Where To Start

Desert Geology.com starts with the basics of reading desert landscapes.

Read the Layers

Canyon walls stack rock layers from oldest at the bottom to youngest at the top.

Find the Volcanoes

Cinder cones and lava flows dot the San Francisco Volcanic Field near Flagstaff.

Watch the Washes

Flash floods shape the desert faster than anything else.

Never enter a wash or slot canyon when storms are near.

Look but Leave It

Collecting is not allowed in national parks and monuments.

Explore the AZ Outdoors Network

Rocks, minerals, plants and hiking guides are part of the AZ Outdoors.net family of sites.