Ginkgo Petrified Forest State Park Backcountry

The backcountry routes at Ginkgo Petrified Forest State Park climb from the Columbia River basin into rolling shrub-steppe above basalt bluffs. The main route starts steep, gains a broad bench above the cliffs, traverses a side canyon, then follows an old two-track west to Sternberg Point. The view from the point takes in Babcock Bench, the Columbia River, and the Saddle Mountains.

Petrified wood from the Miocene epoch lies scattered across the backcountry, the remains of forests buried by lava flows 15 million years ago. Bighorn sheep inhabit the cliffs and are spotted regularly in spring and fall. Robinson's onion, a rare endemic wildflower, blooms here alongside balsamroot, lupine, phlox, and bitterroot in April and May.

The trailhead is easy to miss. Pull off the shoulder of Recreation Road 0.5 miles from Huntzinger Road. Trails are unmarked old two-tracks and game paths; navigation requires attention. The interpretive trails at the main park area sit a few miles west and offer a shorter, signed alternative for those wanting a quick introduction to the petrified wood story.