This animated map will give you an idea of what we did on this hike.
The morning started out with much greater cloud cover than we had seen since the first day. Over the course of the hike the clouds would slowly disperse.Temperatures rose from 54°F to 65°F. We were out and about for 3 hours 11 minutes and spent just over 25 minutes taking breaks. The Bell Rock and Courthouse Butte Loop is about 4.25 miles long and you will climb 270 feet and descend the same amount. The steepest part of the hike (going clockwise) ascends around the 2 mile mark. Within the Munds Mountain Wilderness the trail is a little more rugged but still on the easy side of moderate.
The process to create the rock formations we see today took millions of years. Millions of years ago sea levels rose and fell. The sea retreated and wind and river actions formed sand dunes which then turned into the variagated sandstone formations we see today. On the left you see Bell Rock and Courthouse Butte is on the right. The reddish layers are sandstone with iron particles that have oxidized. The white layers were created when salt was deposited over the ancient sand dunes. The cap of Bell Rock is limestone which was deposited when the sea was present.
—November 2, 2022 at 9:23 AM.
Courthouse Butte stnads about 0.5 miles away. The rock formation rises about 970 feet. It’s hard to tell but I think it is certainly a half-mile across (east to west) and somewhat less from north to south.
—November 2, 2022 at 9:23 AM.
Mom and Dad. The trail here is busy with hikers and bikers. It’s fairly flat for the first 1.75 miles or so. At this point we are following part of the Bell Rock Pathway. Bell Rock rises 479 feet from its base. Depending on where you are, it may look somewhat less bell-like. I think it looks a bit more like a hat with a pom-pom at this vantage point looking at the rock’s southern face.
—November 2, 2022 at 9:41 AM.
The day started out more cloudy but over time the cloud coverage has been diminishing. But the clouds still make for a stunning sky as we look at the northwestern face of Bell Rock.
—November 2, 2022 at 10:00 AM.
We have left Bell Rock behind and are beginning to navigate around Courthouse Butte. The trail is getting a bit more rugged with more short ascents and descents on sometimes rockier terrain.
—November 2, 2022 at 10:05 AM.
There is more to see besides Bell Rock and Courthouse Butte. This seems like a mountain range to me.I believe the leftmost rock formation is Gibraltar Rock. Courthouse Butte stands to the southeast of us.
—November 2, 2022 at 10:14 AM.
I wish I had caught this picture a few seconds earlier than I did. At that point the sun was creating a smaller but more pronounced spot upon the rock.
—November 2, 2022 at 10:22 AM.
Signs of progress. At this point the Courthouse Butte Loop trail does get a bit tougher to walk. I won’t call it hard but the footing is rockier.
—November 2, 2022 at 10:29 AM.
Looking at the northern face of COurthouse Butte.
—November 2, 2022 at 10:31 AM.
The trail feels more remote here. We have finally moved far enough from State Route 179 that the sounds of traffic have mostly faded away. Photo by Judy.
—November 2, 2022 at 10:40 AM.
You can see that the Courthouse Butte Loop Trail is a bit more rugged than the nearly flat trail near the parking lot. It is still a pretty well travelled trail. Photo by Jonathan
—November 2, 2022 at 10:41 AM.
More than rock formations, there is life here. We have seen some flowers, plenty of plants including trees (pinyon pine), and heard various birds and insects.
—November 2, 2022 at 11:02 AM.
The western face of this dome shaped rock that I cannot find a name for.
—November 2, 2022 at 11:07 AM.
The southeastern face of the hamburger bun shaped dome.
—November 2, 2022 at 11:11 AM.
It is time for lunch in the shadow of Courthouse Butte (northeastern face)
—November 2, 2022 at 11:35 AM.
In this little open space with Courthouse Butte to our northwest we found a few puddles which marked the only water we saw today. People were out and about hiking, biking, and I think meditating.
—November 2, 2022 at 11:52 AM.
We have left the Courthouse Butte Loop Trail and are travelling the far easier Big Park Loop Trail back towards the parking lot. Looking back to get a final view of Courthouse Butte.
—November 2, 2022 at 12:03 PM.
Glancing back at Bell Rock as we hike the final few tenths of a mile to the parking lot.
—November 2, 2022 at 12:19 PM.
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