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Field Guides and Sites of Geological Interest for planning your own Geological trips (Includes museums, actual and virtual sites)
This page is evolving, it contains information on self -guided Geological Field Trips and Geological Information for areas readily accessible in and around Calgary. For virtual field trips to other parts of the world see the end of this listing.
Information is currently sorted under the headings;
Please contact Geo-Help if you have suggestions, information, references to add to this page.
Virtual Geological field trips for Southern Alberta can be found at the Lethbridge University site.
Geological Highway Map of Alberta - New revised edition now available from the CSPG $10.00
Geological Map of Alberta 1999 by Alberta Geological Survey and Alberta Energy and Utilities Board. $30.00 for hardcopy. (780) 422-3767 to order.
A Traveller's Guide to Geological Wonders in Alberta 1998 by Ron Mussieux and Marilyn Nelson, Published by The Provincial Museum of Alberta (available thro' CSPG). Provides an excellent listing of over 100 well known and lesser known Geological sites across Alberta. Information is more directed to the layman but it should also provide useful information to the professional geologist.
Classic Field Guides of the Canadian Society of Petroleum Geology - Volume 1 - G-22 CSPG Members $22.50. Includes:
Geological Guide to the Trans Canada Highway between Calgary and Revelstoke,
Calgary to Eisenhower Junction Structural and Stratigraphic Overview,
Structural Geology in Kananaskis Country,
Carboniferous Stratigraphy of SW Alberta,
Lower Fairholme Complex at Whiteman Gap and
Geology and Paleontology of the Burgess Shale, Yoho National Park
Classic Field Guides of the Canadian Society of Petroleum Geology - Volume 2 - G-23 CSPG Members $21.37. Includes:
Stratigraphy and Sedimentary Environments of the Jurassic-Cretaceous Kootenay Group and Adjacent Strata, Highwood Pass - Kananaskis Country Area,
Savannah Creek Alberta - A fractured Carbonate Reservoir in a Complex Structural Setting,
Anatomy of the Laramide Foredeep and the Structural Style of the Adjacent Foreland Thrust Belt in Southern Alberta
Upper Devonian Reef and Basinal Sedimentation, Western Alberta
Upper Devonian Ancient Wall Reef Complex, Jasper National Park, Alberta
NEW*** Classic Field Guides of the Canadian Society of Petroleum Geology - Volume 3 - G-24 CSPG Members $21.37. Includes:
Geology of the Waterton Area
Structural geology of the Alberta Foothills Front in the Calgary Region
Cretaceous Depositional Facies in the Western Interior: The Southern Alberta Transect
Sedimentology and Sequence Stratigraphy of teh Upper Cretaceous, Bearspaw-Horseshoe Canyon Transition, Drumheller, Alberta
Stratigraphy and Depositional Facies Lower Cretaceous Blairmore - Luscar Groups, Central Alberta Foothills
A Field Guide to Rock Formations of Southern Alberta (Stratigraphic Sections Guidebook) was published by the CSPG in 1978. It contains brief descriptions on access and relevant geology for 25 locations from the Cenozoic to the Proterozoic. Long out of print and parts may be out of date but well worth searching for a copy.
Geology of the Calgary Area by Lionel Jackson and Mike Wilson. Published by the CSPG in 1987, Reprinted 2001. Available from CSPG $32.00. Not actually a guide book but provides good information on a number of areas in and around Calgary - including Grassi Lakes, the Cascade Coal Basin, Drumheller and the Bow Valley.
In Search Of Ancient Alberta, Published by Heartland ($24.95). Available through GSC and other bookstores. More of a coffee table book, quite general but with some excellent pictures.
Urban Geology of Canadian Cities Published by the Geological Association of Canada., 1998. Available through the GSC or GAC at (709) 737-4062. Has a chapter on Calgary by Gerald Osborn and Rene Rajewicz. Covers Surficial Geology, Glaciation - the story of Lake Calgary and Hydrogeologic hazards. Good photographs and interpretations of the 'Wildwood Slide' and slides near Home Road.
Geology of the Calgary Area by Lionel Jackson and Mike Wilson. Published by the CSPG in 1987, Reprinted 2001. Not actually a guide book but provides good information on a number of areas in and around Calgary - including Grassi Lakes, the Cascade Coal Basin, Drumheller and the Bow Valley.
Surficial Geology of the Calgary Urban Area by S.R. Moran. Alberta Research Council Bulletin #53. Primarily a collection of detailed maps.
Best of Alberta Day-Trips from Calgary by Bill Corbett, Published by Whitecap Books 1994. Plenty of ideas for Day trips from Calgary including geologic, biologic and historic places of interest.
Big Hill Springs Provincial Park - About 20Km NW of Calgary and Calgary's getting closer! Take Crowchild Trail North, Rt on Lochend Road (#766), Lt on #567, Lt again in about 3 km, follow Big Spring Coulee into the Park. Park used to be well signed and have good facilities and interpretive signs - all have gone through the abuse of the thoughtless few. Prime interest to Geologists are the tufa deposits along Big Spring Creek upstream from the parking lot. The tufa ridge across the valley is thought to have formed on an ancient beaver dam.
Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park - Straddling the Alberta - Saskatchewan border, SE of Medicine Hat. The Cypress Hills create an oasis of hills in the middle of the prairie. A brief description of the geology of the Cypress Hills can be found here: www.uleth.ca/vft/cypresshills/geo.html. A pamphlet on the geology is available from the Visitors Centre for 25 cents.
Dinosaur Provincial Park - 48 Km NE of Brooks - is a Provincial Park and World Heritage Site preserving a large area of Badlands and prime dinosaur fossil hunting country. A number of self-guided Interpretive Trails explain the geology of the area, a Field Station of the Royal Tyrrell Museum provides various displays and programs. ($2.00 admission). Note that a large part of the Park is 'off limits' to the Public, daily guided tours are run into some of these restricted area. They are very popular during summer weekends - you can either stand in line early in the morning or phone to make advance reservations (In Alberta, toll free 310-0000 or 403-378-4344, current cost per adult is $4.50 plus gst). Click here for more information.
Drumheller - Take a drive east from Calgary to visit the Badlands - the spectacular dinosaur country along the Red Deer River Valley. The Royal Tyrrell Museum at Drumheller is a 'must see' for any geologist or anyone with the slightest interest in natural history. Fine exhibits of flora and fauna through the Ages with a major focus on the Dinosaurs. Take the kids to see the new giant T-rex in downtown Drumheller. Interesting coal mining exhibits can be found along the way.
Fort McMurray - Oil Sands Discovery Centre - Located in Fort McMurray provides an overview of the Tar Sands and a trivia game the kids should enjoy. Check the web site or phone (780) 743-7167.
Lloydminster Heavy Oil Interpretive Centre - Worth checking out if you're in the Lloydminster Area, located in the Barr Colony Heritage Cultural Centre in Lloydminster, Saskatchewan. Or visit their web site.
Red Rock Coulee - 30Km south of Seven Persons, SW of Medicine Hat . Rounded red concretions in the Bearpaw Shale create a novel landscape. Some concretions are more than 6' in diameter and look like giant curling rocks. How they reached this immense size is of some debate.
Writing on Stone Provincial Park - Approximately 40Km east of Milk River on H'way 501. Famous for its rock art carved by the Plains Indians over many centuries. The hoodoos are more spectacular than Dinosaur Provincial Park since they are eroded from sandstones of the Milk River Formation. Joint patterns and variations in the sandstone cements help to create some interesting shapes to the hoodoos. Further east, the erosion of igneous dykes creates some strange rock structures.
Bow Valley Area
Calgary to Banff - Roadside Geology - Pamphlet published by the GSC ($1.00). A brief description of the Geology along the Bow Valley between Calgary and Banff. Available through the Geological Survey of Canada (403) 292-7030. Discounts available for bulk purchases of this pamphlet.
Hydrogeology of the Calgary - Golden Area, Alberta by G.F. Ozornay & R. Barnes. Alberta research Council Report # 77-2
Canmore - A former coal mining town. Check out the Geoscience Centre at the Canmore Museum - 907-7th Avenue, Canmore (403) 678-2462. The Museum has handouts for self-led Geological hikes to Grassi Lakes, Jura Creek and Yamnuska.
Devonian (Frasnian) Cyclostratigraphy at Grassi Lakes Trail: Implications for Subsurface Reservoir Prediction - CSPG Field Guide G-21 - $30 .00 for non-members, $22.50 for CSPG Members.
Jura Creek - from 1A Highway near Exshaw - see the self guided trip under the University of Calgary web site - hidden under the section "Associated Organizations".
Highway 3 - Crowsnest Pass
Franks Slide, Crowsnest Pass Area (Highway 3) - Visit the Interpretive Centre and view a spectacular natural disaster. Also visit the Leitch Collieries exhibit in the same area.
East Kananaskis
Nihahi Ridge, East Kananaskis from Elbow Falls Campground - Cretaceous across the McConnell Fault into Palliser and Mississippian - see the self guided trip under the University of Calgary web site - hidden under the section "Associated Organizations".
A good description of the structural geology of the above area can be found in a paper by M.E.McMechan in Bull. Can. Pet. Geol. Vol 49 No 3 p.408-425 Sept 2001.
Moose Mountain
Hike on top of Moose Mountain Dome by taking the first right west of Station Flats on the Elbow Falls road. Drive as far as you can (about 7 km) then park and hike - spectacular views across mountains and prairies and a chance to study the geology of teh Moose Mountain gas field.
Ice Caves - Drive the Canyon Creek road to the parking lot. Scramble up the scree to the east to access the Ice Caves. Watch for rocks dislodged by other hikers!
Kananaskis
Geology in the Peter Lougheed Provincial Park - Pamphlet produced by the GSC and Kananaskis Country (403) 591-7222. The Geological description is very brief but it includes a good geological map of the Park. The Visitor's Centre in the Park has a number of exhibits explaining geological process. Interpretive signage at Marl Lake and Mt Everest Expedition Trail provide a look at various aspects of the geology.
Other Areas
Turner Valley - site of the first major oil find in Western Canada. Check the signs along the highway identifying the various points of interest. Also, don't miss the gas seep at "Hell's Half Acre" site of an early refinery.
Banff - Natural History Museum in the ClockTower building on Banff Avenue. (Charge for entry, not open during the winter)
A Field Guide to portions of the Jurassic Fernie-Kootenay Trans Canada Highway section, Banff, Alberta in Bulletin of Canadian Petroleum Geology, Vol 47, No 1, March 1999 pp 1-18. See also: Bulletin of Canadian Petroleum Geology, Vol 48. No 1 March 2000 pp 84-93 for a lively discussion of the interpretation.
Of Lakes Mountains and Jasper - Guide to Jasper National Park 1995 by Chris Yorath and Ben Gadd. Published by Dundurn Press ($19.99). Available through the GSC and good bookstores. Ideal travel companions if you're visiting the Mountain Parks.
How Old is that Mountain - A Guide to Banff and Yoho National Park by Chris Yorath. Published by Orca Press ($18.95) available through the Geological Survey of Canada (403) 292-7030 and good bookstores. Ideal travel companions if you're visiting the Mountain Parks.
The Burgess Shale in Yoho Natinal Park - visit the Burgess Shale Foundation website. Also see: A Geoscience Guide to the Burgess Shale by the Yoho-Burgess Shale foundation ($14.35) - Available through the CSPG.
Radium and the Columbia River Valley, British Columbia - Explore the Rocky Mountain Trench, spectacular views of the Rocky Mountains (to the East) and the Purcell Mountains (to the west). Interesting hot springs at Radium and Fairmont Hot Springs - explore the area around the Fairmont Hot Springs Pool - particularly the valley below the pool which has interesting tufa deposits and you can bathe for free!
1Km south of Fairmont Hot Springs, British Columbia are the giant hoodoos (130m high), they can be viewed from the highway but more impressive is the hike to the top. Turn north on Westside Road and take the second turnoff to the left. Depending on your vehicle you can drive or hike to the top. Great view of the Rocky Mountain Trench and you can watch the traffic drive by between your toes - approach the top of the hoodoos with extreme caution!
Kimberley, British Columbia - named after its namesake in South Africa, but the mine here was lead, silver and zinc - now exhausted. Check out the Museum and the various relics from the heyday of this important mine.
Craigellachie (Between Revelstoke and Sicamous on Trans Canada Highway - the site of "the last spike" on the trans-Canada railway driven in 1885. The commemorative cairn on the site has a collection of rocks from each of the Provinces and Territories + a psammitic granulite from Craigellachie in Scotland. The sample from Alberta is of the Devonian reef at Canmore - a good example of the type of rock making up the Leduc reefs.
Vancouver, BC - the GSC - Pacific Division has an extensive series of resources on the Geology of Vancouver - contact them at (604) 666-1337
7. Other sites of Geological Interest to visit on your travels
1. Canada
Bay of Fundy - Fundy Geological Museum, Parrsboro, Nova Scotia
Kingston, Ontario - Sandbanks Provincial Park west of Kingston is a spectacular example of a freshwater sand dune system, the bay mouth bar is the largest in the world. A great place to camp, a day permit costs $8.50. Though beware of what you might find amongst the dunes!
Niagara Falls - While there are a number of roadside exhibits explaining the geology of the area, the only Museum with a complete interpretation is the Schoellkopf Geological Museum in Niagara Falls, New York.
Oil Springs, Nr. Sarnia, Ontario - The real origin of the oil industry in North America - See the Museum and visit the Petrolia Discovery
Ottawa, Ontario and Area
The Canadian Museum of Nature has plenty of neat things to see though it is woefully inadequate on Petroleum Geology implying that the centre of the Oil Industry is the Williston Basin and that carbonates are permeable while sandstones are impermeable.
The GSC has a small display called the Logan Room but it's not in the Logan Building it's at 601 Booth Street. They have a pamphlet describing the exhibits but it was only available in French when I visited. I couldn't find much information on the local geology.
Don't miss the Tilston Limestone from the Red River Formation of Manitoba in the Parliament Building along with the other old fossils. Tours are free.
Lafleche Caves, Val-des-Monts - Gatineau Hills north of Ottawa - the largest caves in the Canadian Shield - an interesting geological phenomena, reservations required for a visit. Phone (819) 457-4033. There are also caves in the Gatineau park that can be hiked to.
Hull, Quebec - the EcoMuseum of Hull covers the period from the "Beginning of the Earth to the Industrialization of the Outaouais". (819) 595-7790.
Toronto, Ontario - The Royal Ontario Museum has a Dinosaur exhibit catchily titled "Discover the Joy of Rex". They also have an exhibit on the controversial (?) subject of Evolution.
2. USA
Arizona
Grand Canyon, - For a summary of the Geology
California
Los Angeles - George C.Page Museum of La Brea Discoveries, 5801 Wilshire Blvd - The story of the La Brea Tar Pits and the fossils that have been found preserved in the tar.
Taft, California - West Kern Oil Museum - about 100 miles NW of Los Angeles, 20 miles W of Bakersfield
New York - The American Museum of Natural History - The Hall of Planet Earth is well worth a visit. www.amnhonline.org
Oregon - while the coast is spectacular, the volcanics of the Interior make a fascinating trip for the geologist. "Roadside Geology of Oregon" by Alt and Hyndman provides a wealth of information.
Crater Lake, the caldera remaining from the eruption of Mount Mazuma is a must see, it is part of the National Park system so there is a charge for entry.
Newberry National Volcanic Monument - visit the Lava Lands Visitors Center and surrounding area - maintained by the Forestry Service. A pass is required. The cinder cones, larva flows (especially the Big Obsidian Flow), lava tubes and other features are well worth a visit.
John Day Fossil Beds National Monument - three dispersed locations in an arid area of NW Oregon reveal a tropical fauna and flora from about 44 million years ago (pre Cascades). Self guiding trails procvide insights to the geology.
Pennsylvania - Titusville - Drake Well Museum - check it out here
Texas
Houston - Museum of Natural Science.
Midland - Petroleum Museum - the story of Petroleum and the development of the Permian Basin. Midland even has a professional baseball team called the "Rockhounds".
Washington State
Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument Visitor Center - 5 miles East of I-5 exit 49. Well worth taking the day and exploring the Spirit Lake Memorial Highway. Note: the Omnidome in downtown Seattle has continuous presentations of the OMNIMAX film of "The Eruption of Mt St. Helens".
Ginkgo Petrified Forest State Park - Just off I-90 at Exit 136. Superbly preserved Miocene ginkgo trees that were entombed by molten lava. Interesting Interpretive Centre and hiking trails - though the area gets very hot in summer.
3. Europe
London, England - The Natural History Museum (includes the Geology Museum next door), Cromwell Road, London SW7 5BD - Spectacular displays of all aspects of Natural History. Expensive for adults but free for children. In 2002 will be expanding to include the Darwin Centre. The Natural History Museum also offers geological walking tours of London and geological day trips to various locations in the South of England. Visit www.nhm.ac.uk
For an excellent web site leading to indexed virtual field trips in all parts of the world Click here.
Also try The Geologist Lifetime Field List