Any guides to geological car trips in the west for kids?

[kalanamak]

You know, Crater Lake, Dry Falls, MT St. Helens for the PNW, or Shiprock or that big butte (name slips me) that has roads in and out where you might see other things of geological or mineralogical value. That said, archeological might be fine added in as well. Have you done a trip anywhere for school that was mostly not in cities? Love to hear ideas or resources. Sort of like "educational drives" rather than scenic.

[Amanda's Mommy]

Newberry National Volcanic Monument

http://www.fs.fed.us/r6/centraloregon/newberrynvm/trivia-bof.shtml

[Janet in WA]

Check out the Petrified Forest National Park in Arizona.

http://www.nps.gov/pefo/index.htm

[Maverick]

We've used Roadside Geology of Washington by David Alt and Donald Hyndman. It is part of a Roadside Geology series and is published by Mountain Press Publishing Company in Missoula, MT. You might want to check your library for others in the series. The WA guide is arranged by region in six sections so you could make each one a big loop or divide it into smaller pieces or pick & choose.

[Novafan]

Yosemite National Park. :)

[Lori D.]

Geology Books by State:
Here's the Roadside Geology series:
http://geology.com/store/roadside-geology.shtml


Moon State Handbooks:
The Moon Handbook series are also very nice; each is for a specific state, and lists places of geology interest, historical interest, and more, and is geared for those interested in day trips; hiking; backpacking; bike trips; or being out in the outdoors. Website: http://www.moon.com/moonhandbooks/index.html


AAA Tour Books:
If you are a member of AAA you can get FREE, just by asking, as many Tour Books as you want, which are like "Fodor's lite" -- but they do list lots of State and National Parks; places of geological interest; places of historical interest; etc. You can use the Tour Guide for whatever state you're traveling in as a springboard, and then do more research online.


Geological Sites website:
And here's a terrific website of general types of geological places to try to visit, with "the best of" worldwide sites listed next to each type of geological site: http://www.uc.edu/geology/geologylist/


U.S. Geological Survey Websites/Magazines by State (western states):
Arizona = http://www.azgs.az.gov/
California = http://www.conservation.ca.gov/cgs/Pages/Index.aspx
Colorado = http://geosurvey.state.co.us/
Idaho = http://www.idahogeology.org/
Montana = http://geology.cr.usgs.gov/states/MT.html
New Mexico = http://geoinfo.nmt.edu/
Nevada = http://nevada.usgs.gov/
Oregon = http://geology.wr.usgs.gov/stateinfo/OR.html
Utah = http://geology.utah.gov/surveynotes/
Washington =
1. http://geology.wr.usgs.gov/stateinfo/WA.html
2. http://www.usgs.gov/state/state.asp?State=WA
Wyoming = http://www.wsgs.uwyo.edu/


Enjoy your geological journeys! Warmly, Lori D.

[Ravin]

I was going to suggest the Petrified Forest. The Painted Desert has some pretty cool geology, too, and of course there's the Grand Canyon rim. And Death Valley, if your A/C works.

[kalanamak]

Geology Books by State:
Here's the Roadside Geology series:
http://geology.com/store/roadside-geology.shtml
.

filllllllllllller

[choirfarm]

Don't forget about the Junior Ranger Program at the National Parks. We travel to various National Parks a lot. Each park does it differently. Some you have to buy for a couple dollars, others give them to you for free. Some have extensive requirements, others do not. When you finish the booklet and requirements, then they give you a pin or a patch. My boys each have a giant 3 ring binder that we keep all of the ones we have done. They love it and now my girl is old enought to start as well. She got to be a Ranger at Yellowstone! Sometimes state parks have something like this as well. Custer State Park has a great program. Also, if you look on the national park website for the ones you will be visiting, check out the educational sections. They often have downloadable teacher's guides to use for field trips to the parks. For Big Bend National Park they had TONS of that kind of stuff: wildlife bingo, etc. We normally take 2 or 3 big trips a year, so I am an expert at learning on the road. We also have the children keep a travel journal as we go. I also came up with a chart for my oldest to track mileage and our trip expenses. Have fun on your trip!!!
Christine

[Jenny in Atl]

What an awesome idea! Have a wonderful trip and post photos!

[rwalizer]

don't forget Arches National Park in Moab, Utah. Also, a good side trip is Meteor Crater in Arizona. I second the Junior Ranger programs at the National Parks across the country.