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Courthouse Butte

Arizona > Northern Arizona > Sedona Area > Village of Oak… > Bell Rock / Courthous…

Description

Courthouse Butte is the humongous looking mesa formation that sits just east of Bell Rock (Oak Creek Villages). There are only a handful of routes on this massive formation. I believe the first ascent was done many years back (early 1900's) by a Flagstaff hiking club, but haven't found any documentation to back this up yet.

Getting There

Park in the main Bell Rock trailhead across from the Bike 'n Bean bike shop. Take good (golf cart quality) wide trail right over to Courthouse Butte.

Routes from Left to Right

A3-
 1
● Failure to Appear
Trad, Aid 3 pitches
5.11+ 7a 24 VIII 24 E4 6a
 11
● Justice of the Peace
Trad 6 pitches
5.11+ 7a 24 VIII 24 E4 6a R
 2
● A Day in Court
Trad 5 pitches
5.11- 6c 22 VIII- 22 E3 5c
 24
● The Prosecutor
Trad 4 pitches
5.10c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b
 42
● Flip Wilson Route (aka Here Come…
Trad, Sport 3 pitches
5.6 4c 14 V 12 S 4b A0
 24
● Central South Rib
Trad, Aid
5.10c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b
 184
● Coyote Tower
Trad 6 pitches
Route Name Location Star Rating Difficulty Date
● Failure to Appear
 1
A3- Trad, Aid 3 pitches
● Justice of the Peace
 11
5.11+ 7a 24 VIII 24 E4 6a Trad 6 pitches
● A Day in Court
 2
5.11+ 7a 24 VIII 24 E4 6a R Trad 5 pitches
● The Prosecutor
 24
5.11- 6c 22 VIII- 22 E3 5c Trad 4 pitches
● Flip Wilson Route (aka Here…
 42
5.10c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b Trad, Sport 3 pitches
● Central South Rib
 24
5.6 4c 14 V 12 S 4b A0 Trad, Aid
● Coyote Tower
 184
5.10c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b Trad 6 pitches

Photos [Hide ALL Photos]

Courthouse Butte from the trail.
[Hide Photo] Courthouse Butte from the trail.

Comments [Hide ALL Comments]

Scott M. McNamara
Presidio San Augustine Del…
[Hide Comment] First(non-indigenous)recorded ascent probably----Lumberjack Hikers—ASC [now NAU] hiking club (early 1950's) i.e. Dr. Harvey Butchard & Boyd Moore.

According to Grand Obsession, Butler & Myers, Puma Press, 2007, p.104--- Dr. Butchard wrote a friend:

You have now found out what my most skillful and daring climb is like, Courthouse Butte. Boyd Moore and I did that...I carried a light rope ahead with me but there was no thought of belaying the leader. At one place I recall shinnying up a column of rock as one might climb a fairly large pine. I braced and held the rope for Boyd to follow...I used to say that if I would do that two more times, I would kill myself at least once.

amazon.com/Grand-Obsession-… Apr 17, 2016
Jeffrey Snyder
Flagstaff, AZ
[Hide Comment] Not certain on the validity but I believe that the "first" climb of Sedona and Courthouse dates back to the 1930's and was accessed via the 'Rib Route' on the South Side of Courthouse. I believe this pre-dates the for mentioned Butchard recollection. Not sure if this is blended history though... Apr 18, 2016