From the low-lying eastern plains, to the central peaks soaring more than 14,000 feet above sea level, to the western red-rock canyons: the colorful landscape of Colorado embodies some of the most varied, spectacular, and well-displayed geology in the nation. The evolution of the rocks, climate, life, and structures that formed during the Colorado’s 2.7-billion-year geologic history offers marvelous insights into the global science of geology. This diverse region provides not only rich mineral and energy resources, but also presents geological hazards that deserve great respect. Explore and enjoy this section about Colorado’s magnificent geology. Don’t forget to check out the ‘Media’ tab (right) for some amazing photographs! If you would like to have a wonderful primer on Colorado’s unique geology, order a print copy of the award-winning Messages in Stone: Colorado’s Colorful Geology, a perennial favorite of locals and visitors alike. On all the broad extent of these United States, certainly no region can be found which presents more facts of interest, more opportunities for investigation, and greater possibilities, than the State of Colorado. — Samuel F. Emmons, geologist on the King Survey of the 40th Parallel from California to Colorado from 1867 to 1872; Director of the Rocky Mountain Division of the United States Geological Survey; and the first president of the Colorado Scientific Society, from his inaugural address. I do not know of any portion of the West where there is so much variety displayed in the geology as within a space of ten miles square around Colorado City (today’s Colorado Springs). Nearly all the elements of geological study revealed in the Rocky Mountains are shown on a unique scale in this locality. — F. V. Hayden, geological expedition leader to the Colorado region between 1869 to 1876, from the first expedition report. The geology of Colorado is written in the rocks. From this great book are here presented a few translations of a few paragraphs. The scenery of Colorado is a gallery incomparable. Words lack form and light – the essence and soul of scenery. At best they can but call attention to the elements associated in the picture. They cannot convey the beauty and harmony of the assemblage. — The first director (1908-26) of the Colorado Geological Survey, Russell D. George, in the preface to his 1927 book, Geology and Natural Resources of Colorado.
Publications General geological interest Many of these are out of print but may be found on Amazon or other online sources. Chronic, Halka. Roadside Geology of Colorado. Miscellaneous Investigations. Missoula, MT: Mountain Press Publishing Company, 1980. Foutz, Dell R. Geology of Colorado Illustrated. Grand Junction, CO: Dell R. Foutz, 1994. Hopkins, Ralph Lee, and Lindy Birkel Hopkins. Hiking Colorado’s Geology. 1st ed. Seattle, WA: Mountaineers, 2000. Johnson, Kirk R, Robert G. H Raynolds, Jan Vriesen, Donna Braginetz, Gary Staab, and Denver Museum of Nature and Science. Ancient Denvers: Scenes from the Past 300 Million Years of the Colorado Front Range. Denver, CO: Denver Museum of Nature & Science, 2003. Johnson, Kirk R., and Richard Keith Stucky. Prehistoric Journey: A History of Life on Earth. Golden, CO: Fulcrum Publishing, 2006. Matthews, Vincent and Colorado Geological Survey. “SP-57 Tourist Guide to Colorado Geology.” Special Publication. Denver, CO: Colorado Geological Survey, Department of Natural Resources, 2009. Matthews, Vincent, Katie KellerLynn, and Betty Fox, eds. SP-52 Messages in Stone: Colorado’s Colorful Geology. Second. Special Publications, SP-52. Denver, CO: Colorado Geological Survey, Department of Natural Resources, 2009. Murphy, Jack A. Geology Tour of Denver’s Buildings and Monuments. Historic Denver Guides. Denver, CO: Historic Denver and the Denver Museum of Natural History, 1995. Murphy, Jack A. Geology Tour of Denver’s Capitol Hill Stone Buildings. Miscellaneous 65. Denver, CO: Historic Denver, Inc, 1997. Osterwald, Doris B. Rocky Mountain Splendor: A Mile by Mile Guide for Rocky Mountain National Park. 1st ed. Lakewood, CO: Western Guideways, 1989. Raup, Omer B. Geology along Trail Ridge Road: Rocky Mountain National Park Colorado. Estes Park, CO: Rocky Mountain Nature Association, 2005. Reed, Jack, and Gene Ellis. Rocks Above the Clouds: A Hiker’s and Climber’s Guide to Colorado Mountain Geology. The Colorado Mountain Club, n.d. Taylor, Andrew M. Guide to the Geology of Colorado. Golden, CO: Cataract Lode Mining Co., 1999.
General geological interest Many of these are out of print but may be found on Amazon or other online sources. Chronic, Halka. Roadside Geology of Colorado. Miscellaneous Investigations. Missoula, MT: Mountain Press Publishing Company, 1980. Foutz, Dell R. Geology of Colorado Illustrated. Grand Junction, CO: Dell R. Foutz, 1994. Hopkins, Ralph Lee, and Lindy Birkel Hopkins. Hiking Colorado’s Geology. 1st ed. Seattle, WA: Mountaineers, 2000. Johnson, Kirk R, Robert G. H Raynolds, Jan Vriesen, Donna Braginetz, Gary Staab, and Denver Museum of Nature and Science. Ancient Denvers: Scenes from the Past 300 Million Years of the Colorado Front Range. Denver, CO: Denver Museum of Nature & Science, 2003. Johnson, Kirk R., and Richard Keith Stucky. Prehistoric Journey: A History of Life on Earth. Golden, CO: Fulcrum Publishing, 2006. Matthews, Vincent and Colorado Geological Survey. “SP-57 Tourist Guide to Colorado Geology.” Special Publication. Denver, CO: Colorado Geological Survey, Department of Natural Resources, 2009. Matthews, Vincent, Katie KellerLynn, and Betty Fox, eds. SP-52 Messages in Stone: Colorado’s Colorful Geology. Second. Special Publications, SP-52. Denver, CO: Colorado Geological Survey, Department of Natural Resources, 2009. Murphy, Jack A. Geology Tour of Denver’s Buildings and Monuments. Historic Denver Guides. Denver, CO: Historic Denver and the Denver Museum of Natural History, 1995. Murphy, Jack A. Geology Tour of Denver’s Capitol Hill Stone Buildings. Miscellaneous 65. Denver, CO: Historic Denver, Inc, 1997. Osterwald, Doris B. Rocky Mountain Splendor: A Mile by Mile Guide for Rocky Mountain National Park. 1st ed. Lakewood, CO: Western Guideways, 1989. Raup, Omer B. Geology along Trail Ridge Road: Rocky Mountain National Park Colorado. Estes Park, CO: Rocky Mountain Nature Association, 2005. Reed, Jack, and Gene Ellis. Rocks Above the Clouds: A Hiker’s and Climber’s Guide to Colorado Mountain Geology. The Colorado Mountain Club, n.d. Taylor, Andrew M. Guide to the Geology of Colorado. Golden, CO: Cataract Lode Mining Co., 1999.
Links ON-004-02 — Colorado POGI Map — Reviving this popular map of Colorado Points of Geologic Interest was a high priority, and here it is as a shared Google Map. Comments welcome! CGS Field trip guides: Birkeland, Peter W., Daniel C. Miller, Penny E. Patterson, Alan B. Price, and Ralph R. Shroba. “OF-96-04-27 Soil-Geomorphic Relationships near Rocky Flats, Boulder and Golden, Colorado Area with a Stop at the Pre-Fountain Paleosol of Wahlstrom.” Fieldtrip. Open File Report. Denver, CO: Colorado Geological Survey, Division of Minerals and Geology, Department of Natural Resources, 1996. Blair, Rob. “OF-96-04-09 Geology of the Western San Juan Mountains and a Tour of the San Juan Skyway, Southwestern Colorado.” Fieldtrip. Open File Report. Denver, CO: Colorado Geological Survey, Division of Minerals and Geology, Department of Natural Resources, 1996. Collins, Donna Bishop. “SP-27 Scenic Trips into Colorado Geology.” Touristic Geology, 1:250,000. Special Publication. Denver, CO: Colorado Geological Survey, Department of Natural Resources, 1985. Colorado Geological Survey. “OF-96-04-20 History, Geology, Hydrogeology, Summitville Mine and Downstream Effects, and Other Nearby Mines of the San Luis Valley, Colorado.” Fieldtrip. Open File Report. Denver, CO: Colorado Geological Survey, Division of Minerals and Geology, Department of Natural Resources, 1996. ———. “RockTalk V02N1, January 1999 – Annual Review.” RockTalk, January 1999. ———. “RockTalk V11N1, Spring 2008 – 2007 Summary.” RockTalk, Spring 2008. Erslev, Eric A., and Joe D. Gregson. “OF-96-04-25 Oblique Laramie Convergence in the Northeastern Front Range: Regional Implications for the Analysis of Minor Faults.” Fieldtrip. Open File Report. Denver, CO: Colorado Geological Survey, Division of Minerals and Geology, Department of Natural Resources, 1996. Fleming, Robert W., Rex L. Baum, and William Z. Savage. “OF-96-04-11 The Slumgullion Landslide, Hindsdale County, Colorado.” Fieldtrip. Open File Report. Denver, CO: Colorado Geological Survey, Division of Minerals and Geology, Department of Natural Resources, 1996. Henry, Thomas W., Emmett Evanoff, Daniel Grenard, Herbert W. Meyer, and Jeffrey A. Pontius. “OF-96-04-24 Geology of the Gold Belt Backcountry Byway, South Central Colorado.” Fieldtrip. Open File Report. Denver, CO: Colorado Geological Survey, Division of Minerals and Geology, Department of Natural Resources, 1996. Hynes, Jeffrey L. SP-31 Proceedings of the 1985 Conference on Coal Mine Subsidence in the Rocky Mountain Region. Special Publications, SP-31. Denver, CO: Colorado Geological Survey, Department of Natural Resources, 1986. Kirkham, Robert M., Bruce Bryant, Randall K. Streufert, and Ralph R. Shroba. “OF-96-04-08 Geology and Geologic Hazards of the Glenwood Springs Area, Central Colorado.” Fieldtrip. Open File Report. Denver, CO: Colorado Geological Survey, Division of Minerals and Geology, Department of Natural Resources, 1996. Krutak, Paul R. “OF-96-04-23 Depositional Environments of Codell-Juana Lopez Sandstones and Regional Structure and Stratigraphy of Canon City and Huerfano Areas and Northern Raton Basin, South-Central Colorado.” Fieldtrip. Open File Report. Denver, CO: Colorado Geological Survey, Division of Minerals and Geology, Department of Natural Resources, 1996. Matthews, Vincent and Colorado Geological Survey. “SP-57 Tourist Guide to Colorado Geology.” Special Publication. Denver, CO: Colorado Geological Survey, Department of Natural Resources, 2009. Matthews, Vincent, Katie KellerLynn, and Betty Fox, eds. SP-52 Messages in Stone: Colorado’s Colorful Geology. Second. Special Publications, SP-52. Denver, CO: Colorado Geological Survey, Department of Natural Resources, 2009. Noe, D. C., Jonathan L. White, and G. Zabel. “SP-56 Geology and Geologic Hazards along the I-70 Corridor, Vail to Glenwood Springs, Colorado.” In Field Trip Guidebooks, 1st North American Landslide Conference, edited by Jeffrey A. Coe and D. C. Noe. Special Publication, SP-56. Denver, CO: Colorado Geological Survey, Department of Natural Resources, 2007. Penn, Brian S., and David A. Lindsey. “OF-96-04-28 Tertiary Igneous Rocks and Laramide Structure and Stratigraphy of the Spanish Peaks Region, South-Central Colorado: Road Log and Descriptions from Walsenburg to La Veta to Aguilar.” Fieldtrip. Open File Report. Denver, CO: Colorado Geological Survey, Division of Minerals and Geology, Department of Natural Resources, 1996. Schwochow, Stephen D., ed. RS-08 Proceedings of the Fifteenth Forum on Geology of Industrial Minerals – Industrial Minerals in Colorado and the Rocky Mountain Region. Resource Series, RS-08. Denver, CO: Colorado Geological Survey, Department of Natural Resources, 1980. “SP-19 Colorado Tectonics, Seismicity and Earthquake Hazards: Proceedings and Field Trip Guide of a Symposium Held in Denver, Colorado, June 4-6, 1981.” Tectonics, Seismicity, and Earthquake. Special Publication. Denver, CO: Colorado Geological Survey, Department of Natural Resources, 1981. Thompson, Ren A., Mark R. Hudson, and C. L. Pillmore, eds. SP-44 Geologic Excursions to the Rocky Mountains and beyond: Field Trip Guidebook for the 1996 Annual Meeting, Geological Society of America, Denver, Colorado, October 28-31. Special Publications, SP-44. Denver, CO: Colorado Geological Survey, Department of Natural Resources, 1996. White, Jonathan L., N. C. Dessenberger, W. L. Ellis, J. D. Higgins, and S. Gaffney. SP-56 First North American Landslide Conference Field Trips, Vail, Colorado, June 3-10, 2007. Edited by D. C. Noe and Jeffrey A. Coe. Special Publication, SP-56. Denver, CO: Colorado Geological Survey, Department of Natural Resources, 2007. ———. “SP-56 Geology and Geologic Hazards along the I-70 Corridor, Glenwood Springs to Grand Junction, Colorado.” In Field Trip Guidebooks, 1st North American Landslide Conference, edited by D. C. Noe and Jeffrey A. Coe. Special Publication, SP-56. Denver, CO: Colorado Geological Survey, Department of Natural Resources, 2007.
ON-004-02 — Colorado POGI Map — Reviving this popular map of Colorado Points of Geologic Interest was a high priority, and here it is as a shared Google Map. Comments welcome! CGS Field trip guides: Birkeland, Peter W., Daniel C. Miller, Penny E. Patterson, Alan B. Price, and Ralph R. Shroba. “OF-96-04-27 Soil-Geomorphic Relationships near Rocky Flats, Boulder and Golden, Colorado Area with a Stop at the Pre-Fountain Paleosol of Wahlstrom.” Fieldtrip. Open File Report. Denver, CO: Colorado Geological Survey, Division of Minerals and Geology, Department of Natural Resources, 1996. Blair, Rob. “OF-96-04-09 Geology of the Western San Juan Mountains and a Tour of the San Juan Skyway, Southwestern Colorado.” Fieldtrip. Open File Report. Denver, CO: Colorado Geological Survey, Division of Minerals and Geology, Department of Natural Resources, 1996. Collins, Donna Bishop. “SP-27 Scenic Trips into Colorado Geology.” Touristic Geology, 1:250,000. Special Publication. Denver, CO: Colorado Geological Survey, Department of Natural Resources, 1985. Colorado Geological Survey. “OF-96-04-20 History, Geology, Hydrogeology, Summitville Mine and Downstream Effects, and Other Nearby Mines of the San Luis Valley, Colorado.” Fieldtrip. Open File Report. Denver, CO: Colorado Geological Survey, Division of Minerals and Geology, Department of Natural Resources, 1996. ———. “RockTalk V02N1, January 1999 – Annual Review.” RockTalk, January 1999. ———. “RockTalk V11N1, Spring 2008 – 2007 Summary.” RockTalk, Spring 2008. Erslev, Eric A., and Joe D. Gregson. “OF-96-04-25 Oblique Laramie Convergence in the Northeastern Front Range: Regional Implications for the Analysis of Minor Faults.” Fieldtrip. Open File Report. Denver, CO: Colorado Geological Survey, Division of Minerals and Geology, Department of Natural Resources, 1996. Fleming, Robert W., Rex L. Baum, and William Z. Savage. “OF-96-04-11 The Slumgullion Landslide, Hindsdale County, Colorado.” Fieldtrip. Open File Report. Denver, CO: Colorado Geological Survey, Division of Minerals and Geology, Department of Natural Resources, 1996. Henry, Thomas W., Emmett Evanoff, Daniel Grenard, Herbert W. Meyer, and Jeffrey A. Pontius. “OF-96-04-24 Geology of the Gold Belt Backcountry Byway, South Central Colorado.” Fieldtrip. Open File Report. Denver, CO: Colorado Geological Survey, Division of Minerals and Geology, Department of Natural Resources, 1996. Hynes, Jeffrey L. SP-31 Proceedings of the 1985 Conference on Coal Mine Subsidence in the Rocky Mountain Region. Special Publications, SP-31. Denver, CO: Colorado Geological Survey, Department of Natural Resources, 1986. Kirkham, Robert M., Bruce Bryant, Randall K. Streufert, and Ralph R. Shroba. “OF-96-04-08 Geology and Geologic Hazards of the Glenwood Springs Area, Central Colorado.” Fieldtrip. Open File Report. Denver, CO: Colorado Geological Survey, Division of Minerals and Geology, Department of Natural Resources, 1996. Krutak, Paul R. “OF-96-04-23 Depositional Environments of Codell-Juana Lopez Sandstones and Regional Structure and Stratigraphy of Canon City and Huerfano Areas and Northern Raton Basin, South-Central Colorado.” Fieldtrip. Open File Report. Denver, CO: Colorado Geological Survey, Division of Minerals and Geology, Department of Natural Resources, 1996. Matthews, Vincent and Colorado Geological Survey. “SP-57 Tourist Guide to Colorado Geology.” Special Publication. Denver, CO: Colorado Geological Survey, Department of Natural Resources, 2009. Matthews, Vincent, Katie KellerLynn, and Betty Fox, eds. SP-52 Messages in Stone: Colorado’s Colorful Geology. Second. Special Publications, SP-52. Denver, CO: Colorado Geological Survey, Department of Natural Resources, 2009. Noe, D. C., Jonathan L. White, and G. Zabel. “SP-56 Geology and Geologic Hazards along the I-70 Corridor, Vail to Glenwood Springs, Colorado.” In Field Trip Guidebooks, 1st North American Landslide Conference, edited by Jeffrey A. Coe and D. C. Noe. Special Publication, SP-56. Denver, CO: Colorado Geological Survey, Department of Natural Resources, 2007. Penn, Brian S., and David A. Lindsey. “OF-96-04-28 Tertiary Igneous Rocks and Laramide Structure and Stratigraphy of the Spanish Peaks Region, South-Central Colorado: Road Log and Descriptions from Walsenburg to La Veta to Aguilar.” Fieldtrip. Open File Report. Denver, CO: Colorado Geological Survey, Division of Minerals and Geology, Department of Natural Resources, 1996. Schwochow, Stephen D., ed. RS-08 Proceedings of the Fifteenth Forum on Geology of Industrial Minerals – Industrial Minerals in Colorado and the Rocky Mountain Region. Resource Series, RS-08. Denver, CO: Colorado Geological Survey, Department of Natural Resources, 1980. “SP-19 Colorado Tectonics, Seismicity and Earthquake Hazards: Proceedings and Field Trip Guide of a Symposium Held in Denver, Colorado, June 4-6, 1981.” Tectonics, Seismicity, and Earthquake. Special Publication. Denver, CO: Colorado Geological Survey, Department of Natural Resources, 1981. Thompson, Ren A., Mark R. Hudson, and C. L. Pillmore, eds. SP-44 Geologic Excursions to the Rocky Mountains and beyond: Field Trip Guidebook for the 1996 Annual Meeting, Geological Society of America, Denver, Colorado, October 28-31. Special Publications, SP-44. Denver, CO: Colorado Geological Survey, Department of Natural Resources, 1996. White, Jonathan L., N. C. Dessenberger, W. L. Ellis, J. D. Higgins, and S. Gaffney. SP-56 First North American Landslide Conference Field Trips, Vail, Colorado, June 3-10, 2007. Edited by D. C. Noe and Jeffrey A. Coe. Special Publication, SP-56. Denver, CO: Colorado Geological Survey, Department of Natural Resources, 2007. ———. “SP-56 Geology and Geologic Hazards along the I-70 Corridor, Glenwood Springs to Grand Junction, Colorado.” In Field Trip Guidebooks, 1st North American Landslide Conference, edited by D. C. Noe and Jeffrey A. Coe. Special Publication, SP-56. Denver, CO: Colorado Geological Survey, Department of Natural Resources, 2007.
Media Zoom Download Image Share Blair Mountain, with exposed beds of the Parachute Creek Member of the Green River Formation, Garfield County (March, CGS 2025 Geology Calendar). Photo credit: Matt Morgan (CGS) Zoom Download Image Share Precambrian igneous and metamorphic rocks in Unaweep Canyon, Mesa County, Colorado. Photo credit: Vince Matthews for the CGS. Zoom Download Image Share Red Rocks Park on the west side of Denver, Colorado. The red strata of the Pennsylvanian/Permian Fountain formation rests on Precambrian metamorphic rocks. Photo credit: Vince Matthews for the CGS. Zoom Download Image Share The Gates of Lodore on the Green River in what is now Dinosaur National Monument, Moffat County, Colorado. Photo credit: War Department, Office of the Chief of Engineers. U.S. Geological Exploration of the Fortieth Parallel, 1867-1881. Zoom Download Image Share Well-exposed monocline on the northwest end of the Uncompahgre Plateau, Mesa County, Colorado, October 2014. Photo credit: Colorado Geological Survey. Zoom Download Image Share A drone shot of the layered Miocene basalts of the Grand Mesa Volcanic Field. The tan Green River Formation (Paleogene)—forming the hoodoos—is seen beneath talus accumulations at the base of the basalt flows, Lands End, Grand Mesa, Colorado, July 2017. Photo credit: Julian Chesnutt for the CGS. Zoom Download Image Share Multiple layers of dinosaur tracks (side view) in upper Morrison Formation, Orchard City quadrangle, Delta County, Colorado, July 2009. Photo credit: David Noe for the CGS. Zoom Download Image Share Close-up of Ophiomorpha burrowed sandstone surface, Hunter Canyon, Mesa County, Colorado. Photo credit: David Noe for the CGS. Zoom Download Image Share Folding in Owiyukuts Complex, 2.7 billion-year-old metamorphic rocks in Moffat County, Colorado. Photo credit: Colorado Geological Survey. Zoom Download Image Share Tater Heap (mountain) in the West Elk mountains is a classic igneous intrusive laccolith. Photo credit: Vince Matthews for the CGS.