The geology of The Howlands Butte is relatively obvious, being that is a cliff-former massif of the Redwall Limestone.

Interestingly, two rock units, commonly thin layers, are found, one on top of the Redwall platform (a cliff-former result of non-easily erodible rock), the other under the Redwall, on another platform, the Muav Limestone.

The prominence of The Howlands Butte is a remainder cliff (or shelf) of cliff-former, unit 2-of-4 Supai Group, the Manakacha Formation.

And both Supai units sit on debris, and a remaining-layer of Surprise Canyon Formation.

[5] The Tonto Group units are below, and then Basement rocks are found at Granite Gorge.