If you’ve been a long time reader of the blog, you’ve read about and seen pictures of several Redwood Trees, here. You have also read about several volcanoes and volcanic sites, here on Tipsy from the TRIP. Now, let me take you on a trip to a Petrified Forest, where a volcano petrified some redwood trees. No not ‘that’ kind of petrified. I mean, where some redwoods and a couple of other trees were turned into stone.
Now, you don’t have to be petrified because we’re not discussing sorcery here. We’re talking geology and volcanology. And you are going to see some — I’m hoping — unforgettable sights.
A side story of a side trip
Let me start with how I found this place. By the way, this post must have been out ages ago because I’ve been pregnant with this story for over 5 years, now. I better deliver now, than never. It happened when I was in California’s wine country but couldn’t drink wine. I was actually pregnant. So I went to Napa to see a geyser. 😀
After being entertained by The Old Faithful Geyser of California, we were supposed to stroll around downtown Napa, have dinner and drive back to the Silicon Valley. But then, while I was leaving the place, I had picked up a local magazine and was casually flipping through the pages when an unassuming advertisement caught my eye. It was the name of the place in the advertisement that piqued my interest. I wondered what in the world a ‘Petrified Forest’ might be!
And as you might have guessed, I hijacked the car we were travelling
California’s Petrified Forest
Millions of years ago, when Mt. Helena — a few miles away from here — erupted, it hurled ash to the surrounding areas and buried trees alive. Over the years that followed, the minerals from the ash are said to have found their way into the trees thereby turning them into stone in due course. This process of turning organic matter into rock is called Petrification.
I read somewhere that the reason these trees don’t rot is that there are no bacteria to break them down as they themselves die when the volcanic ash suffocates them.
The first petrified trees here in Calistoga, I hear were, discovered in 1870. They have since been unearthed, studied and preserved. This Petrified Forest in California is privately owned but is open to people who might want to go see and learn about the trees.
Petrified Redwood Trees
Redwood Trees are native to California. You can see different species of the Sequoia in some places between the north and central parts of the state. And if you want to see redwood trees that turned into stone thanks to
The Giant – A petrified Redwood Tree 
The Queen, another petrified redwood tree in this petrified forest in Calistoga
The Monarch, another redwood tree. 
Some specifications of the Tunnel Tree.
Petrified Wood – a closer look
The trees in the pictures above don’t really give you the best idea of how stony these trunks turned, from the volcanic ash, does it? So let me show you some close up of the wood, to do justice to this tour of the Petrified Forest in Calistoga, California.
A petrified tree trunk 
A cross section of a petrified trunk. 
Up close: Layers of petrified wood.
You might also like:
- See what the ash from Mt. Mazama (on Crater Lake now is) created — A Pumice Desert
- A peek at CA’s Volcanic past at Lassen Volcanic National Park
- Volcanic sites on Tipsy from the TRIP
Linking to Our World Tuesday
&
Thursday Tree Love
For pictures from the road, Like/Follow Tipsy From The Trip on Facebook.
Come, Trip with us. 🙂
Great tour of the “forest”
Thank you, Carol. Have a good week.
Wonderful post. I’ve seen petrfied forests in AZ…and here in soutb Texas we have petrfied palm in some areas.
Thank you.
I’d like to see Petrified Forest NP in AZ. It’s on my wishlist. 🙂 Nice to know about the petrified palm trees in Texas. That sounds interesting. I would love to see them. Thank you so much.
The giant actually looks like a fairy tale giant!
Haha! Yeah, it does. 🙂
Thanks for sharing. I’ve never been to a petrified forest.
You are SO welcome. 🙂
Indeed a place that is right out of Lord of The Rings kind of place… Amazing nature….
The sights were fascinating, Prasad.
Amazing indeed.
And I can’t seem to get enough of volcanic sights.
Hello, it is a wonderful park to visit. Your photos are wonderful. Enjoy your day, have a happy new week ahead.
The park really did fill me with wonder. It was interesting — an hour before the visit I’d known nothing about Petrified Wood. 🙂
Thank you, Eileen. I hope you are having a good week.
Wonderful and dynamic photography of the Petrified Forest ~
Happy Day to you,
A ShutterBug Explores,
aka (A Creative Harbor)
Thank you, Carol. 🙂
Happy Day to you, too.
Funny story, I was just telling my husband to go back here. We have visited a very long time ago, over ten years ago, so it’s high time we visit again.
WORTH A THOUSAND WORDS
Oh yeah?! I’d like to visit there again. It’s been almost 6 years since my visit. I’d love to bring back better pictures too. It was on a hot August day that I was there and it the heat made me a bit sick. 😀
I hope you get to go soon. I would love to see it on your blog. 🙂
Nature certainly keeps up scratching our heads sometimes! Love your photos.
It sure does. 🙂
Thank you, Betty. 🙂
Wow! This looks interesting. Those layers look beautiful. Nice one, Nambiare.
These pictures are from some time ago. It was so hot and I didn’t take the trouble to take proper pictures. As I was looking through the pics, I was thinking I should go back and take pics that show how stony the wood is. 🙂
Thankfully there were those last 3 pics that were not that bad. Those layers look interesting, no?
Thank you, Nomad.
I haven’t been to a petrified forest – thanks for the virtual tour!
You are so welcome.
Thank you for visiting and leaving a comment, Amy. 🙂
That is something different 🙂
Isn’t it?!
🙂
Simply Amazing! Thanks for this e-visit!! 🙂
It is.
Thank you for coming. 🙂
Something very new to know.
Fascinating, no?
🙂
Quite fascinating to see this. Looking at the close up images I think these colours and textures could be such an inspiration for tile makers and artists!
Only the last few images show you the textures and yes — it is very interesting. Inspiring, too.
If I remember correctly, there were some glittering particles those layers too.
I was very fascinated.
Wow! This is indeed amazing. Nature never fails to astonish! Beautifully captured in pictures and words.
Nature seems to have loads and loads of surprises put away for us. This was another of those totally amazing places.
Thank you, Magiceye.
Now I got to see a petrified forest thanks to you 🙂
I like the informative boards. We really need to respect environment and take care of our trees and such forests.
Have a great week!
I’m happy I was able to show it to you. True, those information boards are such treasures by themselves. They enrich our trips, especially the ones to places like this where there’s so much to learn.
Thank you for coming this way, Anita. Stay safe from the cyclone!! Take care.
This is the most amazing thing I had heard about in a long time. I never knew such a thing existed so I am so glad you shared. I would love to see this one day. Thank you so much for linking up!
I was so fascinated by the process of petrification and the stony wood I saw during my visit to this place. I’m happy I got to share this with you. Also, SO GLAD that this post fit in with Thursday Tree Love. Thank you for hosting, it, Parul. 🙂
The giant is a very intriguing creation. Reminds me of something similar in the UK – Rushmere county park which hosts a few quirky art pieces.My favourite is the giant’s chair 🙂 -https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/LocationPhotoDirectLink-g1207908-d4812845-i192516702-Rushmere_Country_Park-Leighton_Buzzard_Bedfordshire_England.html
I’m yet to make a trip to the US, this looks very intriguing for a day trip 🙂
Hi Vinay,
Nice to see you back here. Welcome back. 🙂
The trees here at this park is true volcanic art. It is fascinating what you see and learn here. You would enjoy the trip.
Thank you for the link. Will check it out.
volcanic effects…amazing game of the nature.
Loved the shots.
Absolutely!
Thank you Jyotimoy. 🙂
Amazing! First time I heard and saw about petrified trees.
Hey Ranjana, Long time!
How have you been?
I’m so glad to hear that you guys enjoyed seeing Petrified Wood. 🙂
I have never seen or heard about this forest:) thanks for sharing this post:)
Welcome, Angela.
It is such a pleasure. 🙂