Cool Facts about Owl Rock Peak in Kayenta Arizona
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There is a 6,547-foot high sandstone summit called Owl Rock located south of Monument Valley, in northeastern Arizona. The site lies on Navajo Nation land seven miles north of Kayenta.
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Located on the east edge of Tyende Mesa, Highway 163 offers a spectacular view of the rock towering 1,000 feet above its surroundings. The nearest higher peak is Agathla Peak, found on the opposite side of this highway, about 1.4 miles away to the east-northeast.
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This feature drains precipitation runoff into El Capitan Wash, a part of the San Juan River drainage basin.
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Fred Beckey and Harvey Carter climbed Owl Rock’s west face for the first time in April 1966. To reach the summit, they bolted up a smooth south nose. This route, called Warpath, consisted of 20 pitons and 14 bolts.
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According to its descriptive name, it resembles an owl when viewed from the east. This is exclusive feature is known as Bee ‘Adizí in Navajo language meaning spindle. Sacred places like this are thought to be spindles left by the Holy People. It is now referred to as Tsé Ts’óózí, meaning “Slim Rock”.
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There is a similar rock in Arches National Park in Utah that should not be confused with Owl Rock.
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In contrast to the towers and buttes in nearby Monument Valley, which are composed of a different composition, de Chelly sandstone, Owl Rock is made up of Jurassic Wingate Sandstone, which is a sturdy, fine-grained rock that is well suited for rock climbing.
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Owl Rock is located on Tyende Mesa, which is part of the Triassic Chinle Formation. Owl Rock is a member of the Chinle formation and consists of cherty limestone.
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It overlays the Petrified Forest Member of the lower half, and the upper half is composed of limestone conglomerate beds with claystone, mudstone, and siltstone beds.
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A type locality for the Owl Rock Member is near the base of Owl Rock. Members crop out here and form jutting ledges that protect underlying strata partly as a consequence of the resistant limestone beds.
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It forms thin ledges that interrupt slopes weathered from siltstone interbeds which are highly resistant to erosion. Approximately 120 to 166 feet thick, Owl Rock Member measures 166 feet thick at its thickest point.
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The best seasons to visit Owl Rock are spring and fall.
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Snowfall during the winter is generally light in this desert climate, which receives less than 10 inches of rain (250 millimeters) each year.
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This location is located in a semi-arid climate zone with cold winters and hot summers based on the Köppen climate classification system. Every year, the temperature reaches a high of 90 °F (32 °C) 54 days a year, and the high rarely exceeds 100 °F (38 °C). After sunset, the temperatures drop quickly, making summer nights comfortable.
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While the winters are cold, the daytime temperatures are usually above freezing. In winter, temperatures below 0 °F (-18 °C) are uncommon, although they can happen.
The site lies on Navajo Nation land seven miles north of Kayenta. Photo Credit – Wikimedia
Other Facts about Owl Rock
Elevation: 6,547 ft (1,996 miles)
Prominence: 387 ft (118 miles)
Region: Arizona United States
Parent peak: Agathla Peak (7,099 ft)
Isolation: 1.40 miles (2.25 kilometers)
Lithology: Sandstone-conglomerate
Latitude/Longitude (WGS84): 36°49′14″N 110°14′59″WCoordinates: 36°49′14″N 110°14′59″W
Location: Navajo Reservation Navajo County, Arizona, U.S.
Parent range: Colorado Plateau
Stratigraphic Name: Chinle Formation
Topo map: USGS Agathla Peak
Age of rock: Jurassic, Upper Triassic
Type of rock: Wingate Sandstone
First ascent: 1966 Fred Beckey, and Harvey Carter
Easiest route: Class 5. x climbing
