Topographic relief is significant as the summit rises 1,200 feet (366 meters) above the canyon floor in 0.5 miles (0.80 km).

[4] Square Top is composed of Kayenta Formation overlaying 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 Wingate are strata of the upper and lower members of the slope-forming Chinle Formation, also of Late Triassic age.

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

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