Topographic relief is significant as the summit rises 700 feet (213 meters) above surrounding terrain in 0.25 miles (0.40 km).

[3] The towers of Family Butte are composed of cliff-forming Wingate Sandstone, which is the remains of wind-borne sand dunes deposited approximately 200 million years ago in the Late Triassic.

Below the towers is strata of the upper and lower members of the slope-forming Chinle Formation, also of Late Triassic age.

The Chinle overlays the Moody Canyon and Torrey members of the Moenkopi Formation (Early Triassic) which covers the surrounding terrain.

[4] These rocks were uplifted during the Laramide Orogeny and subjected to forces of erosion which created the butte left standing today.