Massive sandstone formation marked by a distinctive grid of intersecting cracks and weathered lines that create one of the most recognizable geologic features in the park.
General Information
Private Vehicle: $35 (7-day pass)
Motorcycle: $30 (7-day pass)
Individual (walk-in or bicycle): $20 (7-day pass)
Children age 15 and under: Free
How to Get There
From Springdale (12 mi): Enter Zion National Park through the South Entrance, follow Zion-Mount Carmel Highway east through the tunnel, and continue approximately 5 miles to the Checkerboard Mesa viewpoint and parking area along the highway.
Overview
Checkerboard Mesa is an iconic 6,520+ ft (1,990+ m) elevation Navajo Sandstone summit located in Zion National Park, in southwest Utah. Checkerboard Mesa is situated immediately southwest of the park's east entrance, towering 900-feet (275 meters) above the Zion - Mount Carmel Highway. Its nearest neighbor is Crazy Quilt Mesa, one-half mile immediately west, and separated by Checkerboard Mesa Canyon. The descriptive name stems from the cliff's distinctive multitudinous check lines in cross-bedded white sandstone which give the impression of a checkerboard. The horizontal lines are caused by cross-bedding, a remnant of ancient sand dunes. The vertical and sub-vertical lines formed by the contraction and expansion of the sandstone caused by temperature changes, freezing and thawing cycles, in combination with wetting and drying.
This article uses material from the Wikipedia article "Checkerboard Mesa", which is released under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share-Alike License 3.0
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