Book Review: California Rocks! A Guide to Geologic Sites in the Golden State
A well-written and illustrated guide to California geology, including about a dozen spots in the Bay Area.
Geology
Pinnacles National Park, a Year-Round Oasis for Plants, Animals, and People
Volcanic drama, bat caves, diverse wildlife, roadless vistas: Pinnacles National Monument is definitely worth the trip.
School of Rock
Berkeley native Erik Vance first encountered the rocks of the East Bay hills as a teenager looking for excitement. For a century, geologists at UC Berkeley have used them to...
The Story of Salt Point State Park is Written in Stone
You'll find some of Central California's most remarkable rocks at this state park on the Sonoma coast. Waves, fault lines, and changes in sea level have left sublime stories written...
Climbing the Waves at Castle Rock State Park
The high ridges and sandstone outcrops at Castle Rock have fascinated adventurers from explorer George Vancouver to the pioneers of modern rock climbing. Prolific wildflowers, great views, and an 80-foot...
Walking the Line
It was 140 years ago, in October 1868, that the Hayward Fault unleashed the magnitude 6.8 temblor that put the fault on the map. The quake shook the entire region...
Black Coal, Bright Flowers
The peaceful hills of Black Diamond Mines Regional Preserve weren't always so: One hundred twenty years ago, you'd have found bustling towns full of miners and their families and, nearby,...
Shifting Sands
At the mouth of Tomales Bay, sand dunes and seasonal wetlands coexist uneasily with California's largest coastal campground. The dunes at Lawson's Landing, home to rare butterflies and plants like...
