Geology in California

Steel rings embedded in rock enable hikers to ascend a picturesque slot canyon in the Mojave Preserve.

A striking geological formation in Southern California.

A Native American petroglyph, the site of an emigrants' waystation, and the ruins of an early 20th-century sheep camp are all found at this crossroads.

At the western edge of Palm Springs, a rugged desert canyon trail leads to a waterfall at the base of the San Jacinto Mountains.

Unusual white sandstone formations in the Los Padres National Forest.

This large chunk of dark rock is a relic from an ancient volcanic eruption.

The oldest pictographs on this decorated rock formation in California's Carrizo Plain date back as many as 4,000 years.

For decades, the largest tungsten producer in the U.S. was located in a spectacular setting in the high Sierra Nevada, with some of the workings over 11,000 feet.

In one of the hottest parts of the Mojave Desert, shallow bedrock forces the typically dry Mojave River to the surface in this canyon, providing a vital oasis for humans and wildlife.

A 250 million-year-old rock formation has earned a rather unique nickname.

Centuries of crashing waves carved out this small hole in the rock, which lights up at certain parts of the year.

This rock formation named for its unique shape is one of many that call the Alabama Hills home.

Each winter this underground cave forms a dazzling ice palace.

A natural dome made of volcanic glass in Inyo National Forest.

Colorful Native American paintings are hidden within this small cavern.

This large pile of traveler-curated rocks by the dry lakebed is a longstanding tradition on the Old Mojave Road.