Abstract The Athabasca Glacier, a major tourist attraction in the Canadian Rockies, lies close to Alberta 93 (the Icefields Park-way) in Jasper National Park, 100 mi (160 km) northwest of Banff and 60 mi (95 km) southeast of Jasper. The Icefields Chalet and Parks Canada Information Center (Fig. 1) are accessible by bus from Banff and Jasper. Interpretive exhibits are on display at the center. From the highway a paved road leads to a parking lot within 0.3 mi (0.5 km) of the glacier terminus (Stop 1, Fig. 1). The preglacial area is easily explored on foot, and the ice-front sometimes can be traversed with ordinary boots. However, steep slopes, crevasses (sometimes hidden by snow), and meltwater pools occur in the terminal area; extended travel without partners, rope, crampons, and ice axe is not recommended. A less-steep, less-dissected part of the glacier surface is accessible via the snowmobile track that descends the lateral moraine on the southeast side of the glacier (Stop 2, Fig. 1); the head of this road can be reached by shuttle bus from the Information Center. Foot travel is generally safe on the track itself but may not be off the track.

Abstract McConnell thrust can be reached by driving west from Calgary for 49 mi (78 km, official mileage from the city’s center) along the Trans-Canada (T-C) Highway 1 to the intersection with T-C 1X leading north to the old Calgary-Banff highway (T-C 1A; Fig. 1). Those in a hurry to get to Banff may go past the intersection to viewpoint no. 3 for a distant view of the McConnell thrust, which rises from the valley floor up a ramp into the saddle on the west side of Mt. Yamnuska (Fig. 2). A small splay fault occurs in the saddle, and the eastward continuation of the thrust along the base of the Yamnuska wall is essentially horizontal in the direction of transport. For a closer view, turn north onto T-C 1X and stop at the entrance to the campground; better yet, proceed to the vicinity of the junction with T-C 1A and pull over onto the shoulder for a view as in Figure 3. In all cases, field glasses will be helpful. Those ardent souls who wish to touch the thrust plane should turn east on T-C 1A and drive for 1.3 mi (2.1 km) to the dirt road leading northwest into the quarry at the foot of Mt. Yamnuska. They may park here and then proceed on foot to the upper east end of the marked shale coulee (Fig. 4)—a steep climb of about 1,600 ft (480 m), which should take about 1% hours.

Abstract Dinosaur Provincial Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site 112 mi (180 km) east of Calgary, Alberta, occupies part of a large tract of badlands along the Red Deer River valley in the semi-arid southeast Alberta plains (Fig. 1). Access is from the Trans-Canada Highway at Brooks (where all major services are available), northeastward 30 mi (48 km) on Alberta Highways 873, 554, and 551. The Park is fully operative from May 15 to September 15; camping facilities are limited with a small retail food outlet. Access to outcrop requires dry weather, and precautions should be taken for extreme heat, rough terrain and occasional rattlesnakes. Provincial regulations prohibit the extraction of any fossil material. In terms of visitor access, the badlands are divided into two areas (Fig. 1). First, Dinosaur Park encloses 23 mi 2 (60 km 2 ) of crown land flanking the river for 16 mi(25 km) downstream from the Steveville bridge on Alberta Highway 876. It is subdivided into a small public area surrounding the campground and a Natural Preserve into which bus tours and hikes are regularly conducted by Park officials. Inquiries about further access to the Natural Preserve should be directed to Park officials (403/378-4587). Plans are underway to relocate the Park headquarters approximately 1.2 mi (2 km) upstream and to expand visitor services. Secondly, the extensive privately owned badlands that surround the Park continue eastward to the bridge crossing on Alberta Highway 884, north of Jenner. With arugged vehicle and local landowner permission, the prairie edge is reached by a network of dirt tracks

Abstract The Frank Slide is at the east end of the Municipality of Crowsnest Pass, southwestern Alberta, lying within the valley of the Crowsnest River in the Front Ranges of the Canadian Rockies. Alberta 3 crosses the slide and, immediately north of the slide debris at the bridge over Gold Creek, an access road leaves the highway for a new Orientation Center, 1.1 mi (1.7 km) to the northeast (Fig. 1). The center, an excellent starting point for a tour of the slide, provides a superb view of Turtle Mountain, the slide scar on its eastern flank, and the immense pile of shattered limestone on the valley floor (Fig. 2).

Abstract The evidence for interaction between Laurentide and Rocky Mountain glaciers east of Waterton-Glacier Park can best be studied by examining a number of sites in the zone of glacier overlap and possible confluence. The 10 stops described in this field guide are located in the Saint Mary, Belly, and Waterton drainages in Montana and Alberta (Fig. 1). With the exceptions of Stops 1 and 10, which occur on the Blackfeet Indin Reservation and in Waterton Park, respectively, all stops occur on public roads through private land. Landowner’s permission is not required for the excursion as described but should be obtaine before collecting samples or extensive off-route exploration. The trip can be completed in a long half day with two-wheel drive vehicle. Those with less time may limit their trip to Stops 1 through 5 on the U.S. side or the approximately equivalent Stops 6 through 10 in Canada. The U.S. portion of the trip is covered by the Cutbank 1:250,000 topographic sheet and the Saint Mary, Babb, Duck Lake, Wetzel, Hall Coulee, Emigrant Gap, and Pike Lake 1:24,000 sheets. The Canadian portion is covered by the Lethbridge 1:250,000 sheet and the Cardston and Waterton Lakes (82 H/3 and H/4) 1:50,000 sheets.

Abstract The stratigraphy and morphology of superposed pre-Wisconsin soils on Flaxville surface remnants (Alden, 1932) east of Waterton-Glacier Park can best be studed at Mokowan Butte (Fig. 1). The site is located on private land about 1.2 mi (1.9 km) east of the Waterton Park boundary and 3.6 mi (5.8 km) north ofthe International Boundary and is reached by driving about 21 mi (33.6 km) west of Cardston, Alberta, on a dirt road. The trip can be completed in a half day with a robust two-wheel or four-wheel drive vehicle. Landowners’ permission is not required.

Abstract The Milk River Canyon is located in southeastern Alberta some 62 mi (100 km) east of the town of Coutts (Fig. 1). Access to a valley overlook by passenger caron paved and unpaved county roads is relatively easy and requires no permissions to cross private land, but the easternmost unpaved section of road (beyond Black Butte, Fig. 2 is to be avoided if wet. The canyon itself is not visible until the overlook on its rim is reached. The map (Fig. 2 shows readily recognizable points on the route from Coutts and indicates distances between conspicuous landmarks. As is customary, barbed wire gates, if encountered, should be left as found: open if open, closed if closed. There are no services available east of Coutts, so gas tanks should be comfortably filled.

Abstract The lake-drainage site is in Sanders County, Montana, approximately 65 mi (105 km) northwest of Missoula, and about the same distance southwest of Kalispell (Fig. 1). Paved, two-lane highways and easily passable side roads provide interconnecting access to most parts of the area at all seasons. Montana 382 between Perma and its junction with Montana 28 passes through Markle Pass and across the giant ripples of Camas Prairie. An unpaved track leads from that road to Wills Creek Pass and the Schmitz Lakes. Montana 28 between Plains and Hot Springs crosses the debris fill in the valley of Boyer Creek, and passes Rainbow Lake and through Duck Pond Pass above its head. An unpaved county road connects Rainbow Lake and Camas Prairie. Ownership is a mixture of private ranch land, public and private forest land, and Flathead-Salish tribal lands, none of which are posted. Access is generally open to all parts of the area except that people planning to spend significant amounts of time on the tribal lands around Rainbow Lake should buy a recreation permit. The varve site comprises large roadcuts through stream and glacial lake deposits on and near 1-90 in the vicinity of the Nine-mile Exit, about 19 mi (31 km) west of Missoula, in Missoula County (Fig. 1).

Abstract The Sawtooth Range is located in northwest Montana in parts of Pondera, Teton, and Lewis and Clark counties. The range is part of the Rocky Mountain fold and thrust belt, or Disturbed Belt, and lies between Glacier National Park to the north and the Helena salient to the south. In an analogy with the Canadian Rocky Mountains, the Sawtooth Range would represent the Front Ranges of the Rocky Mountain thrust belt (Mudge, 1972; Bally and others, 1966). The Sun River and its tributaries form the major drainage system in the southern part of the Sawtooth Range. Two dams have been constructed on the Sun River creating Gibson Reservoir and Diversion Lake (Fig. 1). The entrance to the Sun River Canyon is approximately 20 mi (32 km) northwest of Augusta, Montana. Turn west on Montana 435 (U.S. Forest Service Road 208) at the intersection of highways U.S. 287 and Montana 434–435 in Augusta. Montana 435 is a year-round gravel road that ends at Gibson Dam (Fig. 1). Spectacular exposures of imbricate thrust faults and related structures are found in the lower part of the canyon downstream from Gibson Dam.

Abstract The Shonkin Sag laccolith is on the northeast flank of the Highwood Mountains in Sec. 22–27, T.2 1N., R.11 E., in Choteau County, Montana. The laccolith lies entirely within the Geraldine, Montana, 1:24,000 Quadrangle. It is approximately 44 mi (71 km) east of Great Falls and 54 mi (87 km) northwest of Lewiston. The nearest town is Geraldine, about 3 mi (5 km) to the north (Fig. 1). The best access is through Geraldine, which lies on Montana 80,27 mi (43 km) south of Fort Benton or 38 mi (61 km) north of Stanford. The shortest route from Great Falls is by way of U.S. 87 to Geyser, a distance of 47 mi (76 km). From Geyser, a gravel road can be used to reach the Buck Ranch access, 27.3 mi (43.9 km) to the north. This route contains many excellent outcrops and views of other alkalic igneous bodies, including Square Butte and Round Butte. Outcrops of the Shonkin Sag laccolith can be seen on the Buck Ranch, which is entered 3.7 mi (6.0 km) south of Geraldine (Fig. 2). Follow the ranch access 1.5 mi (2.4 km) to the ranch buildings. The western outcrop is adjacent to this road. Trails east of the ranch yard lead to the top of the laccolith and permit easy examination of an entire cross section by traversing down the canyon draining to the southwest. This cross section can be viewed from the Flat Creek Road, which intersects Montana 80, 0.5 mi(0.8 km) north of the small town of Square Butte

Abstract The area described here is in McCone County, Montana, approximately 100 mi (160 km) northwest of Glendive and 40 mi (64 km) south of Glasgow, on the east side of the Big Dry Arm of the Fort Peck Reservoir. It is located on the Jordan 1:250,000-scale map, the Fort Peek Lake East 1:100,000-scale map, and the Bug Creek 1:24,000-scale topographic map. The Bug Creek area (Fig. 1) is reached by proceeding south on Montana 24 for 24 mi (39 km) from the Fort Peck Dam or north 25 mi (40 km) from the intersection of Montana 200 with Montana 24. At this point a dirt road heads due west for 2.5 mi (4 km), then swings north at the rim of a mesa, and then swings south to the crossing of Bug Creek. The dirt road is passable by any vehicle when dry; four-wheel drive is required when the road is wet. The dirt access road is about 2.5 mi (4 km) south of the crossing of Montana 24 over the South Fork of Rock Creek and 5.5 mi (8 km) south of the road sign to Rock Creek State Park. More than 2 mi (3 km) west of Montana 24, the land is part of the Charles M. Russell National Wildlife Range. Much of the other land is controlled by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM); some is privately owned. Collection of vertebrate fossils on federal land is by permit only. No permission is required to examine exposures on federal or state land;

Abstract The Marysville stock is about 17 mi (27 km) northwest of Helena, Montana, in Lewis and Clark County (Fig. 1). To reach the area from Helena, go7mi(11 km) north on 1–15 to exit 200 and turn west (left) off the exit ramp onto Montana 279 (Lincoln Road). At 8.5mi(14km) from 1-15, turn southwest (left) onto a gravel road marked by signs for Marysville and the Belmont Ski Area. The old mining town of Marysville is about 6 mi (10 km) from this turnoff. Most of the area is readily accessible by passenger car although some areas are accessible only by four-wheel drive or foot (Fig. 2). The mines are on private land. Permission should be obtained from owners with posted land or locked gates.

Abstract Mississippian-age Waulsortian bioherms in the Lodgepole Formation are well exposed and accessible for field study in Swimming Woman Canyon, Big Snowy Mountains, Central Montana. Swimming Woman Canyon is east of Judith Gap, northeast of Harlowtown, and north of Rygate, Montana (Fig, 1). The site can be reached by automobile via gravel roads from U.S. 191 or from U.S. 12. Three routes to the site are shown. The route selected will depend on the direction the visitor is traveling. Travelers using the Judith Gap route may be tempted to continue east after driving 15 mi (24 km). Part of the road to the east of this point has been abandoned. Mileages to turns along the route can be scaled from Figure 1, which is adapted from the Roundup I × 2° Army Map Service (AMS) sheet published by the U.S. Geological Survey. The only other available access map is the Lewis and Clark National Forest (Jefferson Division), Montana, Forest Visitor’s Map (planimetric) at a scale of 1:126,720. No topographic map at a scale larger than 1:250,000 is currently available. The Irene 3 NE 1:24,000 Topographic Quadrangle covers the field area and is in preparation. Travelers may want to keep track of mileage using their automobile odometer while off the main highway. The distances from the various starting points to Swimming Woman Canyon Road are: 25 mi (40.2 km) from Judith Gap, 24.2 mi (38.9 km) from Rygate.

Abstract The Butte mining district is in Silver Bow County in southwestern Montana at the intersection of 1-15 and 1-90. The district proper lies north and west of these highways, and most of it is within the business and residential areas of Butte. Because city streets provide access to all of the stops, they are easily accessible by automobile or on foot as shown in Figure 1. The sites described lie on private land and direct access is not practical to most of them; however, because of their large size they can be easily viewed from the public right of way. A pair of binoculars is useful in viewing some of these features. Unfortunately, the best exposures of veins are in the underground workings no longer accessible or in open pits to which access is prohibited.

Abstract The Jefferson River Canyon area is on an important structural boundary between the Cordilleran thrust belt and the Rocky Mountain foreland (Fig. 1). The features described here reflect the tectonic history of that boundary from late Precambrian through late Cenozoic time. The area is in Jefferson and Madison counties. Most of the features described may be observed along U.S. 10 through the canyon and along the access road to the Lewis and Clark Caverns State Park (Fig. 2). Stops of particular interest discussed in the text are numbered and indexed in Figure 2 with mileages indicated from LaHood Park (bar, restaurant, and sometime gas station and motel) and/or from the intersection of U.S. 10 and the state park access road. The area is located in the center of the Jefferson Island 15-minute Quadrangle. Many of the features that can be seen across the Jefferson River from U.S. 10 (south side of river) are currently accessible via the abandoned track bed of the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul, and Pacific Railroad. The track bed is easily traversed by most vehicles and may be accessed on the west from County Road 359 at Jefferson Island and on the east from Montana 287 at Sappington. The access route at Jefferson Island is privately owned and the owner (Vernon Shaw of Cardwell) should be contacted for permission.

Abstract The Stillwater Complex is about 75 mi (120 km) southwest of Billings, Montana, and northeast of Yellowstone National Park (Fig. 1). Exposures of the NE-dipping complex extend over a 30-mi-long (48 km) strike along the north margin of the Beartooth Mountains. The Benbow and Mountain View areas southwest of Absarokee, Montana (Fig. 1), are readily accessible by passenger car. The Benbow area offers easy access to a variety of rocks from the ultramafic series and chromite deposits but only limited exposures of features from the banded series. The Mountain View area offers easy access to most of the banded series and the platinum deposits. The Benbow and Mountain View areas are reached by exiting 1-90 at Columbus, Montana (Fig. 1), onto Montana 78 and proceeding south to Absarokee. County Highway 419 to both areas begins 2.5 mi (4.0 km) south of Absarokee. It is a narrow blacktop road that passes through Fishtail, where a small motel and restaurant are located. The Benbow turnoff at Dean, a collection of several houses, is 13.9 mi (22.4 km) from Montana 78. Turn left onto the gravel road marked “Benbow mine” if you wish to tour the Benbow area (Table 1). Continue on County Highway 419 if you wish to tour the Mountain View area (Table 2). The Nye Post Office and Carters Camp are located 20.4 mi (32.8 km) from the Montana 78 junction. Continuing ahead 5.4 mi (8.7 km) will bring you to the platinum mining operations at the end of the backtop road.

Abstract The Beartooth Highway (U.S. 212) lies southwest of Billings, Montana (Fig. 1). The section of highway discussed here extends from Red Lodge, Montana, to Cooke City, Montana. The road is paved and well maintained, but it may be temporarily closed by snow as early as Labor Day. It closes for the season by middle to late September, and remains closed until mid-May. The stops discussed here (Fig. 1) are pullouts (4 to 6 cars) on the highway and are accessible by two-wheel drive cars. Other than pullouts the road is narrow, with little possibility of overflow parking. Land ownership is largely National Forest (Gallatin and Custer in Montana, Shoshone in Wyoming) with the exception of private holdings along Rock Creek below the switchbacks.

Abstract The lower sandstone unit of the Upper Cretaceus Eagle Sandstone is extensively exposed in a 300-ft (100-m) high cliff which is dangerously sheer in places and rises above the north edge of Billings, Montana (Fig. 1). An excellent view of the cliffs from a distance can be seen from Rocky Mountain College. The safest and most accessible place to examine the outcrop is in Swords Park, a city park open to the public and accessible by two-wheel drive vehicles.

Abstract Extensive areas of the Powder River Basin in southeast Montana and northeast Wyoming are underlain by the Paleocene Fort Union Formation (Fig. 1). The sites selected for the field guide (Fig. 1) are easily accessible via the Powder River road from U.S. 212 (Broadus, Montana) to U.S. 14-16 (northeast of Arvada, Wyoming). The Powder River road is a county road that has a hard gravel surface easily traversed by cars. The outcrops are located either immediately along the road or only 0.25 mi (0.4 km) from the road. The lands along the Powder River are either managed by the Bureau of Land Management or privately owned by ranchers, who reserve the right to grant access to these lands. However, numerous field trips sponsored by the American Association of Petroleum Geologists, U.S. Geological Survey, North Dakota Geological Survey, and Casper College have been permitted access to the study sites. Permission was provided with the agreement that field-trip participants respect the land by not littering, not leaving gates open to stock, and carefully observing fire prevention rules. The rancher to contact for sites 1 and 2 is William Gaye, and the rancher for site 3 is Richard Reese. Mr Gaye maintains a ranch house on the Powder River road; Mr. Reese has a residence in the vicinity of Leiter, Wyoming (Fig. 1).