| Elephant Butte | |
| Elevation Ft: | 5653 |
| Prominence Ft: | 823 |
| Isolation Mi: | 6.05 |
| Isolation Ref: | [1] |
| Parent Peak: | Dry Mesa (5,780 ft) |
| Map: | Utah#USA |
| Location: | Arches National Park Grand County, Utah, U.S. |
| Range: | Colorado Plateau |
| Coordinates: | 38.6959°N -109.54°W |
| Topo: | USGS The Windows Section |
| First Ascent: | 1953 |
| Rock: | Entrada Sandstone |
| Easiest Route: | climbing |
Elephant Butte is a 5653feet summit in Grand County, Utah. It is located within Arches National Park, and is the highest point in the park.[2] Like many of the rock formations in the park, Elephant Butte is composed of Entrada Sandstone. Elephant Butte is a flat-topped cap surrounded by numerous towers and fins including Parade of Elephants. Double Arch is also a natural feature of Elephant Butte and was used as a backdrop for the opening scene of Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade.[3] Precipitation runoff from Elephant Butte drains east into the nearby Colorado River. The first ascent was made September 8, 1953, by Alex Cresswell and Fred Ayres.[4]
Elephant Butte lies above an underground salt bed, causing the formation of the arches, spires, balanced rocks, sandstone fins, and eroded monoliths in the area. The rock is Entrada Sandstone.
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.