POGIs
We hope our Google Maps-based POGI project will make it easier and more accessible to find your way around our beautiful state! With a wealth of fascinating geological features, venues, parks, and other attractions, a geology-themed vacation can be fun for the whole family.
* What’s a POGI? It’s our favorite term: “Points of Geologic Interest”!
Our POGI map and accompanying spreadsheet are currently under construction. Thank you for your patience!
Field Trips
We are also compiling a large number of field trip guides, some vintage, some new, from our collection, and will be posting them here shortly. A preliminary list is under the Resources tab. Also note some of our RockTalk blog postings cover fieldtrip opportunities around the state.
Resources
Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railway Geology Train (opens in a new window) — Keep your eyes open for the once-or-twice annual Geology Train adventure, and who knows, they may end scheduling more of them based on demand!
Fremont County Heritage Commission (opens in a new window) — The Commission has authored a number of (free!) self-guided field-trip publications on geological and paleontological areas in the county (opens in a new window).
New Mexico Geological Society (opens in a new window) — Fall Field Conference Guidebooks (opens in a new window) — the NMGS has made the peer-reviewed papers that accompany their Guidebooks free-for-download. There are a number of trips into Colorado, going back to 1950. The roadlogs are not free (opens in a new window), but we can highly recommend them, they are well done!
USGS – Ride the Rockies (opens in a new window) — A number of USGS scientists provide illustrated geological commentary along the routes of the annual Ride the Rockies bicycle races since 2001.
Abbott, David M., and David C. Noe. “The Consequences of Living with Geology: A Model Field Trip for the General Public (Second Edition).” In Field Trips in the Southern Rocky Mountains, USA, 5:185–206. GSA Field Guide. Denver, CO: Geological Society of America, 2004. http://fieldguides.gsapubs.org/cgi/doi/10.1130/0-8137-0005-1.185 (opens in a new window).
Averett, Walter R., ed. Guidebook for Dinosaur Quarries and Tracksites Tour: Western Colorado and Eastern Utah. Grand Junction, CO: Grand Junction Geological Society, 1993.
Berry, Karen A., David C. Noe, and James M. Soule. “FT-00-04 Front Range Geologic Hazards Field Trip: Earth Science Week Field Trip, October 11, 2000.” Colorado Geological Survey, Division of Minerals and Geology, Department of Natural Resources, October 11, 2000. https://coloradogeologicalsurvey.org/publications/field-trip-hazards-front-range-colorado/.
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. https://coloradogeologicalsurvey.org/publications/soil-geomorphic-rocky-flats-boulder-golden-fountain-paleosol-wahlstrom-colorado.
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. https://coloradogeologicalsurvey.org/publications/geology-san-juan-mountains-skyway-colorado.
Bolyard, Dudley W., and Stephen A. Sonnenberg. Geologic History of the Colorado Front Range: 1997 RMS-AAPG Field Trip #7. Denver, CO: Rocky Mountain Association of Geologists, 1997.
Chenoweth, William L. “Geological Road Log from Dinosaur Valley to Rabbit Valley via No Thoroughfare Canyon, Riggs Hill and Dinosaur Hill with a Glossary of Geological Terms.” William Chenoweth, 1992.
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. https://coloradogeologicalsurvey.org/publications/scenic-fieldtrips-colorado-geology-western-slope.
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. https://coloradogeologicalsurvey.org/publications/history-geology-hydrogeology-summitville-mine-san-luis-valley-colorado.
———. “RockTalk V02N1, January 1999 – Annual Review.” RockTalk, January 1999. https://coloradogeologicalsurvey.org/publications/rocktalk-annual-review-1999/.
———. “RockTalk V11N1, Spring 2008 – 2007 Summary.” RockTalk, Spring 2008. https://coloradogeologicalsurvey.org/publications/rocktalk-cgs-2007-summary/.
EchoHawk, Barbara, and Uwe Kackstaetter. “Roadside Faults, Folds, Fossils, Crystals, and Diamond Pipes—Sampling the Geologic Diversity of Northern Colorado.” In Unfolding the Geology of the West, edited by Stephen M. Keller and Matthew L. Morgan, 247–66. Geological Society of America, 2016. https://doi.org/10.1130/2016.0044(11) (opens in a new window).
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. https://coloradogeologicalsurvey.org/publications/oblique-laramide-convergence-front-range-regional-minor-faults-colorado.
Ethridge, Frank G. “Field Trip Guide to the Geology of Paint Mines Interpretative Park.” Landscape SIG Outing, April 23, 2016.
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. https://coloradogeologicalsurvey.org/publications/slumgullion-landslide-hindsdale-colorado.
Fremont Adventure Recreation. “Recreation and Trail Guide: Royal Gorge Region, Colorado.” Fremont County Tourism Council, 2022.
———. “Recreation and Trail Guide: Royal Gorge Region, Colorado, Student Edition.” Fremont County Tourism Council, 2019.
Fremont County Stones ‘n Bones and Crossroads Through Time Heritage Park Steering Committee. “Rocks and Fossils of Fremont County, Colorado.” Edited by Harold Taylor. Fremont County Heritage Commission, May 2018. http://www.fremontheritage.com/self-guided-heritage-tours-2 (opens in a new window).
Gleason, J. Andrew, Matthew A. Sares, and Rob Blair. “FT-01-02 The San Juan Mountains of Southwest Colorado: Geology, Water Quality, Mine Remediation, and Avalanche Hazards : Field Trip Guidebook.” Colorado Geological Survey, October 17, 2001. https://coloradogeologicalsurvey.org/publications/field-trip-san-juan-mountains-colorado-geology-water-mine-remediation-avalanche-hazards/.
Himmelreich, Jr., John W., David C. Noe, and Jonathan L. White, eds. “FT-96-01 Geologic Hazards & Engineering Practices in Colorado, Field Trip Guidebook, Colorado Springs.” Colorado Geological Survey, Division of Minerals and Geology, Department of Natural Resources, March 22, 1996. https://coloradogeologicalsurvey.org/publications/field-trip-hazards-engineering-colorado-springs.
———, eds. “FT-96-03 Geologic Hazards & Engineering Practices in Colorado, Field Trip Guidebook, Colorado Springs.” Colorado Geological Survey, Division of Minerals and Geology, Department of Natural Resources, May 18, 1996. https://coloradogeologicalsurvey.org/publications/field-trip-hazards-engineering-colorado-springs-3.
Keller, John W. “FT-02-01 Mineral Resources of Jefferson County: Earth Science Week 2002 Field Trip Guidebook.” Colorado Geological Survey, October 12, 2002. https://coloradogeologicalsurvey.org/publications/field-trip-minerals-jefferson-colorado/.
Keller, Stephen M., and Matthew L. Morgan, eds. Unfolding the Geology of the West. Geological Society of America Field Guide 44. Boulder, CO: Geological Society of America, 2016. https://rock.geosociety.org/Store/detail.aspx?id=FLD044P (opens in a new window).
Kile, Daniel E. “Clay Minerals of the Front Range.” U.S. Geological Survey, June 13, 2002. Https://doi.org/10.3133/ofr02413. https://pubs.er.usgs.gov/publication/ofr02413 (opens in a new window).
Kirkham, Robert M., and Vincent Matthews. “FT-00-01 Guide to the Geology of the Glenwood Springs Area, Garfield County, Colorado: Earth Science Week Field Trip, October 13, 2000.” Edited by Leslie Baca. Colorado Geological Survey, Division of Minerals and Geology, Department of Natural Resources, October 2000. https://coloradogeologicalsurvey.org/publications/field-trip-geology-glenwood-garfield-colorado/.
Kleinhans, Lewis C., Mary Little, and Peter J. Modreski, eds. “Gold and Silver Deposits in Colorado Symposium Guidebook.” Colorado School of Mines. Arthur Lakes Library, July 2017. https://hdl.handle.net/11124/172170 (opens in a new window).
Larson, Ed, James C. Cole, Karl S. Kellogg, and G. Lang Farmer. “Colorado Scientific Society Fall Field Trip 2008: The Search for Braddock’s Caldera.” Colorado Scientific Society, September 6, 2008. https://doi.org/10.3133/ofr20081360 (opens in a new window).
Matthews, Vincent. “FT-04-01 Guide to Laramide Structures Along the Northeastern Flank of the Front Range.” Field Trip. Denver, CO: Colorado Geological Survey, Department of Natural Resources, November 6, 2004. https://coloradogeologicalsurvey.org/publications/field-trip-laramide-structures-front-range.
McCalpin, James, Alan R. Nelson, Dean A. Ostenaa, and Andrew Valdez. “Neotectonics of the Rio Grande Rift in Colorado: Guidebook to Fieldtrip 8,” 115. Denver, CO: Crestone Science Center, Inc., 2002.
Morgan, M. L., Christopher J. Carroll, and Joanna Wright. “FT-00-03 A Dash with the Dinosaurs – A Mountain Bike Trek to the Purgatoire River Dinosaur Trackway and the Cretaceous-Tertiary Boundary Impact Layer of Southeastern Colorado:” Colorado Geological Survey, Division of Minerals and Geology, Department of Natural Resources, October 2000. https://coloradogeologicalsurvey.org/publications/field-trip-dinosaurs-purgatoire-river-trackway-colorado/.
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. https://coloradogeologicalsurvey.org/publications/engineering-geology-landslides-fieldtrip.
One Day Field Trip Along the Front Range from Denver to Colorado Springs. Rocky Mountain Association of Geologists, 1950.
One Day Field Trip In the Vicinity of Lyons, Colorado. Rocky Mountain Association of Geologists, 1950.
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. https://coloradogeologicalsurvey.org/publications/tertiary-igneous-rocks-laramide-structure-stratigraphy-spanish-peaks-colorado.
Sares, Matthew A., and J. Andrew Gleason. “FT-00-02 Geology, Water Quality, and Avalanche Hazards of the Ouray – Silverton Area, Southwest Colorado: Earth Science Week Field Trip, October 9, 2000.” Colorado Geological Survey, Division of Minerals and Geology, Department of Natural Resources, October 9, 2000. https://coloradogeologicalsurvey.org/publications/field-trip-geology-water-quality-avalanche-hazards-ouray-silverton-southwest-colorado/.
Sawyer, David, and Ren A. Thompson. “OF-96-04-21 Field Trip Guide to the Quaternary Valles Caldera and Pliocene Cerros Del Rio Volcanic Field.” Fieldtrip. Open File Report. Denver, CO: Colorado Geological Survey, Division of Minerals and Geology, Department of Natural Resources, 1996. https://coloradogeologicalsurvey.org/publications/jemez-volcanic-field-valles-caldera-rio-grande-rift-colorado-new-mexico.
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. https://coloradogeologicalsurvey.org/publications/proceedings-forum-geology-industrial-minerals-colorado.
Taylor, Harold. “South Cañon Trails Geology Hike.” Edited by Jim Nelson. Fremont County Heritage Commission, October 2020. http://www.fremontheritage.com/self-guided-heritage-tours-2 (opens in a new window).
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. https://coloradogeologicalsurvey.org/publications/geologic-rocky-mountain-field-trip-gsa-1996-denver/.
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. https://coloradogeologicalsurvey.org/publications/engineering-geology-landslides-fieldtrip.
