Courthouse Towers

Courthouse Towers is a collection of tall sandstone columns that rise from the desert floor, creating vertical walls extending well above the surrounding landscape. The formation includes several named rock structures within its geological complex.

This sandstone formation was created over millions of years through erosion and was later protected as part of Arches National Park. The park designation preserved the geological features for future generations while establishing this location as a central landmark in the protected area.

Early settlers gave this formation its name by comparing the tall stone columns to the towering government buildings they knew from eastern cities. Today visitors can still see how these vertical shapes reminded people of courthouses when they first glimpsed them across the desert.

The Park Avenue Trail provides the main access to this formation through a round trip walk starting from a designated parking area. The path is well-marked and relatively flat, making it accessible for most visitors to enjoy the view.

The individual rock columns here are marked with creative names like The Three Gossips and Sheep Rock, given by visitors and observers based on what the stone shapes resemble. These informal names help hikers identify and distinguish separate pillars within this cluster.

Location: Grand County

GPS coordinates: 38.63170,-109.60200

Latest update: December 12, 2025 07:57