Capitol Reef National Park
Utah
Lower Cathedral  Valley
"Temples Area"

Glass Mountain

Not far from Temple of the Sun is Glass Mountain, an interesting mound of large selenite crystals. Selenite is gypsum in the form of glass-like crystals. Selenite means "moonstone." Gypsum is common in the sedimentary rocks of this area and selenite particles glitter everywhere in the sand, but the crystals of Glass Mountain are unusual for size and the bulkiness of the deposit.

Temple of the Sun

The southern area of Cathedral Valley is located about 18 miles from Caineville as you drive up the eastern road into Cathedral Valley.  You can see the area from the main dirt road, but must take a short spur road to access the site close up.  The spur road leads one mile to the base of Temple of the Sun, a majestic free-standing butte that rises almost straight up from the valley floor to a height of about 400 feet.

Two companion buttes to the south, smaller but remarkable in their own right, are known as Temple of the Moon and Temple of the Stars.

Steve's 1995 Suzuki has traveled hundreds of miles of dirt and gravel roads in our southwestern and western National Parks.  It is parked at the base of the Temple of the Moon.

Bentonite or Rainbow Hills - I call this area the Cathedral Valley Badlands.