Top rock formations
Rock FormationThe Wave
Rock FormationBell Rock
Rock FormationAnderson Mesa
Rock FormationNewton Butte
Rock FormationThe Needles
Rock FormationCamel Butte
Rock FormationCly Butte
Rock FormationElephant Butte
Rock FormationGray Whiskers
Rock FormationMitchell Mesa
Rock FormationRain God Mesa
Rock FormationSpearhead Mesa
Rock Formations by county
All rock formations (31)
| Name | County | Elevation | Nearest town | Sky |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Wave | Coconino County | — | Kanab | 1 |
| Bell Rock | Yavapai County | — | Village of Oak Creek (Big Park) | 5 |
| Anderson Mesa | Coconino County | — | Mountainaire | 3 |
| Newton ButteGrand Canyon | Coconino County | — | Grand Canyon | 1 |
| The Needles | Mohave County | — | Golden Shores | 3 |
| Camel Butte | Navajo County | — | Kayenta | 1 |
| Cly Butte | Navajo County | — | Kayenta | 1 |
| Elephant Butte | Navajo County | — | Kayenta | 1 |
| Gray Whiskers | Navajo County | — | Kayenta | 1 |
| Mitchell Mesa | Navajo County | — | Kayenta | 1 |
| Rain God Mesa | Navajo County | — | Kayenta | 1 |
| Spearhead Mesa | Navajo County | — | Kayenta | 1 |
| Three Sisters | Navajo County | — | Kayenta | 1 |
| Courthouse Butte | Yavapai County | — | Village of Oak Creek (Big Park) | 5 |
| Kibbey Butte | Coconino County | — | Grand Canyon | 1 |
| LeChee Rock | Coconino County | — | LeChee | 2 |
| Church Rock | Navajo County | — | Kayenta | 2 |
| Balanced Rock at Lees FerryGlen Canyon | Coconino County | — | LeChee | 2 |
| Escalante ButteGrand Canyon | Coconino County | — | Grand Canyon | 1 |
| Evans Butte (Grand Canyon) | Coconino County | — | Grand Canyon | 1 |
| Fishtail Mesa | Coconino County | — | Fredonia | 1 |
| Horseshoe MesaGrand Canyon | Coconino County | — | Grand Canyon | 1 |
| Newberry ButteGrand Canyon | Coconino County | — | Grand Canyon | 1 |
| Wallace Butte | Coconino County | — | Grand Canyon Village | 1 |
| Peridot Mesa | Gila County | — | San Carlos | 4 |
| Excalibur | Coconino County | — | Grand Canyon | 1 |
| Bitsihuitsos Butte | Apache County | — | Many Farms | 1 |
| Balakai Mesa | Apache County | — | Chinle | 1 |
| Hancock Butte | Coconino County | — | Grand Canyon | 1 |
| Cummings Mesa | Coconino County | — | LeChee | 1 |
| Castle Dome | Yuma County | — | Wellton | 2 |
Sky = estimated Bortle class (1 darkest – 9 brightest).
Map
How to photograph rock formations
Rock towers and buttes glow red and orange in the first and last half-hour of sun; midday light flattens their shape.
- Find a spot where the formation sits against open sky to emphasize its silhouette.
- At night, a formation under the Milky Way or star trails makes a strong anchor.
- Use the sunrise and sunset azimuths below to know which face will be lit.
- Stay on trails; desert soils and lichens take decades to recover from footprints.
Season: Spring and autumn are best in desert regions; winter snow on red rock is rare but spectacular.