Places, Earth
Petrified Forest

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Petrified Forest

The Petrified Forest is about five miles west of Calistoga on Petrified Forest Road. It features over a dozen fine specimines of petrified redwood trees over 3 million years old. The Petrified Forest was discovered in1870 by Petrified Charlie. The park itself is privately owned and has been since its first proprietor started excavating the large petrified trees in 1871. Most of the trees are excavated between 1910-1920.

These giant redwood trees were over 2,000 years old when they were blown down by a masive volcanic explosion from near by Mt. St. Helena. about 3 million years ago. All the trees fall in the same direction and most wer ediscovered by exposed petrified root and then excavated. The trees lay buried under the ash, slowly turning into stone. Water carried dissolved silica seeped through the ash and into the decomposing tree fibers, where it deposited and replaced the wood cell by cell. Some trees are over 100 feet long.

The park offers a 1/2 mile round trip tour guided walking tour of the Petrified Forest's upper meadow. The tour includes ash falls, native wildflowers, live oaks, madrone and manzanita trees, and a scenic overview of Mt. St. Helena.

The Petrified Forest was designated State Historical landmark, #915 in 1978.

Address:
4100 Petrified Forest Road
Calisotga, Ca 94515

Daily 9 am-6 pm; to 5 pm in winter; closed Dec 25.

. Photo Date: 5-30-04.

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This page last updated: Wednesday, 12-Sep-2007 21:49:39 EDT

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Places, Earth Petrified Forest

Petrified Forest

This page last updated: Wednesday, 12-Sep-2007 21:49:39 EDT

Places, Earth
Petrified Forest