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Monitor and Merrimac are two striking buttes rising from the Utah desert. Their names reflect their resemblance to the two Civil War ironclad ships whose epic naval battle forever changed maritime warfare.
Merrimac Butte — the larger of the two — measures between 200 and 600 feet wide and about 1,600 feet long. It rises roughly 200 feet above the surrounding terrain and reaches an elevation of 5,627 feet. Its namesake, the USS Merrimack, was later converted into the Confederate warship CSS Virginia. Monitor Butte — named for the USS Monitor — stands just to the east.
You can see the buttes on the drive to both the Island in the Sky district at Canyonlands National Park and Dead Horse Point State Park. A roadside pullout along Highway 313 offers the best view, complete with interpretive panels.
If you’re feeling more adventurous, you can explore one of the nearby bike or hiking trails that lead closer to the buttes. There are also several rock-climbing routes on Merrimac Butte (for experienced climbers). The best times to visit are typically spring and fall – summers can be extremely hot and winters quite cold.
