BASE Jumpers Leap From Corkscrew Rock Spire In Moab
Ancient Art is one of the most recognizable towers in Moab’s Fisher Towers. Reaching its summit demands a mix of route-finding, balance, and comfort with exposure on fragile desert rock. The climb is challenging not only because of its steep, textured sandstone and airy moves, but also because the setting itself amplifies every decision, from the approach hike to the final steps onto the corkscrew summit.
For most climbers, the reward is gaining rare perspective from one of Moab’s most dramatic and iconic spires but for those carrying “magic backpacks” its tiny footprint is the perfect platform to begin a exhilarating trip to the floor below. Follow along with BASE jumpers Hayley Ashburn and Marshall Miller ascend and leap from one of the most iconic rock features in all of Utah.
About Ancient Art
Ancient Art in the Fisher Towers is one of Moab’s most striking desert landmarks, blending remarkable geology, cultural history, and outdoor recreation into a single landscape.
Geology
The Fisher Towers are composed primarily of the Organ Rock Tongue of the Cutler Formation, capped by the Moenkopi Formation, which gives the towers their layered look and dramatic red coloring. According to the Utah Geological Survey these formations were deposited in ancient environments and later exposed by uplift and erosion on the Colorado Plateau. Because the rock is soft and highly erosional, the towers slowly shed material over time, which is why Ancient Art and the surrounding spires appear so sculpted and fragile.
Cultural History
The Moab region contains an especially rich record of Indigenous rock art and other archaeological traces, including petroglyphs and pictographs created over thousands of years by different Native peoples. Rock art in the broader Moab landscape is part of a long human story rather than a single artistic tradition. Ancient Art itself is primarily known as a landmark tower, but it sits within this culturally important desert region, so visitors should treat the landscape with care and respect.
Recreation Today
Today, Fisher Towers is best known as a recreation destination managed through public-land systems, with hiking and climbing drawing most visitors. The Utah Geological Survey has a pretty useful description of the 2.2-mile trail that leads hikers through the base of the formations. Climbers also come for routes on Ancient Art and the nearby towers, where the unusual summit shape has made it a classic desert objective. Hiking, photography, and climbing are all popular, but the soft rock and exposed terrain mean visitors should stay on established paths and use caution.
Visitor Experience
Ancient Art stands out because it combines scenery, geology, and technical climbing in one place. Its corkscrew summit has made it one of the most recognizable features in the Fisher Towers, and climbing guides describe it as a celebrated tower route in the Moab area. For non-climbers, the experience is still memorable. The trail offers views of the Colorado River corridor, Professor Valley, and the full skyline of red rock towers. For climbers and hikers alike, the appeal lies in seeing a landscape that is both beautiful and actively changing.
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