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Fossil Forest Trailhead

Day Hike Through a Petrified Forest

“Specimen Ridge Day Hike Trailhead”

Trailhead on Lamar River on Fossil Forest Trail, Specimen Ridge Day Hike Trail, Folsom-Cook-Peterson Route in Yellowstone NP, Rocky Mountains near Buffalo Ford, WY

Beginning from this unmarked trailhead in the western part of Lamar Valley, a strenuous 1.5 mile long trail (one-way) leads up to a petrified forest with many upright and fallen petrified trees. This trail is not connected to the longer trail that traverses the entire ridge. See Specimen Ridge Trailhead.

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This trailhead is not formally marked, but the trail starts at the first roadside pullout after crossing the Lamar River when coming from the Northeast Entrance. The first mile of the trail leads uphill across an open grassy plain full of sagebrush and wildflowers.

Petrified Trees

Hundreds of petrified trees, some 8 feet in diameter and 20 feet tall, are located near the cliffs on the ridge above the trailhead. The trees are remains of 50 million-year-old fir and sequoia trees which fossilized in silica-rich soil. Petrified trees can also be found standing alongside pine trees in the forest right below the cliffs.