Geology

 

Did You Know?

Geology and paleontology are one of the fundamental resources and values identified in the park's foundation document. Geologic features provide the scenic backdrop for the three reservoirs and reveal the evidence of Late Jurassic and Early Cretaceous environments.

 

Dillon Pinnacles

NPS/Kat Connelly

From River to Canyon

Curecanti and neighboring Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park share a geologic makeup and history. Precambrian metamorphic basement rocks are visible from the Lake City Bridge to the Upper Black Canyon. Igneous rocks form the impressive features across the park - such as the Curecanti Needle and Dillon Pinnacles. Sedimentary rocks hold dinosaur and trace fossils. Ancient oceans, deserts, lakes, and rivers were the past environments of this area.

Geologic Formations and Characteristics

Learn about Black Canyon, Dillon Pinnacles, and more on the geologic time scale. Formations at the park are made up of Precambrian, Jurassic, Cretaceous, and Paleogene-age rocks.

 

 

Curecanti National Recreation Area falls between two physiographic provinces: Colorado Plateaus (west) and Southern Rocky Mountains (east).

NPS/Geologic Resources Division

Physiographic Provinces

Curecanti National Recreation Area is situated between two physiographic provinces: the Colorado Plateaus to the west and the Southern Rocky Mountains to the east.

The Colorado Plateau highlights a region well known for its natural features, plateaus, buttes, deep canyons, and colorful rock layers. The Southern Rocky Mountains contain massive 14,000 ft (4,267 m) peaks, valleys, and uplifts—the result of many tectonic episodes. The West Elk Mountains lie to the north, San Juan Mountains to the southwest, and the Gunnison Valley to the east.