Visit The Petrified Forest

By Lauren A.

The Petrified Forest in Sonoma County is a natural wonder that’s quite literally trapped in time. When Mount St. Helena erupted 3.4 million years ago, it buried a forest of redwood trees under a layer of volcanic ash, causing the trees to petrify—or turn into stone—through a geological process that took thousands of years.

Visitors can wander the forested trails to discover the petrified trees on a self-guided tour that takes about an hour to complete.

The Petrified Forest is easily located in the city of Calistoga, and is the perfect starting point for any Napa Valley adventures.