Introduction

Wood fossil in sandstone boulder on West Mesa

The San Marcos Foothills offer a fine opportunity for people of all ages to learn about geology. Located in the transition zone between mountain front and coastal plain, the Foothills area contains classic geological features as well as evidence of the big-picture dynamics that give shape to our land.

Formations	Description of major rock units in the San Marcos Foothills
History	Geology of the San Marcos Foothills across time
Features	Rock types, weathering, erosion, fossils, and plate tectonics
Field Trips	A Stroll to the Sespe and A Foray on the Fanglomerate
Topography	How geology controls the general shape of the land
Vegetation	Relationship of geology to the overlying vegetation
Glossary	Definitions of underlined words in the texts above
References and Acknowledgments

Geology of the San Marcos Foothills by Susan Bartz