Cathedral Rock
Description
WikipediaCathedral Rock is a natural sandstone butte near Sedona, Arizona, United States, and one of the most-photographed sights in the state. The rock formation is located in Coconino National Forest in Yavapai County, about 1 mile (1.6 km) west of State Route 179 (SR 179), and about 2.5 mi (4.0 km) south of the "Y" intersection of SR 179 and SR 89A in uptown Sedona. The summit elevation of Cathedral Rock is 4,967 ft (1,514 m). The Cathedral Rock trail (USFS Trail #170) is a popular short, steep ascent from the Back O' Beyond trailhead to the saddle points or "gaps" in Cathedral Rock. Geologically, Cathedral Rock is carved from the Permian Schnebly Hill formation, a redbed sandstone formed from coastal sand dunes near the shoreline of the ancient Pedregosa Sea. Ripple marks are prominent along the lower Cathedral Rock trail, and a black basalt dike may be seen in the first saddle. Cathedral Rock was called "Court House Rock" on some early maps, and Courthouse Butte was called "Church House Rock", which has caused endless confusion ever since.
Best months
Hiking score 0–100 · 10-yr climate averagesNeighbouring summits
| Name | Elevation | Bearing | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| West Twin Butte | 1,626 m | NE 55° | 3.0 km |
| Table Top Mountain | 1,471 m | N 13° | 3.4 km |
| Bell Rock | 1,468 m | SE 130° | 3.4 km |
| Gibraltar Rock | 1,657 m | E 82° | 3.9 km |
| Courthouse Butte | 1,658 m | SE 119° | 4.0 km |
| Schuerman Mountain | 1,491 m | NW 303° | 4.7 km |
Climbing routes
nearest first| Route | Area | Grade | From summit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Andy Kaufman Crack | North Mesa | 6b | 79 m |
| Rusty Cage | North Mesa | 6b | 79 m |
| 1999 | North Mesa | 6c+ | 79 m |
| The Stage | North Mesa | 6b | 79 m |
| Cobra Vision | North Mesa | 7a | 79 m |
| Fat Bastard | North Mesa | 6c | 79 m |
| The Raven | North Mesa | 6b+ | 79 m |
| The Hurricane | North Mesa | 6a | 79 m |
| Welcome to Sedona | Middle Mesa | 7a | 79 m |
| The Pirate | Middle Mesa | 6b+ | 79 m |
| Original Route | Mace, The | 5c | 254 m |
| Bruce Carson Memorial Route | Mace, The | 6b | 254 m |
| Real Rappel Route | Mace, The | 6b | 254 m |
| Webster/ Becker Variation | Mace, The | 6b | 254 m |
| Blood,Sweat, and Fears | Mace, The | 6c+ | 254 m |
| Little Big Man | Mace, The | 6c | 254 m |
| Rappel Route | Mace, The | 6b | 254 m |
| Wind, Sand, and Stars | Mace, The | 6b | 254 m |
| New Age Rage | South Mesa | 6c | 262 m |
| Freedom | South Mesa | 6c+ | 262 m |
| Vortex in a Can | South Mesa | 6b+ | 262 m |
| Enter the Vortex | Dodger, The | 7a+ | 273 m |
| South Face, The Dodger | Dodger, The | 5c | 273 m |
| Palmistry | Dodger, The | 7b | 273 m |
| West Face | Point 4,460 (Aka Baldwin Rock) | 4b | 919 m |