From Washington To You
A section of petrified wood at Ginkgo Petrified Forest State Park.
Photograph by Justin Bastow, released to the public domain.

From Washington to you

Ginkgo Petrified Forest

Ginkgo Petrified Forest · Kittitas County · ginkgo discovered 1932

One of North America's most diverse fossil forests sits above the Columbia at Vantage — and petrified ginkgo turned up here in 1932.

Ginkgo Petrified Forest State Park is a registered National Natural Landmark on the Ice Age Floods National Geologic Trail. NPS calls it one of the most diverse fossil forests in North America, famous for rare petrified ginkgo discovered there in 1932. Petrified wood is Washington's official state gem.

The interpretive center displays more than 30 varieties of petrified wood, including rare ginkgo. The Trees of Stone Interpretive Trail runs 1.25 miles past more than 20 petrified logs in their original settings. The Trailside Museum was built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s. The site has 3 miles of hiking trails in all.

The state park covers 7,124 acres and 27,000 feet of freshwater shoreline on Wanapum Lake. Ice Age floodwaters carved the Columbia walls visible from the interpretive center. The sources below are National Park Service Ice Age Floods pages.

  • Geography & Geology

Sources (1)

Last reviewed: September 21, 2026

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