| Marsh Butte | |
| Label: | Marsh Butte |
| Label Position: | bottom |
| Elevation Ft: | 4721 |
| Elevation Ref: | [1] |
| Prominence Ft: | 301 |
| Isolation Mi: | 1.51 |
| Parent Peak: | Diana Temple (6,683 ft) |
| Country: | United States |
| State: | Arizona |
| Region: | Coconino |
| Region Type: | County |
| Part Type: | Protected area |
| Part: | Grand Canyon National Park |
| Range: | Coconino Plateau Colorado Plateau |
| Etymology: | Othniel Charles Marsh |
| Map: | Arizona#USA |
| Map Size: | 230 |
| Coordinates: | 36.1207°N -112.2451°W |
| Coordinates Ref: | [2] |
| Topo: | USGS Grand Canyon |
| Rock: | limestone, shale, sandstone |
| First Ascent: | 1977 |
| Easiest Route: | climbing |
Marsh Butte is a 4721feet summit located in the Grand Canyon, in Coconino County in the northern part of the U.S. state of Arizona.[2] It is situated eight miles northwest of Grand Canyon Village, immediately east-northeast of Diana Temple, and Tower of Ra stands directly opposite across Granite Gorge. Topographic relief is significant, as Marsh Butte rises over 2300abbr=offNaNabbr=off above the Colorado River in half a mile (1 km).
Marsh Butte is composed of Mississippian Redwall Limestone, overlaying the Cambrian Tonto Group, and finally granite of the Paleoproterozoic Vishnu Basement Rocks at river level in Granite Gorge.[3] [4] According to the Köppen climate classification system, Marsh Butte is located in a cold semi-arid climate zone.[5]
In March 1906, this butte was officially named "Endymion Dome", for Endymion of Greek mythology, in keeping with Clarence Dutton's practice of naming geographical features in the Grand Canyon after mythological deities.[2] [6] However, George Wharton James suggested it should be named after preeminent paleontologist Othniel Charles Marsh (1831–1899), and two months later it was officially renamed in May 1906 by the U.S. Board on Geographic Names.[2] George Wharton James described it in his 1910 book "The Grand Canyon of Arizona How to See It" as "a butte of singularly beautiful structure."[7]
The first ascent of the summit was made October 29, 1977, by Pete Baertlein and Mitch McCombs via the east ridge.[8]