Fisher Towers
Moab
Overview
|
Fri 56 | 28 |
Sat 60 | 32 |
Sun 57 | 37 |
Mon 50 | 30 |
Tue 51 | 31 |
| View Full Weather Details | ||||
|
Fri 56 | 28 |
Sat 60 | 32 |
Sun 57 | 37 |
Mon 50 | 30 |
Tue 51 | 31 |
| View Full Weather Details | ||||
Views from the overlook
Composed of Cutler Sandstone topped Moenkopi towers, the Fisher Towers near Moab is an amazing area of some of the tallest freestanding towers in North America. The Titan, the largest of the towers in Fisher Towers, is the largest freestanding tower in the United States, and proved quite an endeavor when first climbed in the early 1960's by Layton Kor. The team (Layton Kor, Huntley Ingalls, and George Hurley) took four days to reach the summit, with Layton leading every pitch. Given the gear and rock quality, it was an amazing feat in the day, and a trip up the Titan is still a worthy goal for most aid climbers. Today most of the major towers in the area have climbing routes up them, though virtually all require solid skills, and desert choss experience. This is not a place for beginning climbers.
Non-climbers will love a visit to the Fisher Towers area as well. A scenic trail winds its way out to a viewpoint, meandering by many impressive towers and formations along the way. The towers and unusual erosional features make for a photographers delight, and this is a hike I would recommend to most. High summer can be brutally hot and not recommended, though sunrise and sunset times in the summer can offer some great photo opportunities and reasonable temperatures.
There is a small (5 site) campground at the trailhead. (first come, first serve) It often fills in spring and fall weekends, but other times of the year, offers good camping. No water available, but there is a pit toilet.
Views back toward the trailhead
Getting There
Head north out of Moab a couple of miles to State Highway 128 (just before the Colorado River). Follow highway 128 about 21 miles to a signed turn off on the right. Follow the good dirt road 2.2 miles to it's end at a small campground and parking lot.
The cobra, before it fell down!
The Titan, the tallest freestanding tower in the United States
Route
From the trailhead, follow the signed and well marked trail. It meanders down, across a wash, and up the other side, then rounds a large tower on the left. This tower is Ancient Art, by far the most climbed of the towers in Fisher Towers. The climb ascends a chimney before crossing a narrow ridge to a final airy summit the size of a chair hundreds of feet off the ground. You are very likely to see climbers here during moderate weather. A small tower at the base, the Cobra, was a climbing attraction for years but fell down in 2014 due to erosion and serves as an example of the ever changing nature of Fisher Towers.
Continuing along the trail, it traverses along to the Titan Viewpoint, the continues south out to a final viewpoint. Return the same way.
Photos
Maps
| Trailhead |
12S 647009mE 4287606mN N38° 43' 30" W109° 18' 32" |
| Titan View |
12S 647553mE 4286956mN N38° 43' 08" W109° 18' 10" |
| End of Trail |
12S 647472mE 4286067mN N38° 42' 39" W109° 18' 14" |