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Courthouse Butte Day Hike
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Sedona
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May 17, 2008
by Ted Tenny
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Who knew there was a great stone mushroom behind the Courthouse?
Everything was so organized this time. Hikers meeting us in Sedona were to be
at the South Gateway Visitors’ Center in Oak Creek at 9:00. But when we
got there the place was closed and locked up with no sign of our Sedona hiker.
Fortunately we connected by cell phone, and eleven enthusiastic Trailblazers
started hiking from Bell Rock Trailhead at 9:30.
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Bell Rock seems to be an extension of Courthouse Butte.
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It’s still spring here in the Red Rock country.
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Although the high was predicted in the 80s, we enjoyed a mild, sunny morning
with a light breeze and some shade along the trail.
We crossed Bell Canyon and headed northeast and then north on the Big Park
Loop Trail. The changing views of Courthouse Butte and Bell Rock were a
delight. Spring flowers cheered us. We met several hikers going the other
way, one with a dog who was enjoying the coolness of water in a rocky streambed.
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Desert varnish and intricate weathering of the rocks mark the east side of
Courthouse Butte. The trail is marked with cylindrical cairns secured by
fence wire. We’re amazed by the variegated colors of Munds Mountain
on the right.
The Courthouse Butte Loop Trail takes us north and then northwest, up to the
pass. Here we discover a major landmark: a red mushroom-shaped rock at the
highest point of our hike.
What a perfect picture spot!
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Who made those intricate carvings in the rock?
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Our high point is the pass northeast of Courthouse Butte.
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The trail, which was so well marked leading up to the pass, isn’t quite
as well marked on the other side. We end up down in a red rock wash. Ted
admonishes the hikers to stay together, “though you could probably
find your way out from here,” he assures us.
Well, maybe. We do eventually find a trail. “Look at Bell Rock,” Ted
observes. “As long as you’re getting closer Bell Rock, you’re
O.K.” Our trail turns out to be the Llama Trail, identified by a sign.
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Soon we’re walking confidently toward Bell Rock on a wide, well-marked trail.
There are lots of hikers and bicycle riders on the last mile of our journey.
Our hikers separate into small groups, which is fine because the trail is so
easy to follow.
Our hike ends just after noon, back at Bell Rock Trailhead. We beat the
afternoon heat and had a pleasant walk in Sedona’s fabulous Red Rock
country.
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Bell Rock is the home stretch of our hike.
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