Petrified Wood near Tonopah, NV
5 of the mapped rockhounding spots within 150 miles of Tonopah report petrified wood. The closest is San Antonio Mountains, about 13 miles out (16 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 5 petrified wood collecting spots within 150 miles of Tonopah, Nevada
Closest petrified wood spots to Tonopah
- San Antonio MountainsNye County, Nevada13 mi · 16 min driveJade, Petrified Wood, Wonderstone
- Montezuma PeakEsmeralda County, Nevada29 mi · 36 min driveChalcedony, Chert, Jasper
- Veterans Memorial HighwayEsmeralda County, Nevada30 mi · 38 min driveAgate, Petrified Wood, Chalcedony
- Walker LakeMineral County, Nevada96 mi · 2 hr driveAgate, Chalcedony, Fossils
- Lahontan ReservoirChurchill County, Nevada137 mi · 2 hr 51 min driveAgate, Chalcedony, Jasper
Types of petrified wood reported near Tonopah
Counts reflect how many spots in this radius mention each variety.
Every petrified wood spot within 150 miles of Tonopah
Sorted by distance from Tonopah. Tap a row for directions, access status, and nearby trips.
| Spot | County | Minerals | Coordinates | Access |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Antonio Mountains | Nye County |
| 38.2519, -117.1974 | Public |
| Montezuma Peak | Esmeralda County | 37.6626, -117.3611 | Public | |
| Veterans Memorial HighwayVeterans Memorial Highway | Esmeralda County | 38.0251, -117.7848 | Public | |
| Walker Lake | Mineral County | 38.7849, -118.7425 | Public | |
| Lahontan ReservoirKaren Road | Churchill County | 39.4476, -119.0493 | Public |
Petrified Wood near Tonopah FAQ
Where can I find petrified wood near Tonopah?+
5 mapped spots within about 150 miles of Tonopah report petrified wood. The closest is San Antonio Mountains in Nye County County, roughly 13 miles away (16 min drive). The full list with coordinates is on this page.
Can I collect petrified wood on public land near Tonopah?+
5 of the 5 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 Tonopah do I need to drive?+
The nearest petrified wood spot is about 13 miles out, and the farthest on this list is 137 miles. Most fall inside a normal weekend day-trip radius.
Keep exploring from Tonopah
Petrified Wood near other cities
Hunt petrified wood around Tonopah 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.
