Junction Butte
{{Short description|Butte in Utah, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox mountain
| name = Junction Butte
| photo = Junction Butte from Grand View Point.jpg
| photo_caption = North aspect from Grand View Point
| elevation_ft = 6400
| elevation_ref = {{cite peakbagger|pid=3873|name=Junction Butte, Utah|accessdate=2020-11-01}}
| prominence_ft = 1720
| isolation_mi = 10.16
| isolation_ref = {{cite web|url=https://listsofjohn.com/peak/22231|title=Junction Butte - 6,400' UT|website=listsofjohn.com|accessdate=2020-11-01}}
| parent_peak = Elaterite Butte (6,552 ft)
| map = Utah#USA
| map_caption = Location of Junction Butte in Utah
| map_size = 230
| part_type = Protected area | part = Canyonlands National Park
| country = United States
| state = Utah
| region = San Juan
| region_type = County
| coordinates = {{coord|38.286513|N|109.873045|W|type:mountain_region:US-UT_scale:100000_source:gnis|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
| range = Colorado Plateau
| rock = Wingate Sandstone
| age = Late Triassic
| topo = USGS Monument Basin
| first_ascent =
| easiest_route = {{YDS|5.2}} climbing
}}
Junction Butte is a {{Convert|6400|ft|m|abbr=off|adj=mid|sp=us|-elevation}} summit located in the Island in the Sky District of Canyonlands National Park, in San Juan County, Utah.{{cite gnis|id=1429268|name=Junction Butte|accessdate = 2020-11-01}} It is set about one mile south of the southern tip of Island in the Sky. A short hike to Grand View Point provides a view of Junction Butte. Access to this butte is via the four-wheel drive White Rim Road, which is another option to view Junction Butte. Topographic relief is significant as the top of this geological formation rises 1,400 feet above the road in less than one mile. Precipitation runoff from Junction Butte drains east into the nearby Colorado River, and west into nearby Green River. Junction Butte is situated north of the junction of these two major rivers.
Geology
This feature is composed of hard, fine-grained Wingate Sandstone, which is the remains of wind-borne sand dunes deposited approximately 200 million years ago in the Late Triassic. This Wingate sandstone, capped by Kayenta Formation, forms steep cliffs as it overlays softer layers of the Chinle Formation.S.W. Lohman, The Geologic Story of Canyonlands National Park, US Government Printing Office, 1974, page 25.
Climate
Spring and fall are the most favorable seasons to visit Junction Butte. 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 °C (32 °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.
{{Weather box
| width = auto
| single line = Y
| location = Island in the Sky Visitor Center, elevation {{convert|5666|ft|m|0|abbr=on}}, 1981-2010 normals, extremes 1981-2019
| Jan record high F = 58.6
| Feb record high F = 69.0
| Mar record high F = 79.8
| Apr record high F = 86.1
| May record high F = 98.5
| Jun record high F = 103.9
| Jul record high F = 106.4
| Aug record high F = 101.1
| Sep record high F = 97.9
| Oct record high F = 86.9
| Nov record high F = 71.0
| Dec record high F = 59.2
| year record high F = 106.4
| Jan high F = 38.1
| Feb high F = 44.1
| Mar high F = 54.9
| Apr high F = 63.5
| May high F = 74.2
| Jun high F = 85.4
| Jul high F = 91.7
| Aug high F = 88.7
| Sep high F = 79.5
| Oct high F = 65.8
| Nov high F = 49.7
| Dec high F = 38.1
| year high F = 64.6
| Jan low F = 20.8
| Feb low F = 25.8
| Mar low F = 33.3
| Apr low F = 40.0
| May low F = 49.5
| Jun low F = 59.8
| Jul low F = 66.0
| Aug low F = 63.9
| Sep low F = 54.9
| Oct low F = 42.5
| Nov low F = 31.1
| Dec low F = 21.3
| year low F = 42.5
| Jan record low F = -8.0
| Feb record low F = -12.4
| Mar record low F = 10.4
| Apr record low F = 16.3
| May record low F = 26.0
| Jun record low F = 28.7
| Jul record low F = 46.0
| Aug record low F = 50.2
| Sep record low F = 27.6
| Oct record low F = 9.2
| Nov record low F = 6.2
| Dec record low F = -9.4
| year record low F = -12.4
| precipitation colour = green
| Jan precipitation inch = 0.53
| Feb precipitation inch = 0.50
| Mar precipitation inch = 0.76
| Apr precipitation inch = 0.72
| May precipitation inch = 0.70
| Jun precipitation inch = 0.45
| Jul precipitation inch = 0.93
| Aug precipitation inch = 1.04
| Sep precipitation inch = 1.06
| Oct precipitation inch = 1.30
| Nov precipitation inch = 0.70
| Dec precipitation inch = 0.58
| year precipitation inch = 9.27
| Jan dew point F = 18.6
| Feb dew point F = 21.8
| Mar dew point F = 23.3
| Apr dew point F = 25.7
| May dew point F = 29.5
| Jun dew point F = 32.7
| Jul dew point F = 41.2
| Aug dew point F = 45.1
| Sep dew point F = 37.6
| Oct dew point F = 29.5
| Nov dew point F = 23.2
| Dec dew point F = 17.9
| year dew point F = 28.9
See also
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.nps.gov/cany/index.htm Canyonlands National Park] National Park Service
- Junction Butte: [https://www.yr.no/en/forecast/daily-table/2-5541405/United%20States/Utah/San%20Juan/Junction%20Butte weather forecast]
- Junction Butte from Monument Basin (photo): [https://www.flickr.com/photos/wdbowman/40629348212/in/photolist-24Uh2HE-2j8ivgo-2jetr9d-29wpk6U-24aBuBH-2jicyUx-dR3WRJ-dRYEUg-dRkpAy-dR9vNe-x4f5xQ-sW8gXe-xEYTpL-dS4KqP-Vhdesn-ZBuPHN-2jJj6bn-2jKEJNj-wPq3Vj-2iv3DbY-2iuKtQU-2iuN1Tu-2iEXSG4-2iubw35-JEgms-fNPzVr-mWAiMM-2iEV6wL-mWAimB-bxLbNL-VhchMF-V5wukF-bLHRfe-mWCxPu-pqwMxT-pGYfUi-pGYfoZ-oLaAGv-sBG3GG-pqtKbr-h17Dhj Flickr]
Category:Landforms of San Juan County, Utah
Category:Canyonlands National Park
Category:Sandstone formations of the United States