Washington has a historic petrified fossil forest and here’s where to find it

Washington is full of plentiful forests, so much so that wood is actually our state gem. Well, not just any wood, but specifically petrified wood, the fossilized remnants of trees that lived thousands of years ago. Sounds cool right? Well, get this, Washington’s Ginkgo Petrified Forest State Park is considered one of North America’s most diverse fossil forests and you can visit it.

Ginkgo Petrified Forest State Park has over 7,100-acres for you to explore in multiple ways. Visit Wanapum Recreation Area for a campground, boat ramp and 27,000 feet of freshwater shoreline. Head to the Interpretive Center for exterior displays and an interpretive facility.

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The best part? The Trailside Museum and Trees of Stone Interpretive Trail which includes information about the petrified wood and 1.25 miles of trail that take you on a journey through petrified logs in their original setting. With 3 miles of hiking trails at this site, it’s an easy way to learn about amazing local history while getting outdoors.

Keep in mind you do need a Discover Pass to access the park which can be purchased on site. So what are you waiting for? Get out there and explore what is one of Washington’s most unique forests.

Gingko Petrified Forest

Where: 4511 Huntzinger Road, Vantage, WA
Cost: Discover Pass, $11.50-$35

Information on Gingko Petrified Forest is from Washington State Parks and is accurate as of publication date.