A Bit Of An Unexpected Natural Wonder, Few People Know There’s A Petrified Forest Hiding In North Dakota

Few things are quite as spellbinding in their natural beauty as Theodore Roosevelt National Park. As North Dakota's very own National Park, this amazing little slice of paradise is filled with incredible natural wonders, many of which most folks probably don't even associate with North Dakota. Made up of more than 70,000 incredible acres, this beautiful park features lots of outlandish spots and locations, like, for example, the petrified forest. You read that right: You don't need to wander off to Arizona to catch a glimpse of petrified woodlands galore. There are some right here, in our backyard, and we'll tell you: They. Are. Glorious. 

First, a quick geology refresher: Petrified wood occurs when, quite literally (and extremely gradually), wood is turned to stone.

In many cases, forests are overcome with ash and sediment from a nearby volcanic eruption, which kills the tree but halts the natural decomposition process. One way or another, various silicas make their way into the "veins" of the tree and harden into minerals over the years, leaving the petrified wood we can check out and admire today.

North Dakota is, unbeknownst to many, the third-largest concentration of petrified wood in the United States.

Lucky us! For the least-visited state in the nation (we'll never not be salty about this), that's not too shabby.

The petrified wood takes on a fascinating appearance, like something in between rock and plant.

Theodore Roosevelt National Park is absolutely enormous, and there's so much to do and see around here that it would be pretty easy to accidentally overlook the petrified forest.

We don't recommend that, though, considering it's one of the most fascinating places you'll ever explore.

When people think of this particular national park - or North Dakota in general, really - they likely envision something akin to the Badlands, but we're willing to bet they never include a petrified forest in their visions!

Embark upon a delightful hike through the remains of this ancient forest-turned-stone; it's a 10.4-mile loop, should you do the entire thing, and it's filled from start to finish with incredible vistas, stunning geology, interesting geography...

...and, of course, plenty of petrified trees.

So, where did all of these trees come from, anyway?

What is now badlands and rolling prairies was once a much more forested environment; this whole area used to be made up of tall trees and shallow swamps - a far cry from what it is today. It's amazing how the landscape naturally changes over time, but thank goodness there's always evidence left behind - like this awesome petrified forest!

To learn more about the amazing, ten-mile hike through the petrified forest at Theodore Roosevelt National Park, be sure to check out its page on the National Park Service website. Where are your favorite unusual places to get outside in North Dakota? Let us know!