…:: Alex Smirnov ::…

Introduction
During our 2007 Arizona trip, especially after visiting the Petrified Forest National Park we have decided to collect some petrified wood on our own – legally that is. Fortunately we had copy of Bearce’s Book “Minerals of Arizona: A Field Guide for Collectors” which pointed us to some public lands in a sparsely populated area around Oso Draw where collecting is legal. Granted, the directions in the book were sufficient to get us over there but in the time of GPS navigation I was wishing for at least coordinates, if not the routes to the area. I admit that looking for the collecting area on unpaved roads of typical red color with a book several years old provided a lot of excitement but perhaps not every one is so adventurous. If you would like to do it the old fashioned way (GPS-free) go ahead and use Bearce’s book or my directions. If you do have a handheld GPS unit and draw just as much excitement from using it and retracing someone else’s steps (in this case – mine) go ahead and use the coordinates, tracks and waypoints provided on this page. When collecting, please use the proper rockhounding etiquette (to use Bearce’s words). In my words, don’t be a greedy asshole that takes a ton of petrified wood and destroys what can not be carried away. In any case, the law only permits you to take 25 pounds a day and 250 pounds a year. If that is not enough for you, I suggest you seek professional help. Now that my rant is over, let’s get to the directions.

Directions
There are two ways to get to the collecting area:
1) From Snowflake, AZ, routes 77 or 277. When you get to Snowflake, look for a big intersection on route 77. At this intersection (N34.51329; W110.07897), Route 77 runs in the N (Holbrook) – S (Show Low) direction, route 277 splits to the W and the Concho Highway (also known as Snowflake Boulevard) splits to the E. Take the Snowflake Boulevard which after a few miles becomes the Concho Highway (Road N5270). Continue on N5270 until you reach an intersection with Road N9027 (to the left) (N34.56338; W109.74737). Pay attention to road numbers which are posted on small white “street” signs. As far as I could tell, they do not follow in any logical order. Skip the next paragraph to continue with the directions.

2) From Route 180. The important orientation point is the splitting of 180 and 180A (ALT, alternative) (N34.61989 W109.66201). You can get this point from Holbrook in the N or Saint Johns in the S. Take Route 180A a few moments until you hit the road N5270 which splits to the right (N34.61168 W109.65880). Continue on unpaved N5270 until you reach an intersection with Road N9027 (to the right) (N34.56338; W109.74737). Pay attention to road numbers which are posted on small white “street” signs. As far as I could tell, they do not follow in any logical order.

Head N on N9027 for about 3.7 miles until the intersection with N9135 (N34.61656; W109.74001). Turn left onto N9135 and go for about 0.3 miles and then turn right onto N9033 for about 0.1 miles and then left onto N9137. You should be on or around N34.61504 and W109.73503. From here on, the road is a pretty much a straight line for about 0.9 miles and you can already see the collecting area on the horizon. The road; however, degrades in quality and depending on the amount of rainfall in the previous days and the type of your car you may or may not be able to drive all the way to the collecting area. The road conditions can get especially dicey as you cross the Oso Draw (the depression ahead of you). If you can not get through with your car, park on the side and continue on foot. Drive (walk) on N9137 until you hit intersection with N9035 (N34.61693; W109.72029). Park your car, preferably so that it does not block the road and prepare to walk. From here to the cliffs it is only about 0.4 miles to the east (in the same direction as the N9137 that brought you here). As you walk, notice small pieces of petrified wood everywhere around you. Feel free to take what you like. Eventually you get to the cliffs (N34.61717; W109.71510) where you can find much bigger pieces as well as pieces of nice red, orange, black, brown and even green petrified wood. Collect away but don’t forget the rules. If you expected the same display of petrified wood as you saw in the Petrified Wood National Park you will be sorely disappointed. I am sure you can find just as beautiful pieces on public lands where they can be legally collected but I suspect it is not here. One more piece of advice. Make sure you do not enter any private property. If you see a fence, there is very likely a good reason why it is there. Usually to keep cattle in, or uninvited visitors out. Show some respect – for both nature and people.

Photographs and images of Oso Draw collecting area

Oso Draw petrified wood collecting area

Looking accross Oso Draw towards the collecting area

Intersection of roads 9137 and 9025 where you can park

The collecting area at Oso Draw, Arizona.

Download the GPS Dataset
This dataset contains the entire track as it was recorded by my GPS receiver. We came from 180 and left via Snowflake. You can load it into your GPS and retrace it virtually step by step.

• Oso Draw route GPX data file

Area visited on January 15, 2007. Posted online on January 25, 2007.

Just to make sure, I bear absolutely no liability for anything that happens to you, your friends, family, car, dog, bicycle, rickshaw, etc while using these directions. Feel free to link to this website and use it as you’d like, but please be nice and do not take the maps and photos or use them on your website (or anywhere else in printed or digital form) without asking me for permission first.