Dick Huelster

In this roadside guide, popular lecturer, tour leader, and author Kirt Kempter makes geology interesting through his riveting explanations and engaging diagrams.

Color diagrams and graphics of the history of geologic formations, including the Rio Grande rift, provide background for understanding the area, and a detailed, durable topographic map provides information about trails and features for the day hiker.

This guide, created for the Three Trails Conference of 2015, tells the history of the El Camino Real, the Santa Fe Trail, and the Old Spanish Trail as they traced their paths across the state of New Mexico.

The text, photographs, graphics, and map that appear here, created with the assistance of New Mexico’s Office of Archaeology, provide the curious reader and the interested explorer alike with insight into the fascinating history and archaeology of New Mexico.

With stunning photographs, timelines, and a regional geologic map, noted geologist Kirt Kempter explains the geologic story and landscape evolution of the region for travelers, hikers, and armchair geologists.

This guide contains detailed descriptions of and background for many Pueblo Indian ceremonies that occur year-round in New Mexico.