Red Arch Mountain

Red Arch Mountain
North aspect, from Angels Landing Trail, July 2019
Highest point
Elevation5,930 ft (1,810 m)[1]
Prominence210 ft (64 m)[1]
Parent peakThe Great White Throne (6,744 ft)[1]
Isolation0.60 mi (0.97 km)[1]
Coordinates37°15′19″N 112°56′56″W / 37.2551393°N 112.9487721°W / 37.2551393; -112.9487721[2]
Geography
Red Arch Mountain is located in Utah
Red Arch Mountain
Red Arch Mountain
Location in Utah
Red Arch Mountain is located in the United States
Red Arch Mountain
Red Arch Mountain
Red Arch Mountain (the United States)
CountryUnited States
StateUtah
CountyWashington
Protected areaZion National Park
Parent rangeColorado Plateau
Topo mapUSGS Temple of Sinawava
Geology
Rock ageJurassic
Rock typeNavajo sandstone

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.[2]

Description

Red Arch Mountain is situated immediately northeast of Zion Lodge, towering 1,700 feet (520 meters) above the lodge and the floor of Zion Canyon. It is set on the east side of the North Fork Virgin River which drains precipitation runoff from this mountain. Its neighbors include Mount Majestic, Cathedral Mountain, The Great White Throne, Mountain of the Sun, Mount Moroni, and Lady Mountain. This mountain's descriptive name was officially adopted in 1934 by the U.S. Board on Geographic Names.[2] It is so named for a blind arch that formed in 1880 on the northwest face when a rock avalanche fell into the valley.[3] This event buried the Gifford farm in rubble. It happened on a Sunday when the family was away at church in Springdale.[4]

Climate

Spring and fall are the most favorable seasons to visit Red Arch Mountain. 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.[5]

  • Northwest Face
    Northwest Face
  • Northwest Face featuring blind arch
    Northwest Face featuring blind arch
  • From the northwest
    From the northwest
  • North aspect from Angels Landing area
    North aspect from Angels Landing area
  • Red Arch Mountain centered. From the west
    Red Arch Mountain centered. From the west
  • North aspect, with Mountain of the Sun (behind right)
    North aspect, with Mountain of the Sun (behind right)
  • Red Arch Mountain (left) from Emerald Pools Trail
    Red Arch Mountain (left) from Emerald Pools Trail

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d "Red Arch Mountain - 5,930' UT". listsofjohn.com. Retrieved 2020-09-06.
  2. ^ a b c U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Red Arch Mountain
  3. ^ Greer K. Chesser, Zion Canyon A Storied Land, University of Arizona Press, 2007, page 72.
  4. ^ National Park Service nps.gov/zion
  5. ^ "Zion National Park, Utah, USA - Monthly weather forecast and Climate data". Weather Atlas. Archived from the original on January 27, 2019. Retrieved 31 August 2020.
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