BEST GEOLOGY BOOKS:

(1) Anything by Wayne Ranney is worth a read. He's a 'geo-prof' up at Northern Arizona University, but comes down here (Sedona) periodically. Take a look at SEDONA THROUGH TIME - GEOLOGY OF THE RED ROCKS (2006). Very detailed and has a mile-by-mile description through Oak Creek canyon down to I-17. Also THE VERDE VALLEY - A GEOLOGICAL HISTORY (1989), and CARVING GRAND CANYON - EVIDENCE, THEORIES, AND MYSTERY (2005). All very well written, with nice illustrations.

(2) Anything by Halka Chronic. A professional geologist, she has a home here, and writes in an easy to understand way. I love her PAGES OF STONE (2002 latest print), and her ROADSIDE GEOLOGY OF ARIZONA (1983). Both are quite affordable, and are really handy, when you visit the parks on the Colorado Plateau, or drive Arizona's gorgeous highways.

(3) Anything by Mike Ward. He's a really nice guy, and studied under Wayne. Mike is president of Sedona's Friends of the Forest and does a lot for this area. 'SO, WHY ARE THE ROCKS RED? (2006). I don't know whether to read this book or just gaze at the pictures. They're both GREAT! Well recommended and easy to follow.

(4) GEOLOGY MAP. There's several here in Arizona, primarily due to all the mining activity. GEOLOGIC HIGHWAY MAP OF ARIZONA by the Arizona Geological Society and Arizona Geological Survey is the best by far(!). It's pretty big, won't rip and has a whole bunch of various maps not just on geological layers, but also mining, earthquakes, vegetation and more. WELL RECOMMENDED!

(5) GEOLOGY POWERPOINT. If you get a chance to hear Art Smith's Verde Valley Geology presentation, it is well worth it. His powerpoint has a lot of annotated pictures of where the geological layers are. He'll email you his presentation on request.

BEST GEOLOGY STORE:
Ok, it's not REALLY a geology store. It's the little store at the bottom of the 'Y' in Jerome, on the 'up' side. Lots of unusual stuff and if your wife is really 'taking her time', stroll down to this little shop. She'll wonder what happened!

FAVORITE GEOLOGY LOCATIONS:

Virgin River Canyon. Bet you didn't even know Arizona HAD an I-15! What an unbelievable area. You really need to take it easy on the accelerator because you'll be craning your neck upwards at the rock formations that seem to have completely turned upside down.

Cape Solitude (SE corner of Grand Canyon). This is where the Little Colorado joins the Big Colorado, becoming the Really Big Colorado in the spring. Here you can surmise what could possibly have happened to the Grand Canyon. In solitude too!

Desolation Gulch - Jerome In the old days, you squeezed your car wheels over on the edge and then stepped out for a look. These days they have a nice parking area and beautiful cuts of deception rhyolite. Plus well below you is the amazing Verde Valley.

Marble Canyon Overlook. I'm biased. I grew up with the old Navajo Bridge. Now days, you walk across it and it's such a view ... Echo Cliffs facing the Vermillion Cliffs. And the latter starting the 'staircase' up into Utah.

Chuska Mountains. I like the drive north on US191 through the Navajo Nation. It's the east side of the Ft Defiance uplift.

Aquarius Mountains. For a long time, these were a real pain to get to (from Sedona). But now I-40 cuts through on the north side.

Coronado Trail - US191. After wondering just how big the little trucks are at the Clifton pit, the drive up toward Alpine just can't be beat. You'd think surely the engineers could have picked a better route! Great views of the breaks.

REALLY northern Arizona OK, Utah. It's hard to maintain any trip-planning in southern Utah ... you just can't resist stopping and gazing. My favorites are a toss-up between the Waterfold and the area just north of Mexican Hat.

Southern Arizona Basin/Range. I thoroughly enjoy just driving among the mountains in Southern Arizona. Each is a joy and something new to notice. I like to imagine those big mountains tipping over. Ouch!