Johnson County to Sponsor Grant for Petrified Tree Trail Upgrade

Funds will make ancient natural wonder more accessible to all visitors

Apr. 10, 2026 at 2:43am

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An abstract, impressionistic photograph of a towering petrified tree trunk surrounded by a hazy, dreamlike landscape, conceptually representing the geological history and natural beauty of the Dry Creek Petrified Tree site.Improving trail access to the Dry Creek Petrified Tree site will open up this ancient natural wonder to a wider range of visitors.Buffalo Today

Johnson County's Commissioners have agreed to sponsor a grant application to the Wyoming Outdoor Recreation Trust Fund for roughly $117,000 to upgrade the trail at the Dry Creek Petrified Tree Environmental Education Area near Buffalo. The goal is to make the trail more handicapped accessible and easier for the public to travel.

Why it matters

The Dry Creek Petrified Tree area offers visitors a unique opportunity to explore the region's ancient geological history, with towering petrified trees dating back 60 million years. Improving the trail access will help make this natural wonder more inclusive and enjoyable for all visitors.

The details

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM), which oversees the Dry Creek Petrified Tree Environmental Education Area, requested that Johnson County act as the sponsor for the grant application. The proposed upgrades would focus on making the trail more handicapped accessible and improving the overall ease of travel for the public.

  • The Commissioners considered the BLM's request at their meeting on April 9, 2026.
  • The county will submit the grant application to the Wyoming Outdoor Recreation Trust Fund in the coming weeks.

The players

Johnson County Commissioners

The governing body of Johnson County, Wyoming that will sponsor the grant application for the Dry Creek Petrified Tree trail upgrades.

Bureau of Land Management (BLM)

The federal agency that manages the Dry Creek Petrified Tree Environmental Education Area and requested the county's sponsorship for the grant.

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What they’re saying

“They plan to submit an application to the Wyoming Outdoor Recreation Trust Fund for roughly $117,000 to upgrade the trail at the recreation area to make it more handicapped accessible and make it easier to travel by the public.”

— Bill Novotny, Commission Chairman

What’s next

The Johnson County Commissioners will submit the grant application to the Wyoming Outdoor Recreation Trust Fund in the coming weeks.

The takeaway

Upgrading the trail at the Dry Creek Petrified Tree area will make this ancient natural wonder more accessible to all visitors, helping to preserve this unique geological site for generations to come.