West Sound Guide: State Parks: Ginkgo Petrified Forest/Wanapum Recreational Area State Park

Ginkgo Petrified Forest State Park is a 7,470-acre park with year-round camping at Wanapum recreational area. The park features 27,000 feet of freshwater shoreline on the Wanapum Reservoir on the Columbia River. Petrified wood was discovered in the region in the early 1930s, which led to creation of the park as a national historic preserve.

Marine Park: No

Popular Destination

Park Hours

Summer: 6:30 a.m. to dusk.
Winter: 8 a.m. to dusk.

Ginkgo Petrified Forest is ope for day use weekends and holidays only from Nov. 5 to March 21.

Wanapum Recreational Area is open to camping and day use on weekends and holidays only from Nov. 1 to March 21.

Camping at Wanapum:
Check-in time, 2:30 p.m.
Check-out time, 1 p.m.
Quiet hours: 10 p.m. to 6:30 a.m.

Significant History

The park was set aside as a historic preserve when remains of a fossil forest were unearthed during highway construction in the 1930s. Petrified wood from many different trees are common in the area, but specimens of petrified Ginkgo are rare. Many buildings on the premises owe their origin to the work of the 1930s Civilian Conservation Corps.

Interpretive Oportunities

The park features an interpretive center. Hours vary with the season. Group tours are available for a fee and by advanced appointment only. For information, call the park at (509) 856-2700.

Directions provided by the state parks department are given below the map, or you can try to have google create the directions from the coordinates we have on file.

Directions

From east or west on I-90:
Wanapum recreation area: Take exit #136. Follow signs south on Huntzinger Rd. three miles to the park entrance.

Ginkgo Interpretive Center: Take exit #136 north through Vantage one mile to Ginkgo.

Mammals	Birds	Fish & Sea Life	Plantlife
Badgers Bobcats Coyotes Deer/Elk Marmots Muskrats Rabbits Raccoons Skunks	Chukar Crows/Ravens Dove/Pigeon Ducks Eagles Geese Gulls Hawks Herons Humming Birds Jays Owls Quail Snipe Woodpeckers Wrens	Clams Bass Bluegill Bullhead Catfish Crappie Perch Salmon Steelhead Sturgeon Trout Walleye	Douglas Fir Ponderosa Pine Apple Trees Ash Trees Birch Trees Maple Trees Oak Trees Poplars Lupines Paintbrush Thistle Poison Oak

General	Trails	Freshwater Activities	Saltwater Activities
Swimming Bird Watching Wildlife Viewing Museum Interpretive	3 mi. of Hiking Trails	Fishing Personal Watercraft WaterSkiing 1 Boat Ramp
Picnic Notes There are 57 unsheltered picnic tables, available first-come, first-served. The park is heavily used during Gorge concert season, and fills early on weekends. Boating/Water Notes There is one watercraft launch with two ramps in the park. A daily permit is available for watercraft launching and trailer dumping at the park for $5. Annual permits also may be purchased at State Parks Headquarters in Olympia, at region offices, online, and at parks when staff is available.

General

Trails

Freshwater Activities

Saltwater Activities

Swimming

Bird Watching

Wildlife Viewing

Museum

Interpretive

3 mi. of Hiking Trails

Fishing

Personal Watercraft

WaterSkiing

1 Boat Ramp

Picnic Notes

There are 57 unsheltered picnic tables, available first-come, first-served. The park is heavily used during Gorge concert season, and fills early on weekends.

Boating/Water Notes

There is one watercraft launch with two ramps in the park.

A daily permit is available for watercraft launching and trailer dumping at the park for $5.
Annual permits also may be purchased at State Parks Headquarters in Olympia, at region offices, online, and at parks when staff is available.

Park Services	Area Services
Camping Pay Phone	Auto Repair Boating Camping Area Diesel Fishing and Hunting Supplies Gasolene Gifts Groceries Overnight Accomodations Pay Phones US Mail Propane Wood
Most services are available within 30 miles of the park.