Do-it-yourself Geology Field Trips in Minnesota
Minnesota has a lot to offer when it comes to scenery and geology. The GSM is not a tourist bureau, but has helped tourists and citizens understand the geologic wonders. How? By erecting 60 geological markers around the state.
The next time you take a trip to the North Shore, along the Minnesota River, the Metro Area, or anywhere else in the state, consider visiting several geology markers along the way. Coming soon to the GSM website will be “Do-it-yourself Geology Field Trips”. You will find the names and locations of markers in that area.
Here is a list of suggested “Do-it-yourself Geology Field Trips.”
- Northwest Corner
- Brainerd-Lake Mille Lacs
- Alexandria and Big Stone
- Minnesota River Valley
- Southwest Corner
- Karst Country (Southeast Corner)
- Mississippi River Valley
- St. Croix River Valley
- MetroArea
- North Shore
- Route 35 North
- Iron Range
Remember, GSM members can provide a helpful service by reporting any marker vandalism and GPS coordinates to the GSM Marker Committee. We plan to make these DIY Geology Field Trips available to the general public through our website.
|
Field Trip Name and Location |
Suggested GSM Markers |
|
Northwest corner |
266 – The lakes of Minnesota 270 – Geology of Bad Medicine Lake 275 – Lake Agassiz 288 – Geology of Minnesota 321 – Glacial Lake Agassiz |
|
Brainerd-Mille Lacs Brainerd, Garrison, Isle |
200 – Savanna Portage Continental Divide 290 – Geology of Lake Mille Lacs 294 – Brainerd Region 295 – Portsmouth Mine 306 – Geology of the Lake Mille Lacs region 307 – Glacial crossroads becomes a lake 308 – The Ripley Esker |
|
Alexandria and Big Stone |
65 – Ortonville region 105 – Geology of the Willmar region 318 – Geology of Inspiration Peak 322 – Glenwood region |
|
Minnesota River Valley |
65 – Ortonville region 78 – A witness to time (Granite Falls) 114 – The Minnesota River Valley 136 – Water and ice shape the landscape 142 – Mankato region 152 – Geology of the Minnesota River valley 153 – Geology of the redwood Falls region |
|
Southwest Corner Luverne, Lake Benton and Pipestone |
116 – Geology of the Lake Benton region 143 – Geology of the Adrian area 170 – Sioux quartzite and pipestone |
|
Karst Country (Southeast corner) |
84 – Mystery Cave 86 – Geology of sinkholes 101 – Big Spring 147 – Geology of Minnesota 172 – Geology of the Rice Lake area 185 – Great River bluffs 186 – Mississippi River 188 – Whitewater State Park 190 – Geology of southeastern Minnesota |
|
Mississippi River Valley |
15 – Dakota County Region 94 – Geology of Frontenac State Park 96 – Red Wing region 180 – Geology of Lake Pepin 185 – Great River bluffs 186 – Mississippi River |
|
St. Croix River Valley |
4 – Glacial potholes 5 – Geologyof the Taylors Falls Region 49 – Stillwater region |
|
Metro Area |
24 – Minnehaha Falls 26 – Lake Harriet region 31 – Geology of Lake Minnetonka 32 – The Mississippi finds a way 33 – Geology of Palmer Lake 35 – Geology of the Coon Rapids Dam area 37 – St. Peter Sandstone 38 – Indian Mounds Park 328 – Geology of the Elk River region |
|
North Shore |
204 – Geology of the St. Louis River 207 – Jay Cooke State Park 216 – Good Harbor Bay 217 – Grand Marais 230 – Lake Suprerior Agate 231 – Geology complicates bridge foundation 232 – Geology behind the waterfalls 233 – Geology of the Split Rock region 247 – Geology of Duluth Harbor |
|
Route 35 North |
205 – Moose Lake Region 243 – Kettle River Rapids |
|
Iron Range |
200 – Savanna Portage Continental Divide 224 – Geology of the Hill Annex Mine 251 – A three-way continental divide 252 – Geology of the Mesabi region 258 – The Laurentian Divide 265 – Origin of McCarthy Beach |