandstone, shale, and limestone, make up their geology.

Where we found petrified wood at Saddle Mountain

Within the Saddle Mountain Petrified Forest, there are hiking trails that lead to areas where petrified logs can be observed in their natural setting.

The trails provide access to the petrified wood deposits so you can appreciate the beauty and unique characteristics of these ancient fossilized trees.

Interpretive signs along the trails provide information about the petrified wood and the geological processes that occurred in the region.

Other Great Places To Find Washington Petrified Wood

After giving you recommendations where it’s best to look for petrified wood in the state, we’ll provide you with other great places in Washington where you can find these specimens. To make things easier for you, we’ve put them in order by county.

Common Questions About Finding Petrified Wood In Washington

The answers to the following questions about petrified wood in Washington state are important to know.

How old is petrified wood in Washington?

Petrified wood in Washington state can vary in age depending on the specific geological formation and location. Generally, the petrified wood found in the state can range from tens of millions to hundreds of millions of years old.

In some areas, such as the Gingko Petrified Forest State Park near Vantage, the petrified wood dates back approximately 15 million years. This park preserves ancient forests that were buried by volcanic ash and preserved through the process of petrification.

Can you find petrified palm wood in Washington?

Yes, you can find petrified palm wood in Washington state. Petrified palm wood is the fossilized remains of old palm trees that have been turned into rock.

Even though palm trees don’t grow naturally in Washington, fossilized palm wood can still be found in some places because of geological processes and the weather in the past.

The Best Places To Buy Petrified Wood In Washington

Not everybody likes to spend the whole day outside looking for petrified wood. Sometimes, you only need one piece to show off or add to your collection. Here’s a list of rock shops where you can buy petrified wood:

• Cove Crystals and Gifts – 510 SE Old Arcadia Rd, Shelton, WA 98584
• Crystallography Gems – 650 S Orcas St #218, Seattle, WA 98108
• Jerry’s Rock & Gem – 804 W Valley Hwy, Kent, WA 98032
• Wild Earth Rocks – 11607 State Route 302 NW, Suite B, Gig Harbor, WA 98329
• The Wishing Stone – 523 Main St, Edmonds, WA 98020