One of the largest petrified forests in the world can be explored in the desert lands of Central Washington.  Lava flows caused mineralization of buried forests of gingko, fir, spruce, elm, and walnut.   Bits of petrified wood dot the hills.   There is an interpretive trail, but we chose a faint double track into the backcountry of Gingko Petrified Forest State Park.

The hills are dry and treeless.   Bitterbrush, sagebrush, and grasses cover the rocky slopes.

The trailhead is on Recreation Road at the campground.   The trail bears north, paralleling the Columbia River basin.   Wanapum Lake stretches from the Wanapum Dam north to the Rock Island Dam.

In spring a few wildflowers graced the desolate hills.   Many fossilized pieces of petrified wood were spotted on the north end of the trail

We created a loop of 7.7 km by following an old double track up over the hills.   We were able to follow tracks all the way, but with the open terrain, hikers can create their own routes.

On a warm day and spring, the hike through the hills was a good one.   This would be more difficult in the summer heat.

We returned to the hills a few kilometers to the west to hike the trails in the Whiskey Dick Wilderness/Quilomene Wildlife Areas on the west side of the State Park a few days later.

Links:

• Whiskey Dick
• John Wayne Pioneer Trail