Mount Hayden (Arizona)

Mount Hayden
Northwest aspect seen from Point Imperial
Highest point
Elevation8,362 ft (2,549 m)
Prominence522 ft (159 m)
Isolation2.44 mi (3.93 km)
Coordinates36°16′21″N 111°58′09″W / 36.2725811°N 111.9691092°W / 36.2725811; -111.9691092
Naming
EtymologyCharles T. Hayden
Geography
Mount Hayden
Mount Hayden
LocationGrand Canyon
Coconino County, Arizona, US
Parent rangeKaibab Plateau
Colorado Plateau
Topo mapUSGS Point Imperial
Geology
Rock type(s)Coconino Sandstone, Hermit Shale
Climbing
First ascent1977 or 1978
Easiest routeSouth Face class 5.7+ climbing

Mount Hayden is an 8,362-foot (2,549 m)-elevation summit located in the Grand Canyon, in Coconino County of Arizona, United States. It is situated one-half mile (0.80 km) southeast of the Point Imperial viewpoint (eastern Walhalla Plateau), on the canyon's North Rim, where it towers 5,000 feet (1,500 m) above the bottom of Nankoweap Canyon. Mount Hayden, also known as Hayden Peak, is named for Charles T. Hayden (1825–1900), an Arizona pioneer influential in the development of the Arizona Territory where he was known as the "Father of Tempe", and he established Arizona State University. He was also the father of US Senator Carl Hayden, as well as a probate judge. This geographical feature's name was officially adopted in 1932 by the U.S. Board on Geographic Names.

The first ascent of the summit was made in May 1978 by Joe Sharber, George Bain, and Abra Watkins via the north side (class 5.9 A2). Pegasus, a challenging class 5.10+ route on the East Face, was first climbed by Paul Davidson and Jim Haisley in 1982. The most popular climbing route is the class 5.8 South Face. According to the Köppen climate classification system, Mount Hayden is located in a Cold semi-arid climate zone.