However, there are also many wildflowers and the rare Simpson’s Hedgehog Cactus, scattered throughout the rocky soil underfoot. It is classified as shrub step, and the vegetation is mostly Big Sagebrush, Bitterbrush and mixed Bunchgrasses. The Whiskey Dick Unit is named for the creek that runs through the area which is fed by numerous springs scattered throughout the drainage. The ecologically unique area in combination with the interesting name choice made this a must explore region. Apryle located this obscure area on the Washington State Atlas and researched further discovering that there was a trail network made up of dirt/gravel roads. The 28549 acre unit is part of a total of 51793 acres managed by WDFW and DNR providing a sanctuary for many wintering elk herds, deer and upland birds. The second leg of the journey was a 10 mile exploratory journey in the Whiskey Dick Unit of the L.T. Overall Ginkgo Petrified Forest was well worth the three year wait! Ginkgo Petrified Forest In addition to the petrified wood, there are also impressive petroglyphs created by the Wanapum tribe of Native Americans on the basalt cliffs along the Columbia River. The logs themselves are protected from destruction with metal bars across the top of recessed brick cellars. Some of the petrified tree species include: Ginkgo, Sweetgum, Redwood, Douglas Fir, Walnut, Spruce, Elm, Maple, Horse Chestnut, Cottonwood, Magnolia, Madrone, Sassafras, Yew, and Witch Hazel.Įxamples of most of these species are scattered around the area and the Wanapum Hiking Trail carves a path around 22 distinct petrified logs. Finally being exposed near the end of the last ice age when the Missoula Floods eroded the basalt, exposing the long hidden petrified wood. The trees were covered in volcanic ash and the groundwater minerals gradually replaced the organic matter in the tree trunks, resulting in the petrified wood.įurthermore, the petrified forest was protected by thousands of years of basalt flows. Specifically the formations developed about 15.5 million years ago when the now arid Columbia Plateau was lush and wet and home to numerous plant species, some of which are now extinct. Not only did apes diversify in this period, leading to the evolutionary path of our ancestors, but also over 50 different species of trees became immortalized in stone in what is now known as Ginkgo Petrified Forest. The unique geologic features are from my personal favorite epoch of the Neogene period which is the Miocene. The discovery of petrified wood in the area in the 1930s led to the destination as a national historic preserve.
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The park is 7470 acres and is located in the town of Vantage along the Wanapum Reservoir (Columbia River).
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The stop at Ginkgo was the first leg en route to University of Washington to gather equipment for Apryle’s upcoming field season. After three years of passing by the sign for Ginkgo Petrified Forest State Park, Apryle and I finally planned a trip to the geological wonder.