Keystone Thrust Fault is considered the most significant geological feature in Red Rock Canyon. About 65 M years ago near the end of the Mesozoic Era, the oceanic plate (west) began colliding with the North American Plate (east) as the continent shifted. Though compressional thrust faulting can be found throughout North America, Keystone Thrust is one of the most vivid examples.

Blackbrush stabilizes in shallow soil with long lateral roots, and can live hundreds and sometimes thousands of years

Turtlehead Peak is a striking example of older limestone that's been thrust above younger sandstone in a series of seismic events that began 65M years ago

Native Americans harvested Utah Agave stalks when they were just starting to grow and were most nutritious and palatable

250M sea fossils have been found in limestone from the Paleozoic Era

Desert Sage favors alluvial slopes in the lower basin of Red Rock Canyon

The Aztec Sandstone Bluffs of Red Rock Canyon formed about 180 – 190 M years ago from lithified sand dunes

Hairy daisies, often mistaken for asters, are found throughout the eastern Mojave in rocky crevices and slopes

Lithification is the process of changing unconsolidated particles like sand dunes into sedimentary rock

Many species of manzanita require fire or scarification to extract the seed from their hard outer coating

Fractured rock, a byproduct of seismic tumult, is scattered about the fault area