National Park Service

Geologic Resources






For the more information about the geologic resources of the National Park Service, please visit http://www.nature.nps.gov/geology/.

NPS » Explore Nature » Geologic Resources

Geologic Resources Inventory Geologic Maps


Celebrating Geologic Map Day, October 19, 2012

Big Bend NP Geologic Map
A portion of the geologic map of Big Bend NP (Texas), produced by the U.S. Geological Survey in cooperation with the National Park Service. (Download Here)

What's beneath your feet? Ask a geologic map!

Geologic maps are crucial to understanding an area's geologic framework and the evolution of its present landscape. The colors and symbols on a geologic map portray the distribution and relationships of rocks, unconsolidated deposits, and other geologic features (folds, faults, mines, hazards, etc.). Find out more about geologic maps and how they are used at the American Geosciences Institute geologic maps page.

Geologic maps are the cornerstone of the National Park Service Geologic Resources Inventory (GRI) program. GRI is in the process of developing digital geologic maps for more than 270 NPS areas as part of the Inventory and Monitoring Program. GRI uses source maps produced by geologic mapping partners such as the U.S. Geological Survey, state geological surveys, universities, and other institutions.

The GRI program produces resource management reports based on the geologic maps.

GRI geologic maps are available in three formats:

  • Digital Geographic Information System (GIS) format for use with GIS software
  • KMZ/KML format for use with Google Earth™
  • PDF format for printing a hard copy

  • GIS Data
  • Google Earth™
  • Printable PDF
Cumberland Gap NHP Geologic Map
Screenshot of the digital geologic GIS data for Cumberland Gap NHP (Kentucky, Tennessee, Virginia) in ESRI ArcMap.

Examples

    Links are to the NPS Integrated Resources Managment Application portal, where ZIP files for ESRI geodatabase, shapefile and/or coverage can be downloaded.
  1. Cumberland Gap NHP (Kentucky, Tennessee, Virginia)
  2. El Malpais NM (New Mexico)
  3. Yellowstone NP (Wyoming, Montana, Idaho)
  4. Yosemite NP (California)

Digital GIS Data

Digital map data allows geologic information to be easily viewed or analyzed in conjunction with a wide range of other resource management information in park geographic information systems (GIS).

Geologic maps are digitized and/or converted according to the GRI data model and produced in interactive ESRI geodatabase, shapefile, and/or coverage formats.

An ancillary map information document (.hlp or PDF) accompanies each map and includes all aspects of the original source products, including the geologic units and their descriptions, geologic cross sections, as well as associated reports, references, and images.

Digital geologic map data is currently available for more than 219 parks on the GRI publications page.











Wrangell-St. Elias NP&Pres Geologic Map
Screenshot of the Google Earth™ geologic map data for Wrangell-St. Elias NP&Pres. Imagery © 2012 Google and © 2012 GeoEye and TerraMetrics.

Examples

    Links are to ZIP files containing KMZ and ancillary files.
  1. El Malpais NM (New Mexico; 4.5MB ZIP)
  2. Glacier NP (Montana; 6.5 MB ZIP)
  3. Shenandoah NP (Virginia; 14.8 MB ZIP)
  4. Wrangell-St. Elias NP&Pres. (Alaska; 27.8 MB ZIP)

Google Earth™

GRI's newest map product is Google Earth™-compatible data. The Google Earth data is derived from the GIS data and includes most area and line features. Point features are generally not included.

An ancillary map information document (PDF) is packaged with the Google Earth layers and includes all aspects of the original source products, including the geologic units and their descriptions, geologic cross sections, as well as associated reports, references, and images.

Download a Google Earth "fly-through" of Yellowstone NP (Wyoming, Montana, Idaho) here (6 MB ZIP file).

Google Earth layers are currently available for more than 45 parks on the GRI publications page.

You'll need Google Earth software to view these files. Download it here.
















Yosemite NP Geologic Map
Screenshot of a printable PDF of the Yosemite Valley geologic map.

Examples

    PDFs are tabloid sized (11x17 inches) unless otherwise noted.
  1. El Malpais NM (New Mexico)
    Legend and Full Extent of Data (2.8 MB)
    Detail of Park and Vicinity (5.7 MB)
  2. Haleakala NP (Hawaii)
    Island of Maui and Legend (4.1 MB)
    Park Detail (6.2 MB)
  3. Mammoth Cave NP, Kentucky
    Full Extent of Data and Legend (17.1 MB)
    Western Extent (8.3 MB)
    Eastern Extent (7.4 MB)
  4. Yosemite NP (California)
    Simplified Geologic Map Poster (70.3 MB)
    Detailed Geologic Map of Yosemite Valley (6.1 MB)
    Glacial and Postglacial Deposits of Yosemite Valley (6.2 MB)
    Glacial Extents of Yosemite Valley (5 MB)

Printable PDF

Printable PDFs are included with the GRI reports. These PDFs evolved from simple "snapshots" of the data to poster-size products that display the GIS data over shaded relief or aerial imagery of the park and surrounding area. For clarity, not all of the GIS data layers may be present on the graphic. Cartographic elements and geographic features (roads, cities, prominent features) are included.

Printable PDFs are currently available for more than 100 parks on the GRI publications page





























Mention of trade names or commercial products does not constitute endorsement or recommendation for use by the U.S. Government.

Related Links

 

↑ TOP OF PAGE

Last Updated: October 18, 2012