Where to Find Petrified Wood in California
8 mapped petrified wood rockhounding spots in California, across 6 counties. Petrified wood replaces ancient buried logs with silica, agate, or opal. California offers a remarkable spread, from gold-bearing rivers in the Mother Lode to jade beaches on the central coast and the agate-and-jasper hills of the Mojave.
Map of 8 petrified wood rockhounding spots in California
Petrified Wood by county in California
Counties ranked by number of petrified wood spots in our database.
Every petrified wood spot in California
Sorted by county. Coordinates open in Google Maps. Click a row for details.
| Spot | County | Minerals | Coordinates | Access |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crescent City BeachesNorth Pebble Beach Drive | Del Norte County | 41.7650, -124.2309 | Public | |
| Jacolitos CanyonJacalitos Creek Road | Fresno County | 36.0962, -120.3204 | Public | |
| Castle Butte FoothillsDenise Avenue | Kern County | 35.0493, -117.8247 | Public | |
| El Paso MountainsEP170 | Kern County | 35.4376, -117.8159 | Public | |
| Nipomo AreaSouth Dana Foothill Road | San Luis Obispo County | 35.0351, -120.4530 | Public | |
| Agate Area (Klamath River)Yellow Dog Trail | Siskiyou County | 42.0009, -122.4018 | Public | |
| Jenny CreekCopco Road | Siskiyou County | 41.9769, -122.3978 | Public | |
| Trinity RiverBrowns Mountain Road | Trinity County | 40.6938, -122.8635 | Public |
Petrified Wood in California FAQ
Where can I find petrified wood in California?+
RockHoundR tracks 8 petrified wood spots in California, spread across 6 counties. The strongest concentration is in Kern County.
Is collecting petrified wood legal in California?+
Casual hand collection of common rocks and minerals like petrified wood is allowed on most BLM and U.S. Forest Service land in California, with daily and annual limits set by the local field office. National parks, most state parks, and tribal land are off-limits. Always confirm rules before a trip.
What is the best petrified wood location in California?+
Kern County has the most petrified wood spots in our database for California. The full county breakdown is below — different counties produce different qualities and varieties.
Other states for petrified wood
Other minerals to find in California
Hunt petrified wood in California on the map
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