A Hike Back In Time: Rock City On Kessler Mountain
Hike | Registration opens Sunday, August 16, 2026 2:00 PM
Participants take a journey into deep time, exploring the Fayetteville area long before human settlement. Retired geologists Chris Moyer and Mac McGilvery introduce the foundations of geology before delving into the geologic history of the region and the ways it has shaped the surrounding landscape.
Following the brief lecture, participants hike through Rock City and along the Fayetteville Traverse trail at Kessler Mountain. Along the route, outcrops and scenic vistas provide clear, realworld illustrations of the concepts discussed, highlighting geology’s role in forming today’s topography.
Participants are to wear comfortable shoes and bring a hiking stick (if needed.)
Activity Level: 2
This program will meet in person at Fayettechill (The old Smokehouse), located at 1725 S Smoke House Trail, Fayetteville, AR 72701. Please read your class reminder email for the exact room location.
Class changes occasionally happen; please watch for (and read) announcements or emails from OLLI regarding your class.
Click on the link below for a Google map shot of our location:
Fayettechill
LOCATION: Fayettechill (Smokehouse) - Lecture;
Rock City Trail, Kessler Mountain, - Hike (Adjacent to Fayettechill)
Chris Moyer
Chris Moyer grew up in New Jersey, received his B.S. in geology from Arkansas Tech and M.S. in geology from the
University of Arkansas. He worked in the petroleum industry for over 25 years as a domestic and international production and exploration geologist for ExxonMobil and Southwestern Energy Company and as a geological consultant. He was a geology instructor at Northwest Arkansas Community College for about a dozen years. He is now retired.
Mac McGilvery
Mac McGilvery received his B.S. and M.S. Geology from the University of Arkansas in 1978 and 1980 and a PhD from the University of Texas in 1996. Mac spent 35 years working around the world in the Petroleum industry. Upon retirement, Mac accepted the position of Adjunct Professor with the U of Arkansas Geoscience Dept. in 2015 and has been teaching and leading student research since that time. His current research is focused on the geologic evolution of Arkansas.