page_title: Grand Staircase
section_title: Characterization
hierarchical_section_title: Grand Staircase / Characterization
caption_attribution_description: English: Grand Canyon (A), Chocolate Cliffs (B), Vermilion Cliffs (C), White Cliffs (D), Zion Canyon (E), Gray Cliffs (F), Pink Cliffs (G), Bryce Canyon (H) Français&#160;: Formations géologiques du fr:Grand Staircase: fr:Grand Canyon (A), Chocolate Cliffs (B), fr:Vermilion Cliffs (C), White Cliffs (D), Zion Canyon (E), Gray Cliffs (F), fr:Pink Cliffs (G), Bryce Canyon(H)
context_page_description: The Grand Staircase is an immense sequence of sedimentary rock layers that stretch south from Bryce Canyon National Park and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, through Zion National Park, and into the Grand Canyon National Park.
context_section_description: In the 1870s, geologist Clarence Dutton first conceptualized this region as a huge stairway ascending out of the bottom of the Grand Canyon northward with the cliff edge of each layer forming giant steps. Dutton divided this layer cake of Earth history into five steps from the youngest (uppermost) rocks:
  Pink Cliffs
  Grey Cliffs
  White Cliffs
  Vermilion Cliffs
  Chocolate Cliffs
  Since then, modern geologists have further divided Dutton's steps into individual rock formations.
  Formations in the Grand Staircase starting with the youngest (uppermost) rocks:
  Claron Formation
  Kaiparowits Formation
  Wahweap Formation
  Straight Cliffs Formation
  Tropic Shale
  Dakota Sandstone
  Carmel Formation
  Temple Cap Formation
  Navajo Formation
  Kayenta Formation
  Moenave Formation
  Chinle Formation
  Moenkopi Formation
  Kaibab Limestone
  Toroweap Formation
  Coconino Sandstone
  Hermit Shale
  Supai Group
  Surprise Canyon Formation
  Redwall Limestone
  Temple Butte Limestone
  Muav Limestone
  Bright Angel Shale
  Tapeats Sandstone
caption: Grand Canyon (A), Chocolate Cliffs (B), Vermilion Cliffs (C), White Cliffs (D), Zion Canyon (E), Gray Cliffs (F), Pink Cliffs (G), Bryce Canyon (H)
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