Cathedral Rock (Coconino County, Arizona)

Cathedral Rock is a 3,942-foot-elevation (1,202 m) pillar located within Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, in Coconino County of northern Arizona.[3] It is situated less than one mile northwest of Navajo Bridge, and three miles (4.8 km) southwest of Lee's Ferry and the confluence of the Paria and Colorado Rivers, where it towers over 400 feet (120 m) above the surrounding terrain as a landmark of the area. It can be seen from nearby U.S. Route 89A (US 89A) at Marble Canyon. This geographical feature's name was bestowed prior to 1900, and officially adopted in 1969 by the U.S. Board on Geographic Names.[3]

Cathedral Rock
Southeast aspect
Highest point
Elevation3,942 ft (1,202 m) [1]
Prominence342 ft (104 m) [1]
Parent peakParia Plateau[2]
Isolation2.61 mi (4.20 km) [2]
Coordinates36°49′42″N 111°38′23″W [3]
Geography
Cathedral Rock
Location in Arizona
Cathedral Rock
Cathedral Rock (the United States)
LocationGlen Canyon National Recreation Area
Coconino County, Arizona, U.S.
Parent rangeColorado Plateau
Topo mapUSGS Navajo Bridge
Geology
Age of rockTriassic
Type of rockSandstone
Climbing
Easiest routeclass 3+ scrambling[2]

Geology

Cathedral Rock is located on the Colorado Plateau. This erosional remnant is composed of red sandstone of the Moenkopi Formation, which was laid down during the Triassic. It is overlain by a Shinarump Conglomerate caprock.[4] Precipitation runoff from this feature drains to the nearby Colorado River, one-half mile to the east.

  • South face
  • Cathedral Rock, with Vermilion Cliffs behind
  • Cathedral Rock left of center (illuminated) above Navajo Bridge, Vermilion Cliffs National Monument further in the distance.

Climate

According to the Köppen climate classification system, Cathedral Rock is located in an arid climate zone with hot, very dry summers, and chilly winters with very little snow. Climate data for Page, Arizona, 12 miles to the northeast.

Climate data for Page, Arizona
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 64
(18)		 72
(22)		 82
(28)		 91
(33)		 102
(39)		 107
(42)		 109
(43)		 106
(41)		 100
(38)		 93
(34)		 77
(25)		 66
(19)		 109
(43)
Average high °F (°C) 43.1
(6.2)		 50.3
(10.2)		 59.5
(15.3)		 68.5
(20.3)		 78.5
(25.8)		 90.2
(32.3)		 95.1
(35.1)		 92.0
(33.3)		 83.5
(28.6)		 69.7
(20.9)		 53.8
(12.1)		 43.7
(6.5)		 69.0
(20.6)
Average low °F (°C) 26.3
(−3.2)		 30.4
(−0.9)		 37.0
(2.8)		 43.6
(6.4)		 52.6
(11.4)		 62.3
(16.8)		 68.3
(20.2)		 66.4
(19.1)		 58.4
(14.7)		 46.6
(8.1)		 34.7
(1.5)		 27.1
(−2.7)		 46.1
(7.8)
Record low °F (°C) −11
(−24)		 6
(−14)		 18
(−8)		 25
(−4)		 31
(−1)		 44
(7)		 56
(13)		 46
(8)		 40
(4)		 24
(−4)		 16
(−9)		 1
(−17)		 −11
(−24)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 0.61
(15)		 0.48
(12)		 0.65
(17)		 0.50
(13)		 0.40
(10)		 0.14
(3.6)		 0.58
(15)		 0.69
(18)		 0.66
(17)		 0.99
(25)		 0.56
(14)		 0.48
(12)		 6.74
(171.6)
Average snowfall inches (cm) 2.1
(5.3)		 1.2
(3.0)		 0.2
(0.51)		 0
(0)		 0
(0)		 0
(0)		 0
(0)		 0
(0)		 0
(0)		 0
(0)		 0.5
(1.3)		 1.4
(3.6)		 5.4
(13.71)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) 4.5 4.0 5.2 3.5 3.2 1.7 4.6 5.2 4.5 4.3 3.2 3.9 47.8
Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) 0.9 0.6 0.3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.2 0.6 2.6
Source: NOAA[5]

See also

References
  1. "Cathedral Rock, Arizona". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved 2020-12-10.
  2. "Cathedral Rock - 3,942' AZ". Lists of John. Retrieved December 10, 2020.
  3. "Cathedral Rock". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey. Retrieved December 10, 2020.
  4. David A. Phoenix, Geology of the Lees Ferry Area Coconino County, Arizona Geological Survey Bulletin 1137, 1963, US Government Printing Office.
  5. "Climatography of the United States No. 20 (1971–2000)" (PDF). National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. 2004. Retrieved 2010-05-31.
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