Petrified Wood near Des Moines, IA
11 of the mapped rockhounding spots within 150 miles of Des Moines report petrified wood. The closest is Orient Area, about 44 miles out (56 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 11 petrified wood collecting spots within 150 miles of Des Moines, Iowa
Closest petrified wood spots to Des Moines
- Orient AreaAdair County, Iowa44 mi · 56 min driveAgate, Quartz, Petrified Wood
- Grundy CountyGrundy County, Missouri101 mi · 2 hr 7 min driveLake Superior Agate, Jasper, Fossils
- Gentry CountyGentry County, Missouri103 mi · 2 hr 9 min driveLake Superior Agate, Jasper, Fossils
- Daviess CountyDaviess County, Missouri114 mi · 2 hr 22 min driveLake Superior Agate, Jasper, Fossils
- GallatinDaviess County, Missouri116 mi · 2 hr 25 min driveAgate, Chalcedony, Jasper
- EmmetsburgPalo Alto County, Iowa120 mi · 2 hr 30 min driveAgate, Jasper, Petrified Wood
Types of petrified wood reported near Des Moines
Counts reflect how many spots in this radius mention each variety.
Every petrified wood spot within 150 miles of Des Moines
Sorted by distance from Des Moines. Tap a row for directions, access status, and nearby trips.
| Spot | County | Minerals | Coordinates | Access |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Orient AreaHenry A Wallace Road | Adair County | 41.2473, -94.3538 | Public | |
| Grundy County | Grundy County | 40.1196, -93.5296 | Public | |
| Gentry County | Gentry County | 40.2077, -94.3754 | Public | |
| Daviess County215th Street | Daviess County | 39.9653, -93.9975 | Public | |
| GallatinPepper Avenue | Daviess County | 39.9193, -93.9405 | Public | |
| Emmetsburg360th Street | Palo Alto County | 43.1302, -94.7027 | Public | |
| Livingston County | Livingston County | 39.7545, -93.5739 | Public | |
| GraettingerRobins Avenue | Palo Alto County | 43.2367, -94.7414 | Public | |
| Little Nemaha River | Nemaha County | 40.4043, -95.8280 | Public | |
| OmahaTwo Rivers Recreation Road | Douglas County | 41.2254, -96.3586 | Public | |
| AshlandWillow Point Drive | Saunders County | 41.0542, -96.3258 | Public |
Petrified Wood near Des Moines FAQ
Where can I find petrified wood near Des Moines?+
11 mapped spots within about 150 miles of Des Moines report petrified wood. The closest is Orient Area in Adair County County, roughly 44 miles away (56 min drive). The full list with coordinates is on this page.
Can I collect petrified wood on public land near Des Moines?+
11 of the 11 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 Des Moines do I need to drive?+
The nearest petrified wood spot is about 44 miles out, and the farthest on this list is 145 miles. Most fall inside a normal weekend day-trip radius.
Keep exploring from Des Moines
Petrified Wood near other cities
Hunt petrified wood around Des Moines 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.
