# Event Details - **Event Name**: Shoofly Oolites: Landscape of Mars - **Event Start and End Date**: Sat, 03 Oct, 2026 at 10:00 am – Sat, 03 Oct, 2026 at 03:00 pm (-06:00) - **Event Description**: Join Steven Sawyer for a field trip to the Shoofly Oolites, one of the largest outcrops of Oolites in North America.About this EventOolites are rocks made up of small round calcium carbonate deposits (not sand) which look like tiny (BB-size) eggs. The Shoofly Oolite area is a geologic wonderland located about 70 miles away from Boise near Grand View Idaho. It's probably the closest you can come to hiking on the surface of Mars. The hike is 2-3 Miles in length and of moderate difficulty.This is a BLM site and includes a few signs and a small parking area and lots of weird rock formations, caves, holes, arches, and bathtub features which are interesting to everyone. Steven will begin with a short geologic presentation at Shoofly.We will meet at 9:45am, for a 10 am departure, in the Albertson’s Shopping Center parking lot near McDonald's Restaurant, 6574 S Federal Way, near the intersection of I-84 and Hwy 21 . We will car-caravan to our destination. Please carpool as much as possible. Paved roads the entire way.Bring lunch and beverage. No restrooms at Shoofly but sagebrush is big. Dress for the weather, including proper shoes or boots, and be prepared for light wind.. The hike is about 2.5 miles total and of moderate difficulty involving "Uneven Ground, Loose Sand, and travel over rock ledges, and loose sandy slopes". Return to Boise around 3pm.No dogs, please. The area is fragile and we want to treat it with a light touch. Event will be cancelled if there is measurable snow, rain or high winds. You will receive a full refund if the IMMG cancels the event. Please check your email late the day before because that's how you'll learn if the field trip is canceled. Be sure your email address is functioning.Everyone must pre-register.Locate this interesting wonder on Google Maps: • GPS location is 42.837128 / -116.121980About Steven Sawyer:Originally from the UK, Steven holds a degree in Geosciences from the University of Oxford and a Ph.D. in Petroleum Geology from the University of Edinburgh. After 15 years working as an Exploration Geologist in the Oil and Gas industry, Steven relocated to Boise in 2021. He is enthusiastic about the Mountain West's remarkable geology and its opportunities for discovery. In leading field excursions, Steven is eager to share his knowledge of Earth's processes with his love for teaching and exploration. Steven has been an active volunteer with the Idaho Museum of Mining and Geology since 2023.The Shoofly Oolite field trip is sponsored by the Idaho Museum of Mining and Geology, next to the Old Pen in East Boise.This adventure requires a waiver. By signing up for this Shoofly Oolite Field trip you agree to the following: The registered individual accepts and does hereby assume any and all risks for himself and those on his ticket, for possible dangers and hazards involved in connection with the field trip designated above, offered by the IDAHO MUSEUM OF MINING AND GEOLOGY (IMMG), and does hereby SAVE AND HOLD HARMLESS the trip leader(s), IMMG and all officers and representatives of IMMG from any and all claims, losses, or damages, including attorney’s fees and costs because of said claims, on account of injury, death, property damage, and inconvenience or loss of money due to delay or other cause that may rise, by reason of my participation in the field trip. I understand that my use of alcohol or drugs would impair my judgment and coordination, and will hold IMMG harmless from any claims arising from my use of either. I understand I am responsible for carrying my own automobile, life, and health insurance.Photos will be taken to publicize this event on social media and/or for informing members on email. Please let your guide know if you do not want your photo taken.Please contact operations@idahomuseum.org if you have questions.More about the museum at www.idahomuseum.org https://cdn-az.allevents.in/events10/banners/ad1b9910-ad97-11f1-a13c-1d79dd064ad5-rimg-w1007-h740-dc180808-gmir.jpg https://cdn-az.allevents.in/events8/banners/ad316b00-ad97-11f1-a13c-1d79dd064ad5-rimg-w987-h740-dc88c8f8-gmir.jpg https://cdn-az.allevents.in/events6/banners/ad43ba80-ad97-11f1-a13c-1d79dd064ad5-rimg-w1200-h696-dc886878-gmir.jpg https://cdn-az.allevents.in/events3/banners/ad56a640-ad97-11f1-a13c-1d79dd064ad5-rimg-w987-h740-dc5898e8-gmir.jpg https://cdn-az.allevents.in/events6/banners/ad6a2e40-ad97-11f1-a13c-1d79dd064ad5-rimg-w555-h740-dc886838-gmir.jpg - **Event URL**: https://allevents.in/grand-view/shoofly-oolites-landscape-of-mars/100002000049635299 - **Event Categories**: fitness, trips-adventures, Nonprofit, health-wellness - **Interested Audience**: - total_interested_count: 0 ## Ticket Details - **Ticket Price Range**: min: 0, max: 23.18, currency: USD ## Event venue details - **city**: Grand View - **state**: ID - **country**: United States - **location**: Shoofly Creek near Grand View - **lat**: 42.9834801 - **long**: -116.0983045 - **full address**: Shoofly Creek near Grand View, Mud Flat Road, Grand View, United States ## Event gallery - **Alt text**: Shoofly Oolites: Landscape of Mars - **Image URL**: https://cdn-az.allevents.in/events7/banners/df71a6d7e4eb1806165bcb49e0f9db60179d8f67af79db41000a29434921a182-rimg-w1200-h900-dc5898e8-gmir.jpg?v=1789100242 ## FAQs - **Q**: When and where is Shoofly Oolites: Landscape of Mars being held? - **A:** Shoofly Oolites: Landscape of Mars takes place on Sat, 03 Oct, 2026 at 10:00 am to Sat, 03 Oct, 2026 at 03:00 pm at Shoofly Creek near Grand View, Mud Flat Road, Grand View, United States. - **Q**: Who is organizing Shoofly Oolites: Landscape of Mars? - **A:** Shoofly Oolites: Landscape of Mars is organized by Idaho Museum of Mining and Geology. ## Structured Data (JSON-LD) ```json [ { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "Event", "name": "Shoofly Oolites: Landscape of Mars", "image": "https://cdn-az.allevents.in/events7/banners/df71a6d7e4eb1806165bcb49e0f9db60179d8f67af79db41000a29434921a182-rimg-w1200-h900-dc5898e8-gmir.jpg?v=1789100242", "startDate": "2026-10-03T10:00:00-06:00", "endDate": "2026-10-03T15:00:00-06:00", "url": "https://allevents.in/grand-view/shoofly-oolites-landscape-of-mars/100002000049635299", "eventStatus": "https://schema.org/EventScheduled", "location": { "@type": "Place", "name": "Shoofly Creek near Grand View", "address": { "@type": "PostalAddress", "streetAddress": "Mud Flat Road", "postalCode": "83712", "addressLocality": "Grand View", "addressRegion": "ID", "addressCountry": "US" }, "geo": { "@type": "GeoCoordinates", "latitude": "42.9834801", "longitude": "-116.0983045" } }, "eventAttendanceMode": "https://schema.org/OfflineEventAttendanceMode", "description": "Join Steven Sawyer for a field trip to the Shoofly Oolites, one of the largest outcrops of Oolites in North America.", "offers": [ { "@type": "AggregateOffer", "availability": "https://schema.org/InStock", "priceCurrency": "USD", "availabilityStarts": "2026-09-11", "availabilityEnds": "2026-10-03T15:00:00-06:00", "validFrom": "2026-09-11", "lowPrice": "0.00", "highPrice": "23.18", "price": "0.00", "url": "https://allevents.in/grand-view/shoofly-oolites-landscape-of-mars/100002000049635299" }, { "@type": "Offer", "availability": "https://schema.org/InStock", "priceCurrency": "USD", "availabilityStarts": "2026-09-11", "availabilityEnds": "", "validFrom": "2026-09-11", "url": "https://allevents.in/grand-view/shoofly-oolites-landscape-of-mars/100002000049635299", "price": 0, "name": "IMMG Museum Members" }, { "@type": "Offer", "availability": "https://schema.org/InStock", "priceCurrency": "USD", "availabilityStarts": "2026-09-11", "availabilityEnds": "", "validFrom": "2026-09-11", "url": "https://allevents.in/grand-view/shoofly-oolites-landscape-of-mars/100002000049635299", "price": "23.18", "name": "Non-Member of IMMG" }, { "@type": "Offer", "availability": "https://schema.org/InStock", "priceCurrency": "USD", "availabilityStarts": "2026-09-11", "availabilityEnds": "", "validFrom": "2026-09-11", "url": "https://allevents.in/grand-view/shoofly-oolites-landscape-of-mars/100002000049635299", "price": 0, "name": "Youth" } ], "organizer": [ { "@type": "Organization", "name": "Idaho Museum of Mining and Geology", "url": "https://allevents.in/org/idaho-museum-of-mining-and-geology/18474756", "description": "The Idaho Museum of Mining and Geology is looking forward to booking activities and event reservations online. We feel it will save time and money to do so. We hope you will join us as we start the season with online registrations only. Some reservation-only events will begin in February.To maintain good health, we ask that each event participant and visitor to the museum wear a mask that covers the mouth and nose. The museum will open later this spring with limited numbers and other safety guidelines in place." } ] } ] ```