Petroglyphs and Gopher Snakes

Gingko Petrified Forest State Park

If there is any single place that showcases the beauty and variety of Eastern Washington, it might be Gingko Petrified Forest State Park in Vantage, just north of the I-90 bridge over the Columbia River. Bordered on the east by the Wanapum Reservoir, the park is a 7,470-acre geologic preserve and public recreation area. (Wanapum Reservoir is the official name of the portion of the Columbia River which collects behind the Wanapum Dam).

cliff top view of the I-90 bridge from Gingko State Park

More than fifteen million years ago, during the Miocene epoch, this region was much different than it is now. Instead of dry open shrub steppe, it was wet, lush and forested; a land of swamps, lakes and prehistoric jungle. Deciduous trees such as gingko, oak, maple, and walnut flourished in the lower elevations, while thick forests of Douglas fir and spruce blanketed the rolling hills above. Many of these trees ended up buried in the mud of the swamps and lakes.

This was followed by a flood of lava from a fissure in southeastern Washington, which leveled the landscape, plants and trees. But the logs and stumps entombed in mud were spared from complete destruction as the lava cooled into a layer of protective basalt. Over eons, the wood and bark was replaced by minerals, turning the stumps into stone. Then in 1927 a road crew building the Vantage Highway unearthed this unique collection of fossilized plants.

The park interpretive center tells the story of how trees were turned into stone and preserved for millions of years.

Symbolic of our forests and ancient lava flows, petrified wood is Washington’s state gem.

tree species on display in the interpretive center

saber toothed kitty cats also roamed this region

The rangers’ house, interpretive center, shaded green grass picnic area and restrooms are located on a cliff high above the water. At the bottom of the cliff on the north side lies Rocky Coulee Recreation Area with an overnight campground and access to the water for fishing, swimming and boating.

See how high this is? Don’t fall off!

Besides the assortment of petrified logs scattered about inside the heavy metal chains that guard against people falling off the cliff, there is a collection of Native American petroglyphs alongside a short gravel trail below the parking lot.  These fascinating works of art, perhaps as old as 11,000 years, were saved from rising water and moved to permanent protection when the Columbia was trapped by the Wanapum and Priest River dams.

A baby gopher snake came by to check us out.

Clear water, blue skies, ancient lava beds.

the author in her natural habitat

Gingko Petrified Forest State Park 4511 Huntzinger Road, Vantage, WA 98950

Summer: 6:30 a.m. - Dusk

Winter: 8:00 a.m. - Dusk

Discover Pass required. Annual Pass: $30 One Day Pass: $10

Dogs allowed on leash

If you have a craving to read more about these lava flows, check out my photo essay on the mustangs of south central Oregon: