| The Rectory | |
| Elevation Ft: | 6565 |
| Elevation Ref: | [1] |
| Prominence Ft: | 405 |
| Part Type: | Protected area |
| Country: | United States |
| State: | Utah |
| Region: | Grand |
| Region Type: | County |
| Map: | Utah#USA |
| Map Size: | 210 |
| Coordinates: | 38.6562°N -109.3673°W |
| Topo: | USGS Fisher Towers |
| First Ascent: | 1962 |
The Rectory[1] is a 6,565-ft (2,001 m) sandstone summit in Grand County of Utah, United States. The Rectory is located at Castle Valley, Utah, near the city of Moab. The Rectory is a thin 200 feet (61 m) wide, and 1,000 feet (305 m) long north-to-south butte with 200 ft vertical Wingate Sandstone walls tower standing on a 1,000 foot Moenkopi-Chinle base. Precipitation runoff from The Rectory drains into the nearby Colorado River. The nearest higher peak is Castleton Tower, 0.35miles to the south.[1] Priest and Nuns are towers immediately north and part of The Rectory. Further northwest along the connecting ridge is The Convent, with a rock tower called Sister Superior between the two. The first ascent was made May 22, 1962, by Harvey Carter and Cleve McCarty via Empirical Route.[2] Harvey Carter named this geological feature.[3]
Classic Climbing Routes on The Rectory[4]
The Jon Bon Jovi music video Blaze of Glory was filmed at The Rectory. The Australian band Heaven also filmed their Knockin' on Heaven's Door music video on top of The Rectory.
Spring and fall are the most favorable seasons to visit, when highs average 60 to 80 °F (15.5 to 26.6 °C) and lows average 30 to 50 °F (-1.1 to +10 °C). Summer temperatures often exceed 100 °F (37.7 °C). Winters are cold, with highs averaging 30 to 50 °F, and lows averaging 0 to 20 °F (-17.7 to -6.6 °C). As part of a high desert region, it can experience wide daily temperature fluctuations. The area receives an average of less than 10 inches (254 mm) of rain annually.