Castle Dome

Castle Dome is the 7,054-foot sandstone summit that towers roughly 2,800 feet over Zion Lodge and the canyon floor below, wedged between Behunin and Heaps Canyons with the Emerald Pools sitting at its southeast foot.

What it actually is

• There's no hiking trail to the top — Castle Dome is a technical rock-climbing objective on Navajo Sandstone, not a summit hike.
• It didn't see a documented first ascent until November 2015, when a climber worked out an easier fifth-class line to the top.
• The name was officially adopted in 1934, and the dome is best known today as a striking backdrop visible from the Emerald Pools trails and Zion Lodge area.

For most visitors, Castle Dome is a landmark to look up at, not a place to stand — spring and fall are the seasons climbers favor for an attempt.