The Petrified Forest

 My day started in Calistoga at the Petrified Forest.

When Mount St Helena erupted 3.4 million years ago, the volcanic ash petrified the trees in this area of Calistoga, and ash settled on the grounds.

The ash acted as a preservation because it blocked oxygen from decomposing the trees.

Today, it is a privately owned park where people can get up close to the petrified wood, and get a view of the volcano that erupted in the Pliocene Epoch.

I wonder who is allowed to go down into this mine.

I planted my flag at the top of the hill.

That is how far away the volcano is from where the ash settled.

There is a lot of green, despite there also being a lot of ash on the grounds.

This is all volcanic ash.

The park has one main trail and one that veers off to the ash hill, and where you can get a view of Mt St Helena. You can complete the loop in as little as forty minutes, or you can sit on the benches scattered throughout the property while looking at the view, or sitting quietly for reflection.