| Tower of Babel | |
| Elevation Ft: | 4655 |
| Prominence Ft: | 435 |
| Isolation Mi: | 0.34 |
| Isolation Ref: | [1] |
| Parent Peak: | The Organ (4,735 ft) |
| Map: | Utah#USA |
| Country: | United States |
| State: | Utah |
| Region: | Grand |
| Region Type: | County |
| Part Type: | Protected area |
| Part: | Arches National Park |
| Range: | Colorado Plateau |
| Coordinates: | 38.6399°N -109.6028°W |
| Coordinates Ref: | [2] |
| Topo: | USGS The Windows Section |
| First Ascent: | 1986 |
| Type: | Butte |
| Rock: | Entrada Sandstone |
| Age: | Jurassic |
| Easiest Route: | climbing |
Tower of Babel is a 4655feet summit in Grand County, Utah. It is located within Arches National Park and like many of the rock formations in the park, it is composed of Entrada Sandstone. The tower is 500 feet tall,[3] and topographic relief is significant as the summit rises 500abbr=offNaNabbr=off vertically above the main park road in approximately 200abbr=offNaNabbr=off laterally. Precipitation runoff from Tower of Babel drains to the nearby Colorado River via Courthouse Wash. This landform's descriptive toponym has been officially adopted by the United States Board on Geographic Names.[2] This landform was shown briefly in the opening scene of the 1989 American action-adventure film Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade.
The first ascent of the summit was made October 17, 1986, by Charlie Fowler, Eric Bjornstad, and Lin Ottinger via the Zenyatta Entrada route.[4] [5] Some consider this the most beautiful climbing route in the park.[6] Another feature on Tower of Babel is The Three Gargoyles, a rock-climbing route first climbed by Jimmie Dunn and Joe Slansky.[7]
According to the Köppen climate classification system, Tower of Babel is located in a cold semi-arid climate zone with cold winters and hot summers.[8] Spring and fall are the most favorable seasons to experience Arches National Park, when highs average 60F80F and lows average 30F50F. Summer temperatures often exceed 100F. Winters are cold, with highs averaging 30F50F, and lows averaging 0F20F. As part of a high desert region, it can experience wide daily temperature fluctuations. The park receives an average of less than 10 inches (25 cm) of rain annually.