The traveler can experience a "...myriad of scenic wonders lying within California's boundaries, wherein is perhaps the most remarkable collection of natural masterpieces to be found in any state of the Union."
Norman E.A. Hinds
California Division of Mines Bulletin 158, 1952
Introduction
The California Geotour is an index of geological field trip web sites and downloadables we've compiled for all who wonder about California's geologic features. We have listed web pages that contain geologic information, including photographs, maps, text and directions for local natural features throughout the state. The web pages have been developed by government agencies, geology organizations, professors, students, commercial enterprises, park districts, environmental groups, and those with a keen interest in the earth sciences.
Note: CGS is not responsible for the content of external web pages referenced from our web site.
We welcome your input and comments about the California Geotour. We may have inadvertently overlooked some interesting web pages. If you would like to recommend other California geology-related web sites for this index, please contact the
CGS content manager.
The Geomorphic Provinces of California
The California Geotour index is organized by regions collectively named the Geomorphic Provinces of California. Geomorphic provinces are distinctive, generally easy to recognize natural regions in which the geologic record, types of landforms, pattern of landscape features, and climate in all parts are similar. For example, the alpine features of the Sierra Nevada greatly distinguish that geomorphic province from the subdued relief on the valley floor of the Great Valley Province. The geologic field trip guides are further grouped into general sub-areas within each province (example: Basin and Range Province - Death Valley Area). These sub-areas are listed in geographical order from north to south within each geomorphic province.
If you would like more information about the geomorphic provinces, please see
CGS Note 36, "California Geomorphic Provinces", which provides a comprehensive description of each.
To get started, select a province name from the following list.
Basin and Range :
Cascade Range :
Coast Ranges :
Colorado Desert
Great Valley :
Klamath Mountains :
Modoc Plateau :
Mojave Desert
Peninsular Ranges :
Sierra Nevada :
Transverse Ranges
Basin and Range Geomorphic Province
Owens Valley, Eastern Sierra, Inyo/White Mountains
Coso Range
Death Valley Area
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Cascade Range Geomorphic Province
Mount Shasta
Medicine Lake
Lassen Park Area
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Coast Ranges Geomorphic Province
North Coast
Sonoma Coast
Santa Rosa Area
Clear Lake Area
Pt. Reyes
San Francisco Area
East Bay Area
South San Francisco Bay Area
Mt. Diablo
Santa Cruz Mountains
Monterey Bay Area
Big Sur
Soledad Area
San Benito County
San Luis Obispo Area
Taft Area
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Colorado Desert Geomorphic Province
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Great Valley Geomorphic Province
Sacramento Valley
San Joaquin Valley
Coalinga Area
Bakersfield Area
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Klamath Mountains Geomorphic Province
Trinity Mountains
Klamath Mountains
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Modoc Plateau Geomorphic Province
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Mojave Desert Geomorphic Province
Mojave Desert
Mojave National Preserve
Joshua Tree Area
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Peninsular Ranges Geomorphic Province
Channel Islands
Los Angeles
Orange County
Eastern Peninsular Ranges
Temecula Area
San Diego County
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Sierra Nevada Geomorphic Province
Northern Sierra Nevada
Mammoth Area
Yosemite
Southern Sierra Nevada
Eastern Sierra Nevada
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Transverse Ranges Geomorphic Province
Channel Islands
Ventura County
Northern Los Angeles County
San Gabriel Mountains
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This page was last updated August 26, 2019. If there are errors or new material to be added please contact the
CGS content manager
