Mount Hayden (Arizona) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Mount Hayden
Northwest aspect seen from Point Imperial
Highest point
Elevation	8,362 ft (2,549 m)
Prominence	522 ft (159 m)
Isolation	2.44 mi (3.93 km)
Geography
Mount Hayden Location in Arizona Show map of Arizona Mount Hayden Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Location	Grand Canyon Coconino County, Arizona, US
Parent range	Kaibab Plateau Colorado Plateau
Topo map	USGS Point Imperial
Type of rock	Coconino Sandstone, Hermit Shale
Climbing
First ascent	1977 or 1978
Easiest route	South Face class 5.7+ climbing

Mount Hayden is a tall mountain in the Grand Canyon, Arizona. It stands 8,362 feet (about 2,549 meters) high. You can find it in Coconino County, in the southwestern part of the United States.

This impressive peak is about half a mile southeast of the Point Imperial viewpoint. This viewpoint is on the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. Mount Hayden rises about 5,000 feet above the bottom of Nankoweap Canyon.

Mount Hayden is also called Hayden Peak. It is named after Charles T. Hayden (1825–1900). He was an important pioneer in Arizona. People knew him as the "Father of Tempe" because he helped that city grow. He also started Arizona State University. Charles T. Hayden was the father of US Senator Carl Hayden. He also served as a judge.

The name Mount Hayden was officially accepted in 1932. This was done by the United States Board on Geographic Names. This board is in charge of naming places in the U.S.

Climbing Mount Hayden

The first time anyone reached the top of Mount Hayden was in May 1978. Joe Sharber, George Bain, and Abra Watkins made this first climb. They went up the north side of the mountain.

Another challenging climbing path is called Pegasus. This route is on the East Face. Paul Davidson and Jim Haisley were the first to climb it in 1982. The most popular way to climb Mount Hayden is the South Face route.

How Mount Hayden Formed

The very top part of Mount Hayden is made of a rock called Coconino Sandstone. This rock is cream-colored and forms steep cliffs. It is one of the younger rock layers in the Grand Canyon. This sandstone formed about 265 million years ago from ancient sand dunes.

Below the Coconino Sandstone, you'll find the reddish Hermit Formation. This layer forms slopes. Underneath the Hermit Formation is the Supai Group of rocks.

Rainwater that falls on Mount Hayden flows east. It eventually reaches the Colorado River through a stream called Nankoweap Creek. The area around Mount Hayden has a Cold semi-arid climate. This means it is generally dry and cool.

Gallery

Images for kids

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  Mt. Hayden (lower left) by Ansel Adams around 1942