{{Short description|Sandstone tower in San Juan County, Utah, United States}} {{Infobox mountain | name = Monster Tower | image = Monster Tower.jpg | image_caption = Monster Tower upper right, south aspect | elevation_ft = 5835 | elevation_ref = <ref name=peakbagger>{{cite peakbagger|pid=65973|name=Monster Tower, Utah|accessdate=2020-08-30}}</ref> | prominence_ft = 395 | prominence_ref = <ref name=peakbagger/> | isolation_mi = 3.91 | isolation_ref = <ref name="listsofjohn">{{cite web|url=https://listsofjohn.com/peak/40684|title="Monster Tower" - 5,880' UT|website=listsofjohn.com|accessdate=2020-08-30}}</ref> | parent_peak = Aztec Butte (6,312 ft)<ref name=peakbagger/> | map = Utah#USA | map_caption = Location of Monster Tower in Utah | map_size = 230 | part_type = Protected&nbsp;area | part = Canyonlands National Park | country = United States | state = Utah | region = San Juan | region_type = County | coordinates = {{coord|38.389572|N|109.837446|W|type:mountain_region:US-UT_scale:100000_source:gnis|format=dms|display=inline,title}} | coordinates_ref = <ref name=peakbagger/> | range = Colorado Plateau | rock = Wingate Sandstone | age = Late Triassic | topo = USGS ''Musselman Arch'' | first_ascent = December 26, 1963 | easiest_route = {{YDS|5.11}} Climbing<ref name="listsofjohn"/> }}

'''Monster Tower''' is a {{Convert|600|ft|m|abbr=off|adj=mid|sp=us|-tall}} sandstone tower located on the Island in the Sky District of Canyonlands National Park, in San Juan County, Utah, United States.

==Description== The tower is situated 300 feet southeast of Washer Woman, which is a towering arch nearly as high. Washer Woman is so named because the feature gives the appearance of a woman bent over a washtub.<ref name="gnis">{{cite gnis|id=1434921|name=Washer Woman|accessdate = 2020-08-30}}</ref> Monster and Washer Woman are an eroded fin composed of Wingate Sandstone, which is the remains of wind-borne sand dunes deposited approximately 200 million years ago in the Late Triassic. The nearest higher neighbor is Aztec Butte, {{convert|2|mi|km|abbr=on}} to the west-northwest, Airport Tower is set {{convert|1.6|mi|km|abbr=on}} to the east, and Mesa Arch is situated {{convert|1.5|mi|km|abbr=on}} to the west.<ref name=peakbagger/> A short hike to Mesa Arch provides the easiest view of Monster Tower. Access to the tower is via the four-wheel drive White Rim Road, which is the other way to see Monster. The top of this geological formation rises 1,400 feet above the road in approximately one mile. Precipitation runoff from Monster Tower drains southeast into the nearby Colorado River via Buck Canyon.

==Climbing== The first ascent of Monster Tower was made in December 1963 by Layton Kor, Larry Dalke, and Cub Schaefer via the South Ridge ({{YDS|5.11}}).<ref>Stewart M. Green, ''Rock Climbing Utah'', Falcon Guides, Morris Book Publishing, 2012, page 70.</ref> The best route on Monster is the {{YDS|5.11a}} North Ridge, which was first climbed in 1981 by Ken Trout and Kirk Miller. Another alpine route, ''Monster of Rock'' (5.11) on the south face, was first climbed in 1982 by Edward Webster and Chester Dreiman.<ref>The American Alpine Journal, The Mountaineers Books, 1983, page 166.</ref> ''Los Banditos'' is an aid climb.<ref>[https://www.thecrag.com/en/climbing/united-states/canyonlands-area/area/16962841 Monster Tower thecrag.com]</ref>

==Climate== Spring and fall are the most favorable seasons to visit Monster Tower. 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 −0&nbsp;°C (32&nbsp;°F) and at least 50% of the total annual precipitation being received during the spring and summer. This desert climate receives less than {{convert|10|in|mm|abbr=off|sp=us}} of annual rainfall, and snowfall is generally light during the winter.

==Gallery==

<div style="max-width: 400px;"> <gallery mode=slideshow> File:Monster Tower Canyonlands.jpg|Washer Woman, Monster Tower, and Airport Tower from west.<br />United Nations Tablet on skyline File:Monster Tower Canyonlands.jpg File:Monster Tower near Moab.jpg|Washer Woman and Monster Tower File:Washer Woman Arch from Mesa Arch.jpg|Monster Tower to right File:Monster Tower from Mesa Arch.jpg|Monster Tower from Mesa Arch File:Monster Tower and Washer Woman Arch (35365770-c80e-4b89-89db-1d6837dcca73).jpg|Monster and Washer Woman from ESE at Buck Canyon File:Monster Tower and Washerwoman Arch (7257520642).jpg File:Mesa Arch, Moab, United States (Unsplash).jpg|Monster framed by Mesa Arch File:Monster Tower and Washer Woman.jpg|Monster Tower and Washer Woman File:Monster Tower, Canyonlands UT.jpg|Southeast aspect File:Monster Tower, Canyonlands.jpg File:Monster Tower utah.jpg </gallery> </div>

==See also== * Colorado Plateau * Geology of the Canyonlands area

==References== {{reflist|22em}}

==External links== {{commons category|Monster Tower}} * [https://www.nps.gov/cany/index.htm Canyonlands National Park] National Park Service * Monster Tower weather forecast: [https://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?lon=-109.837446&lat=38.389572#.X0w_Wu-SmUm National Weather Service]

{{Geographic Location 2 | Center = Monster Tower | North = Island in the Sky | Northeast = Tiki Tower | East = Airport Tower | Southeast = Buck Canyon | South = White Rim Road | Southwest = Islet in the Sky | West = Mesa Arch | Northwest = Washer Woman }}

Category:Landforms of San Juan County, Utah Category:Colorado Plateau Category:Canyonlands National Park Category:Sandstone formations of the United States Category:Climbing areas of Utah Category:Rock formations of Utah