Do you know that Calistoga Petrified Forest is home to the largest petrified wood in California? A long time ago, the hills near Calistoga were covered with tall redwoods. Wild animals wandered in the shade, and streams ran clear and cold.
The beautiful coastal redwoods seemed like they would last forever, but Mount St. Helena, seven miles away, suddenly woke up and changed the idyllic ancient landscape.
Enigmatic Stone Trees Born from Lava
One day, the ground began to tremble and shake. Scared birds flew away, and the air became filled with white rhyolite ash.
Rushing streams of red-hot lava flowed down the mountainside, and within moments, the peaceful valley was gone. Molten rocks toppled the tall redwoods that had stood for centuries in the direction of flow, burying them beneath layers of ash.
Over time, minerals from the volcanic ash soaked into the ground and into the buried trunks, replacing the wood bit by bit with silica. Slowly, the once-living giants turned to stone.
Years passed. Centuries slipped by. And slowly, the once-living forest turned to stone—its rings, bark, and even tiny details frozen forever in rock.
What to See at Calistoga Petrified Forest Today
Today, Calistoga Petrified Forest is a place where you can walk among these ancient stone giants. Trails wind past tree trunks lying where they fell nearly 3.4 million years ago, their gray-greenish, rock-hard forms still shaped exactly like the trees they once were. Some are massive, stretching more than 8 feet in diameter.
Along the paths, signs explain the science behind petrification and tell the story of the eruption that changed this land forever.
There’s also a small museum and natural shop where you can see polished slices of petrified wood glowing with colorful minerals and even to buy a piece.
Calistoga’s Must-See Attractions
But there’s more than the petrified forest in Calistoga. This city is famous for its vineyards, hot spring resorts, and even Old Faithful Geyser that regularly shoots water into the air.
Trails, museums, and nearby hills offer plenty to explore. Whether you’re into rocks, history, or just relaxing in the water, Calistoga has something special to share.
How to Get to Calistoga Petrified Forest?
Calistoga Petrified Forest is located just outside the town of Calistoga in Northern California, in the Napa Valley.
The entrance is off Petrified Forest Road, and it’s easy to reach by car from nearby towns such as Napa, Santa Rosa, or St. Helena.