Mesa Arch

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Mesa Arch
Mesa Arch Canyonlands sunrise.jpg
Mesa Arch, August 2016
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Mesa Arch
Location in Utah
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Mesa Arch
Mesa Arch (the United States)
Coordinates: 38°23′16″N109°51′49″W / 38.3878595°N 109.8636644°W / 38.3878595; -109.8636644 [1]
Location Canyonlands National Park
San Juan County, Utah, U.S.
Geology Navajo Sandstone [2]
Elevation1,859 m (6,099 ft)
[1]
Topo map USGS Musselman Arch

Mesa Arch (also known as Rotary Arch and Trail Arch) is a pothole arch on the eastern edge of the Island in the Sky mesa in Canyonlands National Park in northern San Juan County, Utah, United States. [3] [4] [5] Mesa Arch is a spectacular natural stone arch perched at the edge of a cliff with vast views of canyons, Monster Tower, Washer Woman Arch, Airport Tower, and the La Sal Mountains in the distance. Access is via a relatively easy hiking trail, just a half-mile long from the park road.

Contents

Climate

Spring and fall are the most favorable seasons to visit Mesa Arch. According to the Köppen climate classification system, it is located in a cold semi-arid climate zone, which is defined by the coldest month having an average mean temperature below −0 °C (32 °F) and at least 50% of the total annual precipitation being received during the spring and summer. This desert climate receives less than 10 inches (250 millimeters) of annual rainfall, and snowfall is generally light during the winter.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ekker Butte</span> Butte in Glen Canyon National Recreation Area in Wayne Canyon, Utah, United States

Ekker Butte is a 6,260-foot (1,910-meter) elevation summit located in the northern reach of Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, in Wayne County of Utah, United States. It is situated seven miles southeast of Buttes of the Cross, six miles northeast of Elaterite Butte, and less than two miles outside the boundary of Canyonlands National Park, where it towers over 1,400 feet above the surrounding terrain. Distant views of this remote butte can be seen from the Grand View Point and Green River Overlooks at Island in the Sky of Canyonlands National Park. This geological landmark is named for the pioneering Art Ekker family which operated the nearby Robbers Roost Ranch and grazed cattle on land adjacent to the nearby Maze. Arthur Benjamin Ekker (1911–1978) took Robert Redford on a tour of nearby Robbers Roost, the hideout of outlaw Butch Cassidy and the Wild Bunch.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bridger Jack Butte</span> Rock formation in Utah, United States

Bridger Jack Butte is a sandstone butte located in Bears Ears National Monument, in San Juan County, Utah, United States. Set at the northern tip of Bridger Jack Mesa and above the confluence of Indian and Lavender Creeks, the summit rises to an elevation of 5,890 feet, and towers over 700 feet above the surrounding terrain and floor of Lavender Canyon to its west. This landmark is situated four miles southeast of the Sixshooter Peaks, and is visible from State Route 211 between Newspaper Rock and the Needles District of Canyonlands National Park. "Bridger Jack" was a Paiute medicine man.

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Kissing Couple is a 5,815-foot-elevation (1,772-meter) sandstone pillar located in Colorado National Monument, in Mesa County of western Colorado, United States. This iconic 400-foot-high tower is situated on the west side of Monument Canyon, 1.5 mile southeast of the monument's visitor center, and 9 miles (14 km) west of the community of Grand Junction. It is also a half-mile south-southeast of another popular climbing destination, Independence Monument, and both can be seen from viewpoints along Rim Rock Drive. It is so named because it resembles an embracing couple. This geographical feature's name was officially adopted in 1982 by the United States Board on Geographic Names. Older USGS maps have the feature's name misplaced by about one-half mile to the southeast. The first ascent of the summit was made May 4, 1960, by Layton Kor, Harvey Carter, and John Auld via the five pitch, class 5.11a route named Long Dong Wall. The first free ascent was made in 1977 by Andy Petefish, Tom Stubbs, and Jim Pearson. Some climbers alternatively refer to Kissing Couple as "Bell Tower."

References

  1. 1 2 "Mesa Arch". Geographic Names Information System . United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior . Retrieved 2020-08-30.
  2. Green, Stewart M (2020). Best Day Hikes Moab. Falcon Guides. p. 121.
  3. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Mesa Arch
  4. "MyTopo Maps - Mesa Arch, Moab, UT, USA" (Map). mytop.com. Trimble Navigation, Ltd. Retrieved 18 Mar 2019.
  5. Foos, Annabelle (1999). "Geology of the Moab Region (Arches, Dead Horse Point and Canyonlands)" (PDF) (Map). nature.nps.gov. National Park Service. p. 13. Archived (PDF) from the original on 11 February 2017. Retrieved 18 Mar 2019 via Wayback Machine.