Courthouse Butte: The Giant Next to Bell Rock Most People Walk Right Past
The name mix-up, the loop trail, the best viewpoints and when the light is right on Bell Rock's bigger neighbor.
Drive into the Village of Oak Creek and everyone's camera points at Bell Rock. Look just to the right. That massive red wall is Courthouse Butte, and it is actually the bigger of the two. It has a name with a mix-up behind it, one of the best easy loops in Sedona around its base and some of the best late-day light in the area. Here is how to see it properly.
Bell Rock's Bigger Neighbor
Courthouse Butte rises to about 5,450 feet, several hundred feet higher than Bell Rock. It is also the most prominent formation in the Munds Mountain Wilderness, standing nearly 1,000 feet above its surroundings.
From SR 179, the two look like a pair. Up close they feel completely different. Bell Rock is rounded and approachable. Courthouse is a sheer, flat-topped wall that you walk around, not onto.
The Name Mix-Up
Nobody quite agrees on how Courthouse Butte got its name, which makes it more fun.
One version: Sedona's first settler, Abraham James, named Bell Rock and called this formation "Church Rock." A map error in the 1880s swapped the name.
Another version: Local lore holds that Courthouse Butte and Cathedral Rock traded names, thanks to a mapmaker in the 1920s.
A clue that fits both: According to the Sedona Heritage Museum, today's Cathedral Rock was once called "Court House Butte," after homesteaders settled a dispute by bringing in a judge and holding court beneath it.
So the courthouse may have been across the valley all along. What is documented is that the names moved. When, and who moved them, depends on who is telling the story.
Walking the Courthouse Butte Loop
The loop around the butte is one of the easiest ways to feel how big it is.
- Distance: about 3.7 to 4.4 miles, depending on where you start
- Elevation gain: roughly 350 to 400 feet
- Difficulty: easy to moderate
- Start: Bell Rock Vista Trailhead, 6.2 miles south of the Sedona roundabout on SR 179
- Pass: Red Rock Pass required
The loop begins on the Bell Rock Pathway, then splits off and circles the butte. Part of it runs through the Munds Mountain Wilderness, which was set aside in 1984, so bikes stay on the connector trails. At the high point, about 4,450 feet, you get a surprise view of Cathedral Rock to the northwest. For parking and distance details on the shared start, see our Bell Rock trail guide.
The Best Views of Courthouse Butte
- From the Bell Rock side: The classic pairing. The Rector Connector, between the two rocks, gives you both formations at once.
- From the far east side of the loop: The quietest part of the hike. Courthouse's back wall faces Lee Mountain and the green of Horse Mesa, and it barely looks like the same rock you saw from the road.
- From SR 179 heading into the village: The full profile, especially at the end of the day.
When the Light Is Right
- Early morning: Best for quiet trails. Bell Rock Vista fills fast on fall weekends, and the east side of the butte catches the first light. Our guide to sunrise at Bell Rock covers timing.
- Late afternoon: Best for photos. The butte's west face, the one you see from the highway, glows as the sun drops.
- After a storm: Clouds clearing off the top of the butte make for the most dramatic shots of the season.
There is little shade on this loop. Carry water even on cool fall days.
Look, Don't Climb
Courthouse Butte is not a scramble. The first recorded ascent was in 1954, by Harvey Butchart, the legendary Grand Canyon explorer. It is serious technical terrain inside a wilderness area. Enjoy it from the loop.
Pair It With Bell Rock
The Courthouse Butte Loop shares its start with the Bell Rock Pathway, so you can do both in one morning. If you are deciding whether Bell Rock itself is worth your time, read our honest first-timer's take on Bell Rock before you go.
Wake Up Facing the Red Rocks
Wildflower Inn sits in the Village of Oak Creek, with quick access to the Bell Rock Vista Trailhead and views of Bell Rock from many rooms. That means you can be on the Courthouse Butte Loop before the lots fill, then come back for a slow breakfast. In the evening, take in the last light on the red rocks from the property, then decide which side of the butte you want to see tomorrow.
