Liberty+Cap+Example

Sitting atop the prominant Wingate Sandstone layer overlooking the Grand Valley is the remnant of an ancient sand dune. Known as Liberty Cap, this landmark is a favorite hiking destination for many Grand Junction locals. Liberty Cap allows visitors to climb atop the sand cone for a view of Grand Junction, the Bookcliff Range, the Grand Mesa and on a clear day the San Juan Mountains to the south.

The windgate sandstone was formed by the deposition of large amounts of sand in an ancient desert that covered this region 200 million years ago. Over many years the weight of the sediment that continued to deposit compressed the sand together into a layer of rock.

References [|USGS - Geological survey] [|USGS - Monument History]