Top rock formations
Rock FormationDevils Garden
Rock FormationCheckerboard Mesa
Rock FormationCandlestick Tower
Rock FormationElaterite Butte
Rock FormationChurch Rock
Rock FormationBig Indian
Rock FormationBrighams Tomb
Rock FormationCastle Butte
Rock FormationDominguez Butte
Rock FormationEkker Butte
Rock FormationGregory Butte
Rock FormationGunsight Butte
Rock Formations by county
All rock formations (44)
| Name | County | Elevation | Nearest town | Sky |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Devils GardenArches | Grand County | — | Moab | 1 |
| Checkerboard MesaZion | Washington County | — | Hildale | 2 |
| Candlestick TowerCanyonlands | Grand County | — | Moab | 1 |
| Elaterite ButteCanyonlands | Garfield County | — | Moab | 1 |
| Church Rock | San Juan County | — | Monticello | 1 |
| Big Indian | San Juan County | — | Kayenta | 1 |
| Brighams Tomb | San Juan County | — | Kayenta | 1 |
| Castle Butte | San Juan County | — | Blanding | 1 |
| Dominguez Butte | Kane County | — | Page | 1 |
| Ekker ButteGlen Canyon | Wayne County | — | Richfield | 1 |
| Gregory ButteGlen Canyon | Kane County | — | Page | 1 |
| Gunsight Butte | Kane County | — | Page | 1 |
| King-on-his-Throne | San Juan County | — | Kayenta | 1 |
| Merrimac ButteArches | Grand County | — | Moab | 1 |
| Mollys Castle | Wayne County | — | Moab | 1 |
| Parriott MesaArches | Grand County | — | Moab | 2 |
| Rooster Butte | San Juan County | — | Blanding | 1 |
| Sentinel Mesa | San Juan County | — | Kayenta | 1 |
| Setting Hen | San Juan County | — | Kayenta | 1 |
| Setting Hen Butte | San Juan County | — | Blanding | 1 |
| Three PenguinsArches | Grand County | — | Moab | 3 |
| Three GossipsArches | Grand County | — | Moab | 3 |
| Hurricane MesaZion | Washington County | — | LaVerkin | 4 |
| Muffin ButteCanyonlands | Grand County | — | Moab | 1 |
| Cookie Jar ButteGlen Canyon | Kane County | — | Page | 1 |
| Seven Sailors | San Juan County | — | Blanding | 1 |
| Crazy Quilt MesaZion | Washington County | — | Hildale | 2 |
| The PulpitZion | Washington County | — | LaVerkin | 2 |
| Bridger Jack Butte | San Juan County | — | Monticello | 1 |
| Boundary Butte | Kane County | — | Page | 2 |
| Towers of the VirginZion | Washington County | — | LaVerkin | 2 |
| Courthouse TowersArches | Grand County | — | Moab | 3 |
| Buttes of the CrossGlen Canyon | Grand County | — | Moab | 1 |
| Airport TowerCanyonlands | Grand County | — | Moab | 1 |
| Cathedral in the Desert | San Juan County | — | Page | 1 |
| Dellenbaugh Butte | Grand County | — | Moab | 1 |
| Factory Butte | Wayne County | — | Richfield | 1 |
| Devils Garden | Garfield County | — | Page | 1 |
| Steele Butte | Wayne County | — | Richfield | 1 |
| Gunnison Butte | Emery County | — | East Carbon City | 1 |
| The PhallusArches | Grand County | — | Moab | 2 |
| Aztec Butte TrailCanyonlands | Grand County | — | Moab | 1 |
| Aztec Butte: The Value of StorageCanyonlands | Grand County | — | Moab | 1 |
| Black Rock SiteCalifornia | Tooele County | — | Magna | 5 |
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.