Airport Tower

Airport Tower is a vertical sandstone formation in Canyonlands National Park, Utah, rising hundreds of feet above the surrounding landscape. The red rock pillar dominates the view along the White Rim Road and is visible from various hiking trails in the area.

The formation received its official name from the United States Board on Geographic Names in 1986. The name reflects the tower's distinctive shape, which resembles an air traffic control structure from above.

The first climbing expedition to reach the summit occurred in July 1994 when Galen Howell, Sonja Paspal, and Steve Swanke completed the Wind Shear route.

The tower is best viewed from the White Rim Road, where it stands out clearly against the sky. Those interested in a closer look can hike to Mesa Arch for a more detailed perspective of the formation.

The formation is composed of Wingate Sandstone, deposited as windblown sand approximately 200 million years ago. This ancient geological history continues to shape the appearance and structure of this distinctive rock pillar today.

GPS coordinates: 38.39317,-109.80811

Latest update: December 14, 2025 12:28