Petrified Wood near Butte, MT
10 of the mapped rockhounding spots within 150 miles of Butte report petrified wood. The closest is Jefferson River, about 25 miles out (31 min drive).
Petrified wood is ancient wood replaced cell by cell with silica. It concentrates where volcanic ash buried forests, and weathered pieces collect as float on desert slopes and in washes.
Map of 10 petrified wood collecting spots within 150 miles of Butte, Montana
Closest petrified wood spots to Butte
- Jefferson RiverMadison County, Montana25 mi · 31 min driveAgate, Chalcedony, Jasper
- Frying Pan BasinBeaverhead County, Montana50 mi · 1 hr 3 min driveCorundum, Opalized Wood, Silicified Wood
- Mount BlackmoreGallatin County, Montana83 mi · 1 hr 44 min driveAgate, Chalcedony, Hyalite Opal
- LeesburgLemhi County, Idaho94 mi · 1 hr 57 min driveGold, Petrified Wood
- LivingstonPark County, Montana95 mi · 1 hr 58 min driveAgatized Wood
- CarbellaPark County, Montana95 mi · 1 hr 59 min driveAgate, Jasper, Petrified Wood
Types of petrified wood reported near Butte
Counts reflect how many spots in this radius mention each variety.
Every petrified wood spot within 150 miles of Butte
Sorted by distance from Butte. Tap a row for directions, access status, and nearby trips.
| Spot | County | Minerals | Coordinates | Access |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jefferson RiverPrimrose Lane | Madison County | 45.6902, -112.2745 | Public | |
| Frying Pan Basin | Beaverhead County | 45.2933, -112.7336 | Public | |
| Mount BlackmoreBlackmore Trail | Gallatin County |
| 45.4447, -111.0035 | Public |
| LeesburgNational Forest Development Road 242 | Lemhi County | 45.2216, -114.1166 | Public | |
| LivingstonTrail's End | Park County | 45.6802, -110.6214 | Public | |
| CarbellaRock Creek Road South | Park County | 45.2175, -110.9273 | Public | |
| MinerTom Miner Creek Road | Park County | 45.1918, -110.9271 | Public | |
| Yellowstone RiverMyers Lane | Park County |
| 45.6285, -110.5678 | Public |
| VaughnSunnyside Avenue | Cascade County | 47.5691, -111.5511 | Public | |
| Malm GulchMalm Gulch Trail | Custer County | 44.3383, -114.2226 | Public |
Petrified Wood near Butte FAQ
Where can I find petrified wood near Butte?+
10 mapped spots within about 150 miles of Butte report petrified wood. The closest is Jefferson River in Madison County County, roughly 25 miles away (31 min drive). The full list with coordinates is on this page.
Can I collect petrified wood on public land near Butte?+
10 of the 10 spots here sit on land mapped as publicly accessible. Casual hand collecting of common rocks and minerals is allowed on most BLM and Forest Service land with limits set by the local field office; national parks and most state parks are closed to collecting. Confirm current rules with the managing agency before a trip.
How can I tell petrified wood from plain rock?+
Look for wood structure: parallel grain lines, growth rings on cut ends, and bark texture on the outside. Petrified palm shows a distinctive rod-and-dot pattern instead of rings. Plain jasper and chert show none of these, even when the color looks woody.
How far from Butte do I need to drive?+
The nearest petrified wood spot is about 25 miles out, and the farthest on this list is 141 miles. Most fall inside a normal weekend day-trip radius.
Keep exploring from Butte
Petrified Wood near other cities
Hunt petrified wood around Butte with the map in your pocket
RockHoundR shows these spots on an offline map with public land overlays, geology layers, weather, and a log for your finds.
