Petrified Wood near Scottsbluff, NE
17 of the mapped rockhounding spots within 150 miles of Scottsbluff report petrified wood. The closest is Bayard, about 20 miles out (25 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 17 petrified wood collecting spots within 150 miles of Scottsbluff, Nebraska
Closest petrified wood spots to Scottsbluff
- BayardMorrill County, Nebraska20 mi · 25 min driveAgate, Petrified Wood
- Agate Fossil BedsSioux County, Nebraska40 mi · 49 min driveAgate, Jasper, Chalcedony
- Sioux CountySioux County, Nebraska50 mi · 1 hr 3 min driveChalcedony, Celestite, Fossils
- Crawford (jasper area)Dawes County, Nebraska58 mi · 1 hr 12 min driveFairburn Agate, Jasper, Petrified Wood
- North Platte RiverMorrill County, Nebraska59 mi · 1 hr 13 min driveAgatized Wood, Opalized Wood
- Dawes CountyDawes County, Nebraska62 mi · 1 hr 18 min driveChalcedony, Celestite, Fossils
Types of petrified wood reported near Scottsbluff
Counts reflect how many spots in this radius mention each variety.
Every petrified wood spot within 150 miles of Scottsbluff
Sorted by distance from Scottsbluff. Tap a row for directions, access status, and nearby trips.
Petrified Wood near Scottsbluff FAQ
Where can I find petrified wood near Scottsbluff?+
17 mapped spots within about 150 miles of Scottsbluff report petrified wood. The closest is Bayard in Morrill County County, roughly 20 miles away (25 min drive). The full list with coordinates is on this page.
Can I collect petrified wood on public land near Scottsbluff?+
17 of the 17 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 Scottsbluff do I need to drive?+
The nearest petrified wood spot is about 20 miles out, and the farthest on this list is 137 miles. Most fall inside a normal weekend day-trip radius.
