Glass Mountain (Utah)

The Glass Mountain is a geologic feature in Lower Cathedral Valley of Capitol Reef National Park consisting of large selenite (gypsum) crystals forming a mound or plug 15 feet high. Gypsum was deposited as sea water evaporated 165 million years ago and then buried under other sediments. The gypsum migrated upwards through fractures in the sediments forming layers and, very rarely, domes like the Glass Mountain. There is only one exposed selenite plug within the park and one other just outside which has been reduced to ground level by collectors.

This article is about the geologic feature in Utah. For other uses, see Glass Mountain.

Glass Mountain (Capitol Reef National Park)

Climate

Spring and fall are the most favorable seasons to visit Glass 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.

Climate data for Capitol Reef Visitor Center, elevation 5,653 ft (1,723 m), 1981-2010 normals, extremes 1981-2019
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 58.6
(14.8)		 68.3
(20.2)		 78.3
(25.7)		 84.4
(29.1)		 94.6
(34.8)		 100.2
(37.9)		 100.8
(38.2)		 97.9
(36.6)		 95.4
(35.2)		 86.1
(30.1)		 70.4
(21.3)		 61.5
(16.4)		 100.8
(38.2)
Average high °F (°C) 40.6
(4.8)		 46.4
(8.0)		 54.7
(12.6)		 65.0
(18.3)		 74.5
(23.6)		 85.3
(29.6)		 90.4
(32.4)		 87.9
(31.1)		 80.2
(26.8)		 66.1
(18.9)		 51.3
(10.7)		 40.6
(4.8)		 65.3
(18.5)
Average low °F (°C) 17.8
(−7.9)		 22.7
(−5.2)		 30.2
(−1.0)		 36.2
(2.3)		 44.7
(7.1)		 53.1
(11.7)		 60.4
(15.8)		 58.5
(14.7)		 50.4
(10.2)		 39.0
(3.9)		 27.6
(−2.4)		 18.2
(−7.7)		 38.3
(3.5)
Record low °F (°C) −4.2
(−20.1)		 −11.8
(−24.3)		 9.1
(−12.7)		 18.1
(−7.7)		 27.2
(−2.7)		 34.6
(1.4)		 42.4
(5.8)		 45.1
(7.3)		 29.9
(−1.2)		 11.7
(−11.3)		 8.0
(−13.3)		 −7.5
(−21.9)		 −11.8
(−24.3)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 0.52
(13)		 0.34
(8.6)		 0.53
(13)		 0.47
(12)		 0.59
(15)		 0.47
(12)		 0.91
(23)		 1.20
(30)		 0.80
(20)		 0.98
(25)		 0.49
(12)		 0.32
(8.1)		 7.62
(194)
Average dew point °F (°C) 17.3
(−8.2)		 20.8
(−6.2)		 23.0
(−5.0)		 24.5
(−4.2)		 29.1
(−1.6)		 32.0
(0.0)		 40.0
(4.4)		 41.8
(5.4)		 34.8
(1.6)		 28.2
(−2.1)		 21.9
(−5.6)		 17.5
(−8.1)		 27.6
(−2.4)
Source: PRISM[1]

See also
Glass Mountain and Temple of the Sun

References
  1. "PRISM Climate Group, Oregon State University". Retrieved February 19, 2019.
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