Petrified Wood near Hays, KS
13 of the mapped rockhounding spots within 150 miles of Hays report petrified wood. The closest is Ada, about 79 miles out (1 hr 39 min drive).
Petrified wood is ancient wood replaced cell by cell with silica. It concentrates where volcanic ash buried forests, and weathered pieces collect as float on desert slopes and in washes.
Map of 13 petrified wood collecting spots within 150 miles of Hays, Kansas
Closest petrified wood spots to Hays
- AdaOttawa County, Kansas79 mi · 1 hr 39 min drivePetrified Wood
- ConcordiaCloud County, Kansas106 mi · 2 hr 12 min driveAgate, Moss Agate, Banded Agate
- Chikaskia RiverKingman County, Kansas121 mi · 2 hr 32 min driveAgate, Jasper, Petrified Wood
- Smoky Hills RiverDickinson County, Kansas124 mi · 2 hr 34 min driveAgatized Wood
- Platte RiverBuffalo County, Nebraska124 mi · 2 hr 35 min driveAgate, Chalcedony, Jasper
- AetnaBarber County, Kansas126 mi · 2 hr 38 min driveAgate, Agatized Wood
Types of petrified wood reported near Hays
Counts reflect how many spots in this radius mention each variety.
- Petrified Wood9
- Agatized Wood4
- Petrified Palm Wood1
Every petrified wood spot within 150 miles of Hays
Sorted by distance from Hays. Tap a row for directions, access status, and nearby trips.
| Spot | County | Minerals | Coordinates | Access |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AdaNemaha Road | Ottawa County | 39.1600, -97.8993 | Public | |
| Concordia | Cloud County | 39.5784, -97.5687 | Public | |
| Chikaskia River | Kingman County | 37.4378, -98.0528 | Public | |
| Smoky Hills RiverWest 4th Street | Dickinson County | 38.9673, -97.0304 | Public | |
| Platte RiverHuron Drive | Buffalo County | 40.6611, -99.0708 | Public | |
| Aetna | Barber County | 37.0737, -98.9573 | Public | |
| Medicine LodgePixley Road | Barber County | 37.1432, -98.5213 | Public | |
| Sharon SpringsKS 27 | Wallace County | 38.9367, -101.7499 | Public | |
| Geary CountyTruman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway | Geary County | 38.9999, -96.8422 | Public | |
| Medicine Lodge RiverBethel Road | Barber County | 37.0491, -98.4800 | Public | |
| FairburyLittle Blue River Trail | Jefferson County | 40.1320, -97.1844 | Public | |
| Steel CityRomeo Road | Jefferson County | 40.0404, -97.0348 | Public | |
| GothenburgWillow Island Road | Dawson County |
| 40.9009, -100.1460 | Public |
Petrified Wood near Hays FAQ
Where can I find petrified wood near Hays?+
13 mapped spots within about 150 miles of Hays report petrified wood. The closest is Ada in Ottawa County County, roughly 79 miles away (1 hr 39 min drive). The full list with coordinates is on this page.
Can I collect petrified wood on public land near Hays?+
13 of the 13 spots here sit on land mapped as publicly accessible. Casual hand collecting of common rocks and minerals is allowed on most BLM and Forest Service land with limits set by the local field office; national parks and most state parks are closed to collecting. Confirm current rules with the managing agency before a trip.
How can I tell petrified wood from plain rock?+
Look for wood structure: parallel grain lines, growth rings on cut ends, and bark texture on the outside. Petrified palm shows a distinctive rod-and-dot pattern instead of rings. Plain jasper and chert show none of these, even when the color looks woody.
How far from Hays do I need to drive?+
The nearest petrified wood spot is about 79 miles out, and the farthest on this list is 146 miles. Most fall inside a normal weekend day-trip radius.
Keep exploring from Hays
Petrified Wood near other cities
Hunt petrified wood around Hays with the map in your pocket
RockHoundR shows these spots on an offline map with public land overlays, geology layers, weather, and a log for your finds.
