The West Temple is the towering Navajo Sandstone monolith that rises 1,200 metres above the canyon floor on the western edge of the park — the dominant peak of the Towers of the Virgin and the highest summit visible from the visitor centre. It is named for its resemblance, real or imagined, to a vast cathedral.
For most visitors, the temple is something to look at rather than climb. The summit can be reached only by a long, technical mountaineering route via the Sand Bench, and is the preserve of experienced scramblers. From the canyon floor, the best vantage is the Pa'rus Trail near the visitor centre, where the temple sits framed against the sky.