Annual Fall Field Conference
Registration for this year's Fall Field Conference is now handled through EventCombo. You can find full event and registration details, pricing, and sign-up on our EventCombo page. We've moved to this platform to make registering easier and more reliable than in years past. If you run into any issues or have questions, please email us at nmbg-nmgs@nmt.edu.
Albuquerque area
October 21-24, 2026
Registration opens August 8, 2026!
About NMGS Fall Field Conferences
Almost every fall since 1950, the Society has held a field conference to some part of New Mexico and, in some cases, to border states. From the beginning, the conference has been accompanied by a guidebook with detailed road logs as well as peer-reviewed papers relevant to the region. These guidebooks remain as invaluable references to the geology of the conference study area and most are available for purchase.
Itinerary
Icebreaker — Wednesday, October 21:
- Time: 6:00 to 9:00 PM
- Location: Best Western Plus Rio Grande Inn
1015 Rio Grande Blvd NW, Albuquerque, NM 87104
Day 1 — Thursday, October 22 — Sandia Mountains: Proterozoic & Mesozoic stratigraphy and structure in the Juan Tabo area; Great Unconformity and late Paleozoic tectonics at Doc Long Picnic Area; hydrogeology and stratigraphy at Placitas – Crest of Montezuma; rift-margin structure at Placitas.
- Juan Tabo area (two hikes): Proterozoic & Mesozoic stratigraphy & structure; Sandia Mountains piedmont geomorphology
- Doc Long Picnic Area: Great Unconformity & late Paleozoic tectonics (lunch)
- Placitas – Crest of Montezuma: Hydrogeology & stratigraphy
- Placitas: Rift-margin structure
- BBQ, 6:30 PM at the Education Building, Rio Grande Nature Center State Park, 2901 Candelaria Rd NW
- Departure Time: 7:30 AM (arrive 7:00–7:15 AM)
- Departure point: NMMNHS Annex Parking Lot, 950 18th St NW, Albuquerque (north of the Explora Museum parking lot)
Day 2 — Friday, October 23 — Santa Fe Group, NW Albuquerque Basin:
- Zia & Cerro Conejo Formations: Lower & middle Santa Fe Group stratigraphy and structure (hike & lunch)
- Ceja del Rio Puerco: Upper Santa Fe Group stratigraphy and structure
- Banquet, 6:30 PM at the New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science, 1801 Mountain Rd NW
- Departure Time: 7:30 AM (arrive 7:00–7:15 AM)
- Departure point: NMMNHS Annex Parking Lot, 950 18th St NW, Albuquerque (north of the Explora Museum parking lot)
Day 3 — Saturday, October 24 — Rio Grande Valley & Albuquerque Volcanoes:
- West Bluff Park: Quaternary history & hydrogeology
- Albuquerque Volcanoes (Petroglyph National Monument): Volcanic history & features (hike & lunch)
- Boca Negra Canyon (Petroglyph National Monument): vesicle cylinders (optional stop)
- Departure Time: 7:30 AM (arrive 7:00–7:15 AM)
- Departure point: NMMNHS Annex Parking Lot, 950 18th St NW, Albuquerque (north of the Explora Museum parking lot)
- Conference ends: approximately 2:00 PM
What to bring: For each day of the field trip, please bring shoes suitable for climbing steep slopes and walking distances of up to 5 miles, sunscreen, a hat, and clothing appropriate for the weather (especially if rain is forecast).
Lodging
Best Western Plus Rio Grande Inn
A group rate of $121.37 (plus taxes) is available at: Best Western Plus Rio Grande Inn, 1015 Rio Grande Blvd NW, Albuquerque, NM 87104.
Best Western booking must be made by September 21, 2026.
Additional hotels in the area
- Towne Place Suites by Marriott – 2510 12th St NW, Albuquerque, NM 87104 – 505-314-8201
- EconoLodge, Albuquerque Old Town – 2321 Central Ave NW, Albuquerque, NM 87104 – 505-243-8475
- Hotel Albuquerque at Old Town – 800 Rio Grande Blvd NW, Albuquerque, NM 87104 – 505-843-6300
Each registrant is responsible for making their own lodging arrangements if not staying at the group-rate hotel. Lodging fees are not covered by registration.
Future Conferences:
Widespread enthusiasm for the Fall Field Conferences has led to receipt of many proposals for future conferences. Therefore, the schedule of upcoming field conferences is now outlined for the next several years. The field conference venues and names of organizers are listed below. All members are encouraged to volunteer assistance to the organizers or to contribute to the guidebooks. If you live near or are involved with the geology in the vicinity of the future conference sites, please consider contacting one of the organizers.
2027: Geology of the El Paso - Juarez Borderland
2028: Las Cruces Country
If you have an idea for a future field conference, please contact the President of the NMGS.
Photos From Past Fall Field Conferences
Everyone is invited to share their best digital photos of past conferences with the rest of the Society membership. Please contact the society webmaster via the 'comments' link below.