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Sam Houston National Forest (Double Lake): Petrified Palm Wood & Petrified Wood Rockhounding in San Jacinto County, Texas

Public accessBest spot5 mineralsSan Jacinto County, TexasUpdated June 2026
Minerals reported
5
Elevation
310 ft
Best months
September to June

Sam Houston National Forest carries petrified palm wood, the official Texas state stone since 1969, along with agate, jasper, and chalcedony weathered from young Gulf Coastal Plain gravels. The US Forest Service permits personal collection of common lapidary minerals and petrified wood here under a free use permit. Vertebrate fossils and artifacts are excluded. Reported finds include petrified palm wood, petrified wood, agate, jasper, carnelian. Below: coordinates, access notes, nearby spots, and trip-planning links.

Plan your visit

Generally open to casual rockhounding

State
Texas
Get directionsView on Google Maps

Coordinates are approximate. Confirm the exact ground in the RockHoundR app, where land overlays show which agency manages the area.

Land & collecting status

Generally open to casual rockhounding

Most public-tagged spots sit on BLM, U.S. Forest Service, or other federal land where reasonable hand collecting of common rocks and minerals is allowed. Confirm posted rules and active mining claims before you dig.

Access note: Double Lake Recreation Area near Coldspring is a developed Forest Service site and a public entry into the surrounding national forest. Personal-use collecting on Forest Service land needs a free use permit from the Sam Houston Ranger District, so stay on national forest ground and avoid bordering private land.

Public-land rules vary by agency, season, and field office. The RockHoundR app pulls live BLM, USFS, NPS, and tribal overlays so you can see exactly which agency manages the ground at this spot.

Best time to visit Sam Houston National Forest (Double Lake)

Comfortable months (45 to 90°F highs)

Best months: September to June. Typical highs run 91°F in midsummer and 60°F in midwinter, with winter lows near 38°F.

Climate normals: NOAA 1991-2020 monthlies, CLEVELAND station (13 mi away).

Geology at Sam Houston National Forest (Double Lake)

This spot sits on Willis Formation, mapped as coarse alluvium and fine alluvium that formed roughly 5 to 3 million years ago. Petrified wood typically travels as tough float, and worked gravels like these are exactly where weathered pieces tend to collect.

Mapped unit
Willis Formation
Age
5–3 Ma (Pliocene)
Rock types
coarse alluvium and fine alluvium
Elevation
310 ft

Geologic mapping via Macrostrat and the underlying state geological survey maps (CC BY 4.0). Bedrock at the surface can vary within a mapped unit.

Today's weather

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Sources & verification

Spot details combine the public RockHoundR location dataset, normalized mineral labels, agency land-status checks in the app, and community submissions. Coordinates are approximate until verified in the field.

State guidance last verified:

Found at Sam Houston National Forest (Double Lake)

Each name opens all spots that produce that material; the encyclopedia link opens the full ID and field guide.

Nearby rockhounding spots

Other rockhounding spots within driving distance of Sam Houston National Forest (Double Lake).

  • N of Lake LivingstonTrinity County, Texas · 23 mi awayPetrified Palm Wood
  • E of New CaneyMontgomery County, Texas · 28 mi awayJasper, Petrified Palm Wood
  • Btwn Groveton & TrinityTrinity County, Texas · 34 mi awayAgate, Chalcedony, Jasper
  • Large area btwn Camden and ChesterPolk County, Texas · 38 mi awayPetrified Palm Wood
  • Large area between CrockettHouston County, Texas · 46 mi awayJasper, Agatized Wood
  • Broad area around BediasGrimes County, Texas · 51 mi awayTektite, Black Diamond, Fire Pearl
  • Gibbons creekGrimes County, Texas · 56 mi awayTektite
  • Davy Crockett National Forest (Ratcliff Lake)Houston County, Texas · 57 mi awayPetrified Wood, Agatized Wood, Jasper

Sam Houston National Forest (Double Lake) FAQ

Where is Sam Houston National Forest (Double Lake)?+
Sam Houston National Forest (Double Lake) is in San Jacinto County, Texas, at 30.54855, -95.13058.
What rocks and minerals can you find at Sam Houston National Forest (Double Lake)?+
Sam Houston National Forest (Double Lake) is reported to produce Petrified Palm Wood, Petrified Wood, Agate, Jasper, Carnelian.
Is collecting allowed at Sam Houston National Forest (Double Lake)?+
Generally open to casual rockhounding. Most public-tagged spots sit on BLM, U.S. Forest Service, or other federal land where reasonable hand collecting of common rocks and minerals is allowed. Confirm posted rules and active mining claims before you dig. Always confirm current rules with the managing agency before a trip.
What tools should I bring to Sam Houston National Forest (Double Lake)?+
A rock hammer, sturdy gloves, and a padded bag cover petrified wood hunting. Most pieces are surface float, so walking slopes and washes beats digging.
When is the best time to visit Sam Houston National Forest (Double Lake)?+
The most comfortable months at Sam Houston National Forest (Double Lake) are September to June.
How do I get to Sam Houston National Forest (Double Lake)?+
Open the directions link to navigate to 30.54855, -95.13058 in Google Maps. Some spots are remote, so check road conditions before driving out.

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