Trail Gems Geology Tours

We went to CO to visit family and experience the beautiful outdoors, and a Geological Hike, the Volcanic Gems Geology Hike, with Dr. Rox was our first excursion on the weekend. Dr. Rox was fantastic. Both my wife and I are teachers, and so we loved how academic the hike was as Dr. Rox would pause and explain the rock cycle, tectonic movement, or the birth of the Rocky Mountains. We were also delighted that our two teenage sons asked a bunch of questions and were obviously engaged in, not only the Geology lesson, but also the local flora and fauna. Dr. Rox answered every question, and, when she didn't know the name of a plant, she pulled out a trusty book and looked it up. She kept things light, but we definitely learned a lot as well. When we reached the end of the hike where the zeolite crystals had grown in the geodes, we climbed all over the rocks finding crystal after crystal. It was certainly an impressive site. We really loved both the scenery and our guide, and I would recommend this hike to anyone with any interested in geology. A big thanks to Dr. Rox for making our hike so fun and educational!

The overview summary of Trail Gems encapsulates it for me: "guiding you through the incredible beauty of Colorado's wilderness." I live in Colorado, but I do not appreciate its beauty enough. I also never knew the story behind the beautiful rock formations and natural landscapes I pass by everyday. Rox provides context and explanation for a natural history of the beautiful sights of Colorado. Rox is also very organized and thoughtful, making sure we had water, snacks, and umbrellas. We got to look, touch, break, and collect all different kinds of rocks in a variety of gorgeous locations. It was fun to explore and engage in a tactile activity. In our modern world where so much of our lives are spent behind screens, this was a truly relaxing yet exciting activity and exploration tour in the outdoors. It was creative and fun. I felt like a kid again!

Had a fantastic geology tour with Trail Gems! Our guide Roxana took us around the west Denver area, up into the mountains and back, and explained the "why" behind the rocky scenery that surrounds us. We got to hammer out some rock specimens, examine different crystal structures up close, and even see dinosaur bones. Definitely recommend for a fun weekend outing.