Within the Gallatin Range, the Gallatin Petrified Forest is one of the largest petrified forests of the Eocene Epoch.
The petrified wood that comprise it consist of the mineralized fossils of a mixture of transported logs and in place (in situ) wooden tree trunks rooted.
The in place tree trunks are rooted in moderately developed fossil soils, (paleosols).
The petrified logs, stumps, and trunks found in the Gallatin Range were buried by volcanic lahars.
The lahar deposits sometimes have been reworked and redeposited by small streams.
These sediments accumulated approximately 50 million year ago.
The U.S. Forest Service has a 2-mile (3.2 km) long interpretive trail which details the petrified trees.

In regard to these fossil forests and other fossils, collecting of fossils in Yellowstone National Park is illegal.
In addition, visitors should stay on marked and maintained trails.
Within the Gallatin Range, the Gallatin Petrified Forest is one of the largest petrified forests of the Eocene Epoch. The petrified wood that comprise it consist of the mineralized fossils of a mixture of transported logs and in place (in situ) wooden tree trunks rooted. The in place tree trunks are rooted in moderately developed fossil soils, (paleosols). The petrified logs, stumps, and trunks found in the Gallatin Range were buried by volcanic lahars. The lahar deposits sometimes have been reworked and redeposited by small streams. These sediments accumulated approximately 50 million year ago. The U.S. Forest Service has a 2-mile (3.2 km) long interpretive trail which details the petrified trees.
In regard to these fossil forests and other fossils, collecting of fossils in Yellowstone National Park is illegal. In addition, visitors should stay on marked and maintained trails.
Gallatin Range