Mount Kinesava

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.[3]

Mount Kinesava
Mount Kinesava, southwest aspect
Highest point
Elevation7,285 ft (2,220 m) [1]
Prominence685 ft (209 m) [1]
Parent peakThe West Temple (7,810 ft)[2]
Isolation1.06 mi (1.71 km) [2]
Coordinates37°11′51″N 113°01′50″W [1]
Geography
Mount Kinesava
Location in Utah
Mount Kinesava
Mount Kinesava (the United States)
LocationZion National Park
Washington County, Utah
United States
Parent rangeMarkagunt Plateau
Colorado Plateau
Topo mapUSGS Springdale West
Geology
Age of rockJurassic
Type of rockNavajo sandstone
Climbing
Easiest routeclass 4 scrambling[2]

Description

Mount Kinesava is located immediately west of Springdale, towering 3,400-feet (1,030 meters) above the town and the floor of Zion Canyon. Precipitation runoff from this mountain drains into tributaries of the Virgin River. Its nearest higher neighbor is The West Temple, 1.06 mi (1.71 km) to the northeast. Other notable mountains wthin view from the summit include The Watchman 2.95 mi (4.75 km) to the east-southeast, Bridge Mountain 3.6 mi (5.8 km) to the east-northeast, and Mount Spry is positioned 4 mi (6.4 km) to the northeast.[1] This feature's name was officially adopted in 1934 by the U.S. Board on Geographic Names.[3] It is so named for Kinesava, the Paiute deity of trickery.[4][5]

Climate

Spring and fall are the most favorable seasons to visit Mount Kinesava. 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.[6]

Geology
Mt. Kinesava geologic map

Stratification of sandstone deposits from vast dune fields laid down 175 to 200 million years ago can be seen exposed on the south aspect of the mountain. The uppermost 1,500-ft of this mountain is composed of light-colored Jurassic Navajo Sandstone. Below that layer is deep-red sandstone of the Kayenta Formation, probably best known for its dinosaur tracks, overlying the Springdale Sandstone Member. Continuing lower are the Whitmore Point Member and Dinosaur Canyon Member of the Moenave Formation. Near the base is the Petrified Forest Member of the Chinle Formation, surrounded by landslide deposits.[7]


  • Mt. Kinesava centered, The Sundial to left
  • Mt. Kinesava (left), The West Temple (right) from southeast on Hwy 9
  • Mt. Kinesava (left), The West Temple straight ahead

See also

References
  1. "Mount Kinesava, Utah". Peakbagger.com.
  2. "Kinesava, Mount - 7,285' UT". listsofjohn.com. Retrieved 2020-09-01.
  3. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Mount Kinesava
  4. http://kinesava.com/ZiCC/aboutzicc/whowaskinesava/
  5. Ron Kay, Ron Kay's Guide to Zion National Park, Countryman Press, 2008, page 94.
  6. "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.
  7. USGS, 2009, page 19
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