Cathedral Rock Explained

Other Name:Cathedral Rock
Elevation Ft:4967
Elevation Ref:[1]
Prominence Ft:284
Location:Yavapai County, Arizona, U.S.
Map:USA Arizona#USA
Map Size:180
Coordinates:34.82°N -111.7932°W
Coordinates Ref:[2]
Topo:USGS Sedona

Cathedral Rock is a natural sandstone butte near Sedona, Arizona, and one of the most-photographed sights in Arizona, United States.[3] The rock formation is located in the Coconino National Forest in Yavapai County, about west of Arizona Route 179, and about south of the "Y" intersection of State Routes 179 and 89A in uptown Sedona. The summit elevation of Cathedral Rock is .[1]

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.[4]

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.[3]

Cathedral Rock was called "Court House Rock" on some early maps,[2] and Courthouse Butte was called "Church House Rock",[5] which has caused endless confusion ever since.

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. 15149 . Cathedral Rock, Arizona . 2016-08-22.
  2. 27368 . Cathedral Rock . 2016-08-22.
  3. Book: Ranney, Wayne . 2010 . Sedona Through Time: A Guide to Sedona's Geology . Zia Publishing . 3rd . 978-0-9701203-8-0.
  4. Web site: Cathedral Rock trail . WildSedona.com . 2016-08-22.
  5. 28076 . Courthouese Butte . 2016-08-22.