The Sundial (Zion National Park)

The Sundial
The Sundial
	The Sundial, east aspect at dawn; (The Witch Head to right)
Highest point
Elevation	7,590 ft (2,310 m)
Prominence	530 ft (160 m)
Parent peak	The West Temple (7,810 ft)
Isolation	0.38 mi (0.61 km)
Coordinates	37°12′56″N113°01′27″W / 37.2155109°N 113.0242192°W Coordinates: 37°12′56″N113°01′27″W / 37.2155109°N 113.0242192°W
Geography
	The Sundial Location in Utah The Sundial The Sundial (the United States)
Location	Zion National Park ; Washington County, Utah ; United States
Parent range	Colorado Plateau
Topo map	USGS Springdale West
Geology
Age of rock	Jurassic
Type of rock	Navajo sandstone
Climbing
Easiest route	class 5+ climbing

Last updated January 17, 2023

The Sundial is a 7,590-foot (2,310-meter) elevation white Navajo Sandstone summit located in Zion National Park, in Washington County of southwest Utah, United States.^[2]

Description

The Sundial is situated in the "Towers of the Virgin", 2.5 mi (4.0 km) west of Zion's park headquarters, towering 3,600 feet (1,100 meters) above the floor of Zion Canyon and the Virgin River which drains precipitation runoff from this mountain. Its nearest higher neighbor is The West Temple, one half mile to the southeast, and Altar of Sacrifice is set approximately one mile to the north-northeast. Other neighbors include The Witch Head, Bee Hive, The Sentinel, Mount Spry, Bridge Mountain, and Mount Kinesava. This geographical feature was named by the park's third superintendent, Preston P. Patraw, because it had long been used as a sundial to regulate clocks in the nearby town of Grafton. The Sundial's name was officially adopted in 1934 by the U.S. Board on Geographic Names.^[2]

Climate

Spring and fall are the most favorable seasons to visit The Sundial. 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 32 °F (0 °C), 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.^[3]

Gallery

West aspect of Sundial. West Temple to right
The Sundial centered, from the southwest
The West Temple (left), The Sundial, The Witch Head, Altar of Sacrifice (right)
The West Temple (left), The Sundial, The Witch Head, Altar of Sacrifice (right)
Towers of the Virgin. Left to right:The Sundial, The Witch Head, Broken Tooth, Rotten Tooth, Altar of Sacrifice (upper right).
The Sundial (left) and The Witch Head (right)
The West Temple (left), The Sundial (right)
Mt. Kinesava (centered), The Sundial to left, seen from Grafton cemetery
The Sundial (left), The Witch Head, Broken Tooth, Rotten Tooth, Altar of Sacrifice.
Moon over The Sundial
The Sundial from Chinle Trail

Related Research Articles

Bee Hive is a 6,904 feet (2,104 m) Navajo Sandstone mountain in Zion National Park in Washington County, Utah, United States, that is part of the Towers of the Virgin.

Mount Spry is a small 5,720-ft elevation mountain summit made of Navajo Sandstone located in Zion National Park, in Washington County of southwest Utah, United States. Officially named in 1934, it honors William Spry (1864-1929), the third governor of Utah. The nearest higher peak is The East Temple, 0.34 miles (0.55 km) to the east. Precipitation runoff from the mountain drains into tributaries of the North Fork Virgin River.

The East Temple is a prominent 7,709 feet (2,350 m) summit composed of Navajo Sandstone in Zion National Park, in Washington County of southwest Utah, United States. It is one of the notable landmarks in the park. The nearest neighbor is Twin Brothers, one-half mile to the north, and the nearest higher peak is The West Temple, 3.85 miles (6.20 km) to the west-southwest. The mountain is situated 1.8 miles northeast of the park headquarters, at the confluence of Pine Creek and the North Fork Virgin River. This feature's name was applied by John Wesley Powell during his explorations in 1872, and was officially adopted in 1934 by the U.S. Board on Geographic Names. The first ascent was made in 1937 by Glen Dawson, Dick Jones, Homer Fuller, Wayland Gilbert, and Jo Momyer.

The West Temple is a prominent 7,810-foot mountain summit composed of Navajo Sandstone in Zion National Park in Washington County of Utah, United States. This, the highest feature in Zion Canyon, was originally called "Temp-o-i-tin-car-ur" meaning "Mountain without a trail" by the Paiute people. It was called Steamboat Mountain by local Mormon settlers before 1934, when the USGS officially changed it to its present name, which was applied by John Wesley Powell during his explorations in 1872. West Temple is situated two miles northwest of Springdale, Utah, one mile northeast of Mount Kinesava, and two miles west of the park headquarters. It is one of the notable landmarks in the park. The nearest higher peak is Windy Peak, 10.46 miles (16.83 km) to the north. Precipitation runoff from the mountain drains into tributaries of the Virgin River.

The Watchman is a 6,545-foot (1,995 m) sandstone mountain summit located in Zion National Park, in Washington County of southwest Utah, United States.

Mount Kinesava is a 7,285-foot (2,220 m) sandstone mountain summit located in Zion National Park, in Washington County of southwest Utah, United States.

Johnson Mountain is a 6,106-foot (1,861 m) Navajo Sandstone summit located in Zion National Park, in Washington County of southwest Utah, United States.

Observation Point is a 6,507-foot (1,983 m) elevation Navajo Sandstone feature located in Zion National Park, in Washington County of southwest Utah, United States. Observation Point is situated at the north end of Zion Canyon, towering 2,100 feet above the canyon floor and the North Fork of the Virgin River which drains precipitation runoff from this viewpoint. A popular 8-mile round-trip trail climbs from the Weeping Rock trailhead along Zion Canyon Road to reach the top. Neighbors visible from the point include The Great White Throne, Cathedral Mountain, Angels Landing, and Cable Mountain. This geographical feature's name was officially adopted in 1934 by the U.S. Board on Geographic Names.

Altar of Sacrifice is a 7,505-foot (2,288 m) Navajo Sandstone mountain in Zion National Park in Washington County, Utah, United States, that is part of the Towers of the Virgin.

Mountain of the Sun is a 6,722-foot (2,049 m) elevation Navajo Sandstone summit located in Zion National Park, in Washington County of southwest Utah, United States. Mountain of the Sun is situated immediately east of Court of the Patriarchs, and south of Zion Lodge, towering 2,500 feet above the lodge and the floor of Zion Canyon. It is set on the east side of the North Fork of the Virgin River which drains precipitation runoff from this mountain. Its neighbors include The Sentinel, Mount Spry, The East Temple, and Mount Moroni. This feature's name was officially adopted in 1934 by the U.S. Board on Geographic Names.

Red Arch Mountain is a 5,930-foot (1,810 m) elevation Navajo Sandstone summit located in Zion National Park, in Washington County of southwest Utah, United States.

Mount Majestic, also known as Majestic Mountain, is a 6,956-foot (2,120 m) elevation Navajo Sandstone double-summit mountain located in Zion National Park, in Washington County of southwest Utah, United States.

Twin Brothers is a 6,863-foot (2,092 m) Navajo Sandstone mountain in Zion National Park in Washington County, Utah, United States.

Ivins Mountain is a remote 7,019-foot (2,139 m) Navajo Sandstone summit located in Zion National Park, in Washington County of southwest Utah, United States.

Inclined Temple is a remote 7,150-foot elevation summit located in Zion National Park, in Washington County of southwest Utah, United States.

Castle Dome is a 7,054-foot (2,150 m) elevation Navajo Sandstone summit located in Zion National Park, in Washington County of southwest Utah, United States. Castle Dome is situated northwest of Zion Lodge, towering 2,800 feet (850 m) above the lodge and the floor of Zion Canyon. It is set on the west side of the North Fork Virgin River which drains precipitation runoff from this mountain. It is wedged between Behunin Canyon and Heaps Canyon, with the popular Emerald Pools set at the southeast foot of this mountain. Its neighbors include Mount Majestic, Cathedral Mountain, The Great White Throne, Red Arch Mountain, Mountain of the Sun, and Lady Mountain. This feature's name was officially adopted in 1934 by the U.S. Board on Geographic Names.

Meridian Tower is a 7,340-foot (2,240 m) Navajo Sandstone mountain in Zion National Park in Washington County, Utah, United States, that is part of the Towers of the Virgin

Three Marys are three sandstone pillars in Zion National Park in Washington County, Utah, United States.

The Witch Head is a 7,340-foot (2,240 m) white Navajo Sandstone mountain in Zion National Park in Washington County, Utah, United States, that is part of the Towers of the Virgin.

The Towers of the Virgin is a series of several lofty sandstone monoliths on the west side of Zion Canyon in Zion National Park in Washington County, Utah, United States.

References

1 2 3 4 5 "Sundial, The - 7,590' UT". listsofjohn.com. Retrieved 2020-09-10.
1 2 3 U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: The Sundial
↑ "Zion National Park, Utah, USA - Monthly weather forecast and Climate data". Weather Atlas. Archived from the original on August 31, 2020. Retrieved 31 August 2020.

External links

Zion National Park National Park Service
Weather forecast
Web cam

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[listsofjohn-1] 1 2 3 4 5 "Sundial, The - 7,590' UT". listsofjohn.com. Retrieved 2020-09-10.

[gnis-2] 1 2 3 U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: The Sundial

[Weather_Atlas-3] "Zion National Park, Utah, USA - Monthly weather forecast and Climate data". Weather Atlas. Archived from the original on August 31, 2020. Retrieved 31 August 2020.

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