Contrary to the nearby Schnebly Hill formation the Coconino Sandstone, formed after the recession of the Pedregosa Sea, has a lighter yellow color. The sandstone is cross-bedded at the sand’s angle of repose which happens to be 30 degrees and the steepest slope that loose sand can slope (Abbot and Cook pg. 187-188). In some parts, the Coconino sandstone forms cliffs that make it difficult to hike unless faults like the Oak Creek Fault have broken it up. This means that the Coconino layer is essentially lithified sand dunes from 265 million years in the past (Sadler).
The Coconino Sandstone
(Left) the Tan top layer of Cathedral Rock is Coconino Sandstone