The Rectory (Utah)

The Rectory is a sandstone summit in Grand County of Utah, United States. The Rectory is located at Castle Valley, Utah, near the city of Moab. The Rectory is a thin wide, and long north-to-south butte with 200 ft vertical Wingate Sandstone walls tower standing on a 1,000-foot Moenkopi-Chinle base. Precipitation runoff from The Rectory drains into the nearby Colorado River. The nearest higher peak is Castleton Tower, to the south. Priest and Nuns are towers immediately north and part of The Rectory. Further northwest along the connecting ridge is The Convent, with a rock tower called Sister Superior between the two. The first ascent was made May 22, 1962, by Harvey Carter and Cleve McCarty via Empirical Route. Harvey Carter named this geological feature.

Climbing Routes

Classic Climbing Routes on The RectoryFine Jade - - 5 pitchesMinistry - - 5 pitchesCoyote Calling - - 4 pitchesCrack Wars - - 4 pitchesFind Shade - - 4 pitchesEmpirical Route - - 3 pitches

Music Videos

The Jon Bon Jovi music video Blaze of Glory was filmed at The Rectory. The Australian band Heaven also filmed their Knockin' on Heaven's Door music video on top of The Rectory.

Climate

Spring and fall are the most favorable seasons to visit, when highs average and lows average. Summer temperatures often exceed. Winters are cold, with highs averaging, and lows averaging. As part of a high desert region, it can experience wide daily temperature fluctuations. The area receives an average of less than of rain annually.