Petrified Wood near Great Falls, MT
5 of the mapped rockhounding spots within 150 miles of Great Falls report petrified wood. The closest is Vaughn, about 12 miles out (16 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 Great Falls, Montana
Closest petrified wood spots to Great Falls
- VaughnCascade County, Montana12 mi · 16 min driveSilicified Wood
- LivingstonPark County, Montana130 mi · 2 hr 43 min driveAgatized Wood
- Jefferson RiverMadison County, Montana134 mi · 2 hr 47 min driveAgate, Chalcedony, Jasper
- Yellowstone RiverPark County, Montana134 mi · 2 hr 48 min driveAgate, Montana Agate, Moss Agate
- Mount BlackmoreGallatin County, Montana143 mi · 2 hr 59 min driveAgate, Chalcedony, Hyalite Opal
Types of petrified wood reported near Great Falls
Counts reflect how many spots in this radius mention each variety.
Every petrified wood spot within 150 miles of Great Falls
Sorted by distance from Great Falls. Tap a row for directions, access status, and nearby trips.
| Spot | County | Minerals | Coordinates | Access |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| VaughnSunnyside Avenue | Cascade County | 47.5691, -111.5511 | Public | |
| LivingstonTrail's End | Park County | 45.6802, -110.6214 | Public | |
| Jefferson RiverPrimrose Lane | Madison County | 45.6902, -112.2745 | Public | |
| Yellowstone RiverMyers Lane | Park County |
| 45.6285, -110.5678 | Public |
| Mount BlackmoreBlackmore Trail | Gallatin County |
| 45.4447, -111.0035 | Public |
Petrified Wood near Great Falls FAQ
Where can I find petrified wood near Great Falls?+
5 mapped spots within about 150 miles of Great Falls report petrified wood. The closest is Vaughn in Cascade County County, roughly 12 miles away (16 min drive). The full list with coordinates is on this page.
Can I collect petrified wood on public land near Great Falls?+
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 Great Falls do I need to drive?+
The nearest petrified wood spot is about 12 miles out, and the farthest on this list is 143 miles. Most fall inside a normal weekend day-trip radius.
Keep exploring from Great Falls
Petrified Wood near other cities
Hunt petrified wood around Great Falls 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.
