Petrified Wood near Fresno, CA
5 of the mapped rockhounding spots within 150 miles of Fresno report petrified wood. The closest is Jacolitos Canyon, about 53 miles out (1 hr 7 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 5 petrified wood collecting spots within 150 miles of Fresno, California
Closest petrified wood spots to Fresno
- Jacolitos CanyonFresno County, California53 mi · 1 hr 7 min driveJasper, Petrified Wood, Fossilized Coral
- Nipomo AreaSan Luis Obispo County, California123 mi · 2 hr 34 min driveMoss Agate, Jasper, Petrified Wood
- Veterans Memorial HighwayEsmeralda County, Nevada141 mi · 2 hr 57 min driveAgate, Petrified Wood, Chalcedony
- El Paso MountainsKern County, California142 mi · 2 hr 58 min driveAgate, Opal, Jasper
- Montezuma PeakEsmeralda County, Nevada148 mi · 3 hr 5 min driveChalcedony, Chert, Jasper
Types of petrified wood reported near Fresno
Counts reflect how many spots in this radius mention each variety.
Every petrified wood spot within 150 miles of Fresno
Sorted by distance from Fresno. Tap a row for directions, access status, and nearby trips.
| Spot | County | Minerals | Coordinates | Access |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jacolitos CanyonJacalitos Creek Road | Fresno County |
| 36.0962, -120.3204 | Public |
| Nipomo AreaSouth Dana Foothill Road | San Luis Obispo County |
| 35.0351, -120.4530 | Public |
| Veterans Memorial HighwayVeterans Memorial Highway | Esmeralda County | 38.0251, -117.7848 | Public | |
| El Paso MountainsEP170 | Kern County | 35.4376, -117.8159 | Public | |
| Montezuma Peak | Esmeralda County | 37.6626, -117.3611 | Public |
Petrified Wood near Fresno FAQ
Where can I find petrified wood near Fresno?+
5 mapped spots within about 150 miles of Fresno report petrified wood. The closest is Jacolitos Canyon in Fresno County County, roughly 53 miles away (1 hr 7 min drive). The full list with coordinates is on this page.
Can I collect petrified wood on public land near Fresno?+
5 of the 5 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 Fresno do I need to drive?+
The nearest petrified wood spot is about 53 miles out, and the farthest on this list is 148 miles. Most fall inside a normal weekend day-trip radius.
Keep exploring from Fresno
Petrified Wood near other cities
Hunt petrified wood around Fresno 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.
