Square Top | |
---|---|
Highest point | |
Elevation | 7,412 ft (2,259 m) [1] [2] |
Prominence | 699 ft (213 m) [1] |
Parent peak | Peak 7628 [3] |
Isolation | 2.31 mi (3.72 km) [3] |
Coordinates | 38°46′28″N110°53′44″W / 38.7743502°N 110.8956237°W [4] |
Geography | |
Country | United States |
State | Utah |
County | Emery |
Parent range | Colorado Plateau San Rafael Swell [1] |
Topo map | USGS Copper Globe |
Geology | |
Rock age | Triassic |
Rock type | Sandstone |
Climbing | |
Easiest route | class 5.9 climbing [3] |
Square Top is a 7,412-foot-elevation (2,259-meter) summit in Emery County, Utah, United States.
Square Top is located 29 miles (47 km) north-northwest of Hanksville, Utah, in Reds Canyon of the San Rafael Swell on land managed by the US Bureau of Land Management. Precipitation runoff from this landform drains into Reds Canyon → Muddy Creek → Dirty Devil River → Colorado River. Topographic relief is significant as the summit rises 1,200 feet (366 meters) above the canyon floor in 0.5 miles (0.80 km). Access is via Red Canyon Loop (County Road 1019). This landform's toponym has been officially adopted by the United States Board on Geographic Names. [4]
Square Top is composed of Kayenta Formation overlaying cliff-forming Wingate Sandstone, which is the remains of wind-borne sand dunes deposited approximately 200 million years ago in the Late Triassic. Below the Wingate are strata of the upper and lower members of the slope-forming Chinle Formation, also of Late Triassic age. The Chinle overlies the Moody Canyon and Torrey members of the Moenkopi Formation (Early Triassic) which covers the surrounding terrain. [5] These rocks were uplifted during the Laramide Orogeny and subjected to forces of erosion which created the butte left standing today.
Spring and fall are the most favorable seasons to visit Square Top. According to the Köppen climate classification system, it is located in a cold semi-arid climate zone, with temperatures averaging between 0 °F to 30 °F in January, and 50 °F to 100 °F in July. [6] Typical of high deserts, summer temperatures can be exceedingly hot, while winter temperatures can be very cold. Snowfall is common, but the snow melts rapidly in the arid and sunny climate. Rainfall is very low, and the evaporation rate classifies the area as desert, even though the rainfall exceeds 10 inches.
Owl Rock is a 6,547-foot elevation sandstone summit located south of Monument Valley, in northeast Arizona. It is situated 7 miles (11 km) north of Kayenta on Navajo Nation land, and can be seen from Highway 163 perched on the east edge of Tyende Mesa, where it towers 1,000 feet above the surrounding terrain. Its nearest higher neighbor is Agathla Peak, 1.4 miles (2.3 km) to the east-northeast, on the opposite side of this highway. Precipitation runoff from this feature drains into El Capitan Wash, which is part of the San Juan River drainage basin. The first ascent of Owl Rock was made in April 1966 by Fred Beckey and Harvey Carter by climbing cracks on the west face, and then bolting up a smooth south nose to the summit. They employed 20 pitons and 14 bolts on this route called Warpath. The descriptive name stems from its uncanny resemblance to an owl when viewed from the east. This feature is known as Bee 'Adizí in Navajo language meaning "spindle", and this sacred place is considered to be a spindle left behind by the Holy People. A newer name for it is Tsé Ts'óózí, meaning "Slim Rock".
The Castle is a 6,387-foot (1,947 m) summit in Capitol Reef National Park in Wayne County, Utah, United States. This iconic landmark is situated 0.5 mi (0.80 km) immediately north of the park's visitor center, towering nearly 800 feet (240 m) above the center and Utah State Route 24. Precipitation runoff from this feature is drained by tributaries of the Fremont River.
Chimney Rock is a 6,420-foot (1,960 m) summit in Capitol Reef National Park in Wayne County, Utah, United States. This landmark is situated 2.5 mi (4.0 km) northwest of the park's visitor center, towering over 300 feet (91 m) above Utah State Route 24. Chimney Rock is also 2.5 mi (4.0 km) northwest of another of the park's landmarks, The Castle. Precipitation runoff from this feature ends up in the Colorado River drainage basin. The Chimney Rock Trail is a 3.5-mile loop trail that takes hikers to a view of Chimney Rock from above Mummy Cliffs.
Buttes of the Cross is two sandstone summits located in the northern reach of Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, in Wayne County of Utah, United States. The larger and higher south butte reaches an elevation of 5,642 feet, whereas the north butte rises to 5,569 feet, with approximately 0.6 miles (0.97 km) separation between them. When viewed from the north-northeast near Labyrinth Canyon, they align to form the shape of a cross, creating the appearance of a single butte. The name "Butte of the Cross" was first applied by John Wesley Powell during the Powell Geographic Expedition of 1869. A few miles further down the Green River, Powell finds that this geographical feature is two buttes when viewed from the east, so it was renamed Buttes of the Cross. Buttes of the Cross towers over 1,400 feet above its surrounding terrain. It is situated 6.8 miles west of Candlestick Tower, and one-half mile outside the boundary of Canyonlands National Park.
Junction Butte is a 6,400-foot-elevation (2,000-meter) summit located in the Island in the Sky District of Canyonlands National Park, in San Juan County, Utah. It is set about one mile south of the southern tip of Island in the Sky. A short hike to Grand View Point provides a view of Junction Butte. Access to this butte is via the four-wheel drive White Rim Road, which is another option to view Junction Butte. Topographic relief is significant as the top of this geological formation rises 1,400 feet above the road in less than one mile. Precipitation runoff from Junction Butte drains east into the nearby Colorado River, and west into nearby Green River. Junction Butte is situated north of the junction of these two major rivers.
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.
Elaterite Butte is a 6,552-foot (1,997-meter) elevation summit located in The Maze District of Canyonlands National Park, in Wayne County, Utah. Elaterite Butte is situated 6 mi (9.7 km) southwest of Ekker Butte, and the Maze Overlook is situated 2.5 mi (4.0 km) to the northeast. Elaterite Butte is composed of hard, fine-grained Wingate Sandstone, which is the remains of wind-borne sand dunes deposited approximately 200 million years ago in the Late Triassic. This Wingate sandstone overlays a 432-foot thick layer of the softer Chinle Formation. The top of this geological formation rises over 1,400 feet above Elaterite Basin. The butte and basin are named for elaterite, which is a dark brown, tar-like, elastic mineral resin that seeps from parts of the nearby White Rim Sandstone. Access to the remote butte is via a four-wheel drive road in Elaterite Basin. Precipitation runoff from Elaterite Butte drains into the nearby Green River, which in turn is within the Colorado River drainage basin.
The Sixshooter Peaks are two iconic sandstone summits located in Bears Ears National Monument in San Juan County, Utah, United States. The larger and higher North Sixshooter Peak rises to an elevation of 6,379 feet, whereas South Sixshooter Peak rises to 6,154 feet, with approximately 1.5 miles (2.4 km) separation between the two. These buttes tower nearly 1,400 feet above the surrounding terrain, and are historic landmarks visible from State Route 211 between Newspaper Rock and the Needles District of Canyonlands National Park. They are situated 1.5 mile outside the boundary of the park, and four miles northwest of Bridger Jack Butte. Variant names for the peaks include "North Six-Shooter Peak", "South Six-shooter Peak", "Six Shooter Peaks", and "Six-shooter Peak". They are so named because of their resemblance to a pair of revolvers pointing skyward.
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.
Wild Horse Butte is a 5,760-foot (1,756-meter) elevation summit located in Goblin Valley State Park, in Emery County, Utah. Wild Horse Butte is situated 2.3 mi (3.7 km) west of Mollys Castle, and the top of this geological feature rises over 800 feet above its surrounding terrain, with precipitation runoff from Wild Horse Butte entering the Colorado River drainage basin. John C. Frémont's fifth expedition (1853–1854) stopped at Wild Horse Butte in January 1854, when Solomon Nunes Carvalho recorded a daguerreotype image of this butte.
Mollys Castle is a remote 5,265-foot (1,605-meter) elevation summit located near Goblin Valley State Park, in Emery County, Utah. Mollys Castle is situated 2.3 mi (3.7 km) east of Wild Horse Butte, and one-half mile outside the park's east boundary. The top of this magnificent butte rises 265 feet above its surrounding terrain. Precipitation runoff from Mollys Castle enters the Colorado River drainage basin.
Window Blind Peak is a 7,030-foot-elevation (2,143-meter) summit located in the San Rafael Swell of Emery County, Utah, U.S. Towering 1,800 feet above its surrounding terrain, it is the highest point of the Mexican Mountain Wilderness Study Area. Ownership is administered by the Bureau of Land Management. It is situated 2.1 miles (3.4 km) southeast of Bottleneck Peak, 1.52 miles (2.45 km) south of Assembly Hall Peak, and the nearest higher neighbor is Cedar Mountain, 8.95 miles (14.40 km) to the north-northeast. Precipitation runoff from this feature drains north into the nearby San Rafael River. The first ascent of this peak was made September 23, 1973, by Jim Langdon, Dale Black, and Dave Palmer via the West Face.
Temple Mountain is a remote 6,820-foot (2,080 m) mountain and abandoned town, located on the southeast flank of the San Rafael Swell in Emery County, Utah, United States.
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 nine 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."
Grand View Spire is a 5,821-foot-elevation (1,774-meter) sandstone pillar located in Colorado National Monument, in Mesa County of western Colorado, United States. This 400-foot tower is situated on the west side of Monument Canyon, one mile southeast of the monument's visitor center, and 9 miles (14 km) west of the community of Grand Junction. It is also 0.32 mile immediately south of Independence Monument, and 0.27 mile northwest of another climbing destination, Kissing Couple. Its unofficial name relates to its position at the tip of Grand View Overlook, one of several scenic viewpoints along Rim Rock Drive.
Assembly Hall Peak is a 6,395-foot-elevation (1,949-meter) summit in Emery County, Utah, United States.
Adobe Mesa is a 7,475-foot-elevation (2,278-meter) summit in Grand County, Utah, United States.
Family Butte is a 7,405-foot-elevation (2,257-meter) summit in Emery County, Utah, United States.
White Top Mountain is a 7,607-foot-elevation (2,319-meter) summit in Inyo County, California, United States.
Round Rock is a 6,310-foot-elevation (1,923-meter) summit in Apache County, Arizona, United States.