Petrified Wood near Santa Fe, NM
10 of the mapped rockhounding spots within 150 miles of Santa Fe report petrified wood. The closest is Mount Chalchihuitl, about 18 miles out (22 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 Santa Fe, New Mexico
Closest petrified wood spots to Santa Fe
- Mount ChalchihuitlSanta Fe County, New Mexico18 mi · 22 min driveAgate, Chalcedony, Petrified Wood
- Las VegasSan Miguel County, New Mexico40 mi · 50 min drivePetrified Wood
- Jemez National Recreation AreaSandoval County, New Mexico41 mi · 51 min driveObsidian, Opalized Wood
- AlbuquerqueSandoval County, New Mexico62 mi · 1 hr 17 min driveAgatized Wood
- Pajarito MesaBernalillo County, New Mexico67 mi · 1 hr 24 min driveAgatized Wood, Agate, Jasper
- Isleta PuebloBernalillo County, New Mexico68 mi · 1 hr 25 min driveOpal, Opalized Wood, Agatized Wood
Types of petrified wood reported near Santa Fe
Counts reflect how many spots in this radius mention each variety.
- Agatized Wood5
- Opalized Wood3
- Petrified Wood3
- Agatized Picture Wood1
- Petrified Cycad1
- Petrified Palm1
Every petrified wood spot within 150 miles of Santa Fe
Sorted by distance from Santa Fe. Tap a row for directions, access status, and nearby trips.
| Spot | County | Minerals | Coordinates | Access |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mount ChalchihuitlGravel Pit Road | Santa Fe County | 35.4701, -106.1126 | Public | |
| Las Vegas | San Miguel County | 35.6577, -105.2327 | Public | |
| Jemez National Recreation AreaEast Fork Trail (137) | Sandoval County | 35.8283, -106.6416 | Public | |
| Albuquerque | Sandoval County | 35.2121, -106.8623 | Public | |
| Pajarito MesaOld Pajarito Road | Bernalillo County | 34.9948, -106.7656 | Public | |
| Isleta PuebloTribal Road 12 | Bernalillo County | 34.9075, -106.6744 | Public | |
| Rio Puerco Valley | Bernalillo County | 35.0755, -106.9489 | Public | |
| Los Lunas | Valencia County |
| 34.7575, -106.8935 | Public |
| Red Rock Spring | Socorro County |
| 34.3506, -107.2989 | Public |
| Zuni MountainsCounty Road 149 | Cibola County | 35.1422, -108.3258 | Public |
Petrified Wood near Santa Fe FAQ
Where can I find petrified wood near Santa Fe?+
10 mapped spots within about 150 miles of Santa Fe report petrified wood. The closest is Mount Chalchihuitl in Santa Fe County County, roughly 18 miles away (22 min drive). The full list with coordinates is on this page.
Can I collect petrified wood on public land near Santa Fe?+
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 Santa Fe do I need to drive?+
The nearest petrified wood spot is about 18 miles out, and the farthest on this list is 140 miles. Most fall inside a normal weekend day-trip radius.
Keep exploring from Santa Fe
Petrified Wood near other cities
Hunt petrified wood around Santa Fe 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.
