Kissing Couple, Rock formation in Mesa County, Colorado.

Kissing Couple is a 400-foot-high sandstone tower in Monument Canyon, a half-mile south-southeast of Independence Monument. Its two closely spaced columns resemble an embracing couple. The upper part is Wingate Sandstone, capped by resistant Kayenta Formation sandstone, and a small natural arch pierces the tower.

The pillar is the remnant of a differentially eroded fin of Wingate Sandstone, laid down as wind-blown dunes in the Late Triassic about 200 million years ago, capped by resistant Kayenta Formation sandstone. The name was officially adopted in 1982 by the United States Board on Geographic Names, though older USGS maps place it about half a mile to the southeast. Layton Kor, Harvey Carter and John Auld made the first ascent on May 4, 1960, via the five-pitch Long Dong Wall route; Andy Petefish, Tom Stubbs and Jim Pearson made the first free ascent in 1977.

The name comes from the tower's resemblance to an embracing couple, officially adopted by the U.S. Board on Geographic Names in 1982. Some climbers call it "Bell Tower" instead. Older USGS maps place the name about half a mile to the southeast of the actual pillar, a cartographic error visitors with old maps may notice.

Access is via the Monument Canyon Trail, which involves a steep climb of roughly 800 feet and takes about 40 minutes from the trailhead. The terrain is rocky and uneven, so sturdy footwear and sure footing are essential.

Older USGS maps place the Kissing Couple name about half a mile southeast of the actual tower, so hikers following an old map may look for the wrong pinnacle. Some climbers also call the tower "Bell Tower." Its summit caprock is Kayenta Formation sandstone, harder than the Wingate Sandstone below.