Mount Kinesava

Mount Kinesava
Mount Kinesava
	Mount Kinesava, southwest aspect
Highest point
Elevation	7,285 ft (2,220 m)
Prominence	685 ft (209 m)
Parent peak	The West Temple (7,810 ft)
Isolation	1.06 mi (1.71 km)
Coordinates	37°11′51″N 113°01′50″W / 37.197571°N 113.030571°W
Geography
	Mount Kinesava Location in Utah Mount Kinesava Mount Kinesava (the United States)
Country	United States
State	Utah
County	Washington
Protected area	Zion National Park
Parent range	Markagunt Plateau; Colorado Plateau
Topo map	USGS Springdale West
Geology
Rock age	Jurassic
Rock type	Navajo sandstone
Climbing
Easiest route	class 4 scrambling

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]

Description

Mount Kinesava is located immediately west of Springdale, towering 3,400 feet (1,000 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 within 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 feet 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]