Petrified Forest State Park: Opalized Wood & Petrified Wood Rockhounding in Kittitas County, Washington

Updated June 2026

Petrified Forest State Park is a mapped rockhounding spot in Kittitas County, Washington. Reported finds include opalized wood, petrified wood. Below: coordinates, access notes, nearby spots, and trip-planning links.

Quick details

Access: Public area
County: Kittitas County
State: Washington
Nearest road: Recreation Drive
Coordinates: 46.96023, -119.98843

Geology at Petrified Forest State Park

This spot sits on Grande Ronde Basalt, N2 (CRB), mapped as basalt flows (granderondebasalt and upper flows of norm.mag.pol.) that formed roughly 23 to 5 million years ago. Petrified wood typically comes from volcanic ash beds like the ones associated with this ground, where buried forests were slowly replaced by silica.

Mapped unit: Grande Ronde Basalt, N2 (CRB)
Age: 23–5 Ma (Miocene)
Rock types: basalt flows (granderondebasalt and upper flows of norm.mag.pol.)
Elevation: 860 ft

Geologic mapping via Macrostrat and the underlying state geological survey maps (CC BY 4.0). Bedrock at the surface can vary within a mapped unit.

Best time to visit Petrified Forest State Park

Best months: February to June. Typical highs run 92°F in midsummer and 39°F in midwinter, with winter lows near 24°F.

Climate normals: NOAA 1991-2020 monthlies, SMYRNA station (18 mi away), adjusted for elevation.

Land & collecting status

Generally open to casual rockhounding

Most public-tagged spots sit on BLM, U.S. Forest Service, or other federal land where reasonable hand collecting of common rocks and minerals is allowed. Confirm posted rules and active mining claims before you dig.

Public-land rules vary by agency, season, and field office. The RockHoundR app pulls live BLM, USFS, NPS, and tribal overlays so you can see exactly which agency manages the ground at this spot.

Sources & verification

Spot details combine the public RockHoundR location dataset, normalized mineral labels, agency land-status checks in the app, and community submissions. Coordinates are approximate until verified in the field.

State guidance last verified: April 1, 2026

Washington Geological Survey (DNR)
Stonerose Interpretive Center — Visit & rules
BLM Spokane District
Community submissions reviewed against published agency rules

Found at Petrified Forest State Park

Each chip opens all spots that produce that material; the encyclopedia link opens the full ID and field guide.

Nearby rockhounding spots

Other rockhounding spots within driving distance of Petrified Forest State Park.

Petrified Forest State Park FAQ

Where is Petrified Forest State Park?+

Petrified Forest State Park is in Kittitas County, Washington, at 46.96023, -119.98843. Nearest road: Recreation Drive.

What rocks and minerals can you find at Petrified Forest State Park?+

Petrified Forest State Park is reported to produce Opalized Wood, Petrified Wood.

Is collecting allowed at Petrified Forest State Park?+

Generally open to casual rockhounding. Most public-tagged spots sit on BLM, U.S. Forest Service, or other federal land where reasonable hand collecting of common rocks and minerals is allowed. Confirm posted rules and active mining claims before you dig. Always confirm current rules with the managing agency before a trip.

What tools should I bring to Petrified Forest State Park?+

A rock hammer, sturdy gloves, and a padded bag cover petrified wood hunting. Most pieces are surface float, so walking slopes and washes beats digging.

When is the best time to visit Petrified Forest State Park?+

The most comfortable months at Petrified Forest State Park are February to June.

How do I get to Petrified Forest State Park?+

Open the directions link to navigate to 46.96023, -119.98843 in Google Maps. The nearest road is Recreation Drive.

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