Spearhead Mesa

Spearhead Mesa is situated southeast of the Monument Valley visitor center on Navajo Nation land. The nearest higher neighbor is the iconic East Mitten Butte, to the north-northwest. ==Geology==

Spearhead Mesa is a mesa composed of three principal strata. The bottom layer is slope-forming Organ Rock Shale, the next stratum is cliff-forming De Chelly Sandstone, and the upper layer is Moenkopi Formation with a Shinarump Conglomerate caprock. The rock ranges in age from Permian at the bottom to Late Triassic at the top. The buttes and mesas of Monument Valley are the result of the Organ Rock Shale being more easily eroded than the overlaying sandstone. ==Climate==

Spring and fall are the most favorable seasons to visit Spearhead Mesa. According to the Köppen climate classification system, it is located in a semi-arid climate zone with cold winters and hot summers. Summers average 54 days above annually, and highs rarely exceed . Summer nights are comfortably cool, and temperatures drop quickly after sunset. Winters are cold, but daytime highs are usually above freezing. Winter temperatures below are uncommon, though possible. This desert climate receives less than of annual rainfall, and snowfall is generally light during the winter. ==Gallery==

File:Spearhead Mesa (Artists Viewpoint) viewed from North Window Viewpoint (39766301383).jpg|West aspect, cars visible at Artist Point. Note the spearhead-shape spire to the left which imparts the name to the mesa. File:Spearhead Mesa, Monument Valley.jpg|Northeast aspect, aerial view File:Road to the Valley, Spearhead Mesa, Elephant Butte and Camel Butte (46733088621).jpg|Spearhead Mesa to left with Elephant Butte centered File:Monument Valley (35324156595).jpg|The "Spearhead" seen from Artist Point File:Rain God Mesa.jpg|Southwest aspect of Spearhead Mesa File:The Cube (32851382178).jpg|Southern tip of Spearhead Mesa. "The Cube" is the large boulder at lower left. File:Southwest aspect of Spearhead Mesa.jpg|Southwest aspect File:Monument Valley - Spearhead.jpg|The "Spearhead" of Spearhead Mesa ==See also==