Petrified Forest, Petrified forest near Sarmiento, Chubut Province, Argentina.

Petrified Forest is a provincial natural monument 30 km south of Sarmiento, Argentina. Its petrified wood comes from primitive conifers and palm trees of the Cenozoic era, lying exposed on the ground.

The site preserves fossilized remains of trees from approximately 65 million years ago, when this region was covered by green marshland and wetlands. These specimens demonstrate what plant life looked like in ancient Patagonia.

The site is a provincial natural monument, a protection status that frames how it is presented to visitors. Its fossil wood comes from Cenozoic-era primitive conifers and palm trees, the two plant groups the sources name, so a visit centres on reading that plant record in the stone.

The site lies roughly 30 kilometers from Sarmiento city and can be reached partly on paved road, then by unpaved track. Bringing your own vehicle or joining a guided tour makes it easier to explore the scattered remains across the terrain.

The petrified wood displays natural colors ranging from brown and red to yellow, created by minerals in the soil and time. These colored patterns make each piece visually distinct and give the landscape a special appearance.