Powell Plateau (Arizona)

Powell Plateau, named for geologist and explorer John Wesley Powell, is a 7,661-foot-elevation plateau-summit located in western Grand Canyon, about 13 mi northwest of Grand Canyon Village in Coconino County of northern Arizona, USA. Being a large plateau. (~300 acres, 0.47 mi²), the plateau causes a large west-northeast-north excursion of the west-flowing Colorado River, caused by the southwest arm of the plateau. There is a slightly-southeast trending arm, and the main plateau then trends north to higher elevations.

Powell Plateau (Arizona)
(an area adjacent Powell Plateau) (Steamboat Mountain in the distance)
Highest point
Elevation	7,661 ft (2,335 m)
Prominence	961 ft (293 m)
Parent peak	Kaibab Plateau (Swamp Point)
Isolation	3.0 mi (4.8 km)
Coordinates	36.3368°N 112.3726°W / 36.3368; -112.3726
Geography
Powell.Plateau Location in Arizona Powell.Plateau Powell.Plateau (the United States)
Location	(West)-Grand Canyon National Park Coconino County, Arizona, US
Parent range	Kaibab Plateau Colorado Plateau
Topo map	USGS King Arthur Castle
Geology
Rock age	Permian
Mountain type(s)	sedimentary rock: limestone, siltstone, mudstone, sandstone, shale
Rock type	Kaibab Limestone, Toroweap Formation, Coconino Sandstone, Hermit Shale, Supai Group, Redwall Limestone, Muav Limestone, Bright Angel Shale

The east side of Powell Plateau is drained by White Creek (Muav Canyon), and is traversed by the North Bass Trail. The high point prominence is at the plateau's north terminus, opposite Swamp Point, (North Rim). The high point at the southeast arm's terminus adjacent Dutton Point is 7,538 ft. The high point of the southwest arm is 6,883 ft.

Dutton Point of Powell Plateau (upper left)

Powell Plateau (right), Great Thumb Mesa (left), aerial from airliner

External links

• Bass Trail Head to Powell Plateau
• Powell Plateau from Evans Butte: A photo by Harvey Butchart