The formation rests on rocks dating from the Permian to the Miocene. These include red beds of the Abo Formation in the valley of the Rio Guadalupe in the western Jemez and in upper Canon de San Diego; Chinle Formation beds in lower Paliza Canyon; Abiquiu Formation on the west wall of the Valles caldera and in upper San Juan Canyon; and Santa Fe Group at the east foot of St. Peter's Dome to the east. The Paliza Canyon Formation is intruded and locally overlain by Bearhead Rhyolite. In the north and northwest wall of the Valles caldera, the Paliza Canyon Formation appears to be conformably overlain with dacite and quartz latite flows of the Tschicoma Formation (Polvadera Group).