Come explore the geology of the Owyhee. This series is lead by Sammy Castonguay, M.Sc. Geological Sciences and FOTO's Program Director.

Participants are welcome to come on select trips or participate in every day outing—each lecture is able to stand alone. The content covers plenty of basics, so no experience is necessary. We’ll make firsthand scientific observations, delve into interpretation, and utilize previous mapping efforts to supplement our findings.

At the end of the series, our trip leader Sammy will give a public presentation in Ontario to summarize the trips.

You will get an email with full details before each event, but check out general trip details below and meeting points for each of the trips.

What to wear:

• Hiking clothes (comfortable, flexible clothing)
• Hiking boots or sturdy trail shoes
• Sunhat & sunglasses
• Rain jacket
• Warm jacket, hat, gloves

What to bring:

• Day backpack
• Water bottle & plenty of water
• Lunch
• Notebook, clipboard, pencils/pens
• Rock hammer
• Hand lens
• Headlamp
• Camera/phone
• Prescription medications

Optional items to bring:

• Geologic gear
• Hiking poles

Included:

• Field trip guide with map and descriptions
• Geologic fun, educational information
• Navigational lead

Trip Overviews

Trip 1: Succor Creek

• Saturday, March 27, 2021: 9AM–4PM
• Where to meet: Dirt lot near the powerlines on Succor Creek Road

Trip 2: Leslie Gulch

• Saturday, April 17, 2021: 9AM–3PM
• Where to meet: Turn-off from Succor Creek Road to Leslie Gulch

Trip 3: Jump Creek Falls

• Friday, May 7, 2021: 9AM–2PM
• Where to meet: Extra Mile Chevron in Marsing

Trip 4: Birch Creek & Jordan Craters

• Saturday, June 26, 2021: 9AM–5PM
• Where to meet: Turn-off to Jordan Craters from Highway 95

Trip 5: Lake Owyhee

• Saturday, July 3, 2021: 9AM–12PM
• Where to meet: Gordan day-use area at Lake Owyhee

Trip 6: Lower Owyhee Canyon

• Saturday, July 17, 2021: 8AM–12PM
• Where to meet: Watchable Wildlife Area near Snively Hot Spring

Trip 7: Silver City

• Saturday, August 27, 2021: 8AM–5PM
• Where to meet: Intersection of Highway 95 and Silver City Road

Trip 8: Independence Mountains near Owyhee, NV

• Saturday, September 25 to Sunday, September 26, 2021: 6PM–3PM (next day)
• Where to meet: Jack's Creek Campground
• Note: This is an overnight trip, so please plan accordingly.

Trip 9: South Mountain

• Saturday, October 23, 2021: 10AM–3PM
• Where to meet: Jordan Valley City Park next to the rodeo grounds

Trip 10: Summary Presentation

• Thursday, November 18, 2021: 6:30PM–8PM
• Where to meet: Ontario, OR (exact location TBA)
• Note: No special clothing or gear needed for this "trip".

If you have any questions, please get in touch with Sammy via email at sammyc@owyheefriends.org