Petrified Wood near Silver City, NM
5 of the mapped rockhounding spots within 150 miles of Silver City report petrified wood. The closest is Mud Springs Mountains, about 63 miles out (1 hr 19 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 Silver City, New Mexico
Closest petrified wood spots to Silver City
- Mud Springs MountainsSierra County, New Mexico63 mi · 1 hr 19 min driveAgate, Opalized Wood, Silicified Wood
- Jornada ValleySierra County, New Mexico77 mi · 1 hr 36 min driveAgate, Chalcedony, Elixirite
- QuemadoCatron County, New Mexico109 mi · 2 hr 17 min driveAgate, Chalcedony, Jasper
- Horse Camp CanyonCatron County, New Mexico121 mi · 2 hr 31 min driveAgatized Wood
- Red Rock SpringSocorro County, New Mexico123 mi · 2 hr 34 min driveAgatized Picture Wood, Petrified Cycad, Petrified Palm
Types of petrified wood reported near Silver City
Counts reflect how many spots in this radius mention each variety.
- Agatized Wood2
- Petrified Palm2
- Agatized Picture Wood1
- Opalized Wood1
- Petrified Cycad1
- Petrified Wood1
- Silicified Wood1
Every petrified wood spot within 150 miles of Silver City
Sorted by distance from Silver City. Tap a row for directions, access status, and nearby trips.
| Spot | County | Minerals | Coordinates | Access |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mud Springs Mountains | Sierra County |
| 33.1665, -107.2975 | Public |
| Jornada ValleyUpham Road | Sierra County |
| 33.1363, -107.0245 | Public |
| QuemadoUS 60 | Catron County | 34.3416, -108.4927 | Public | |
| Horse Camp CanyonNew Mexico 36 | Catron County | 34.5144, -108.3803 | Public | |
| Red Rock Spring | Socorro County |
| 34.3506, -107.2989 | Public |
Petrified Wood near Silver City FAQ
Where can I find petrified wood near Silver City?+
5 mapped spots within about 150 miles of Silver City report petrified wood. The closest is Mud Springs Mountains in Sierra County County, roughly 63 miles away (1 hr 19 min drive). The full list with coordinates is on this page.
Can I collect petrified wood on public land near Silver City?+
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 Silver City do I need to drive?+
The nearest petrified wood spot is about 63 miles out, and the farthest on this list is 123 miles. Most fall inside a normal weekend day-trip radius.
Keep exploring from Silver City
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Hunt petrified wood around Silver City 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.
