Petrified Wood near Houston, TX
13 of the mapped rockhounding spots within 150 miles of Houston report petrified wood. The closest is E of New Caney, about 29 miles out (36 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 13 petrified wood collecting spots within 150 miles of Houston, Texas
Closest petrified wood spots to Houston
- E of New CaneyMontgomery County, Texas29 mi · 36 min driveJasper, Petrified Palm Wood
- N of Lake LivingstonTrinity County, Texas78 mi · 1 hr 37 min drivePetrified Palm Wood
- Btwn Groveton & TrinityTrinity County, Texas88 mi · 1 hr 50 min driveAgate, Chalcedony, Jasper
- Creek beds & hill slopes between Caldwell & SomervilleBurleson County, Texas89 mi · 1 hr 52 min drivePetrified Wood, Agatized Wood
- N of CrossMadison County, Texas90 mi · 1 hr 53 min drivePetrified Wood
- Large area btwn Camden and ChesterPolk County, Texas90 mi · 1 hr 53 min drivePetrified Palm Wood
Types of petrified wood reported near Houston
Counts reflect how many spots in this radius mention each variety.
- Petrified Wood7
- Agatized Wood4
- Petrified Palm Wood4
- Opalized Wood1
Every petrified wood spot within 150 miles of Houston
Sorted by distance from Houston. Tap a row for directions, access status, and nearby trips.
| Spot | County | Minerals | Coordinates | Access |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| E of New CaneyPin Oak Loop | Montgomery County |
| 30.1517, -95.1960 | Public |
| N of Lake LivingstonGuy Ogden Road | Trinity County |
| 30.8739, -95.2110 | Public |
| Btwn Groveton & Trinity | Trinity County | 31.0331, -95.2220 | Public | |
| Creek beds & hill slopes between Caldwell & Somerville | Burleson County | 30.3629, -96.6913 | Public | |
| N of CrossFM 39 South | Madison County | 30.8983, -96.1067 | Public | |
| Large area btwn Camden and Chester | Polk County |
| 30.9155, -94.6548 | Public |
| Rabb's Creek | Fayette County | 30.0666, -96.8791 | Public | |
| Large area between CrockettCrockett Road | Houston County | 31.1719, -95.3796 | Public | |
| MoultonCounty Road 532G | Lavaca County | 29.5580, -97.1321 | Public | |
| Area surfaces all around SmithvilleTX 71 | Bastrop County | 30.0160, -97.1478 | Public | |
| McGee Bend damSam Rayburn Parkway | Jasper County | 31.0568, -94.1030 | Public | |
| Peach CreekCounty Road 353 | Gonzales County | 29.5041, -97.3143 | Public | |
| E of Austin | Travis County |
| 30.2358, -97.5460 | Public |
Petrified Wood near Houston FAQ
Where can I find petrified wood near Houston?+
13 mapped spots within about 150 miles of Houston report petrified wood. The closest is E of New Caney in Montgomery County County, roughly 29 miles away (36 min drive). The full list with coordinates is on this page.
Can I collect petrified wood on public land near Houston?+
13 of the 13 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 Houston do I need to drive?+
The nearest petrified wood spot is about 29 miles out, and the farthest on this list is 134 miles. Most fall inside a normal weekend day-trip radius.
Keep exploring from Houston
Petrified Wood near other cities
Hunt petrified wood around Houston 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.
