The Petrified Forest, Wine Country Travel Guide

The Petrified Forest in Calistoga, California, is a remarkable site where visitors can walk among the petrified remains of ancient redwood trees. These trees, dating back 3.4 million years, were transformed into stone by a volcanic eruption of Mount St. Helena. The eruption knocked down the prehistoric redwood forest, and the thick layers of volcanic ash created an oxygen-deprived environment, preventing decomposition. Mineral-rich water percolated through the ash, saturating the trees' tissues with silica and creating three-dimensional fossils.The forest was discovered in 1870 by Charles Evans, a Swedish farmer, who stumbled upon a stone-like log while tending his pasture. Today, the Petrified Forest is a California Historical Landmark that has been operated by the same family since 1914. Visitors can explore the forest via two trails: the Main Trail, a half-mile loop showcasing the most notable petrified trees, and the Meadow Trail, which leads to views of Mount St. Helena and an ash fall.Notable trees include "The Queen," measuring 8 feet wide and 65 feet long, and "The Giant," which is 6 feet in diameter and 60 feet long. Robert Louis Stevenson, who visited the forest in 1880, is also honored with a tree named after him. The Petrified Forest offers a gift shop with rocks, minerals, and other nature-inspired items.