Arizona · Rock climbing · Sedona · Near Kachina Village

Courthouse Butte

Courthouse ButtePhoto: BriYYZ from Toronto, Canada, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
6 routes
5.6 – 5.11+
Trad · Mixed
Mar–May, Sep–Nov
best months

Is Courthouse Butte open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Red Rock Ranger District. It doesn't name Courthouse Butte, so check the source for the area it covers (2 listed).

As of · Source: USFS · Red Rock Ranger District. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Courthouse Butte is a climbing area in the Munds Mountain Wilderness, part of the Red Rock Ranger District of Coconino National Forest in Arizona. The Forest Service manages the land, and the area sits within designated wilderness. The climbing here is trad, with a few mixed routes, and the grades run from 5.6 up to 5.11+. Six routes are listed, including Central South Rib at 5.6, Coyote Tower at 5.10c, and A Day in Court at 5.11+. Flip Wilson Route (aka Here Comes the Judge) is the mixed option at 5.10c. Spring and fall are the most comfortable times to visit. Typical averages from a nearby weather station at Oak Creek Canyon show May highs around 78°F and October highs around 74°F, while July and August average about 90°F. Several other destinations are close by. The Bell Rock / Courthouse Butte climbing area is about 0.6 miles away, and Castle Towers is about 1.3 miles away. For camping, Chavez Crossing is about 3.2 miles away, and Crescent Moon Ramada is about 3.5 miles away.

Around this trail

Add any of these when you start a trip
  • Sleep close

    Crescent Moon Ranch Cabin

    Campground

    The next 8 weekends are full on Recreation.gov
  • Eat after

    Famous Pizza

    Restaurant

    On your way back · 1 mi
  • If it rains

    Stan Rose Images

    Gallery

    On your way back · 4 mi

Places © OpenStreetMap contributors

More in Kachina Village
  • Best time to go · Mar–May, Sep–Nov

    Best time to visit Courthouse Butte

    Best months: March–May and September–November. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.

    1. Jan

      54° / 30°

    2. Feb

      57° / 31°

    3. Mar

      64° / 35°

    4. Apr

      70° / 39°

    5. May

      78° / 46°

    6. Jun

      88° / 54°

    7. Jul

      90° / 61°

    8. Aug

      88° / 60°

    9. Sep

      84° / 54°

    10. Oct

      74° / 44°

    11. Nov

      63° / 36°

    12. Dec

      53° / 30°

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Oak Creek Canyon, AZ, 11 mi away at 5,118 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Routes (6)

Keep exploring — more climbs worth the drive

Castle TowersPhoto: Qygen, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Castle Towers

~2 min drive

Castle Towers in Arizona offers 2 traditional climbing routes.

South Castle TowerPhoto: Michal Huniewicz, CC BY 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

South Castle Tower

~2 min drive

South Castle Tower in Arizona has 14 climbing routes across 11 grades, offering sport and trad options.

Oak Creek Spire AreaPhoto: Coconino National Forest, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Oak Creek Spire Area

~2 min drive

Oak Creek Spire Area in Arizona has 7 trad climbing routes on 4 difficulty grades.

Gibraltar Rock AreaPhoto: Brady Smith; Coconino National Forest, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Gibraltar Rock Area

~2 min drive

Gibraltar Rock Area is a climbing crag in Arizona with 3 routes.

Oak Creek SpirePhoto: Coconino National Forest, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Oak Creek Spire

~3 min drive

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Crown ButtePhoto: Brady Smith; Coconino National Forest, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Crown Butte

~3 min drive

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Beef WallPhoto: Coconino National Forest, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Beef Wall

~3 min drive

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Church Spires AreaPhoto: Brady Smith; Coconino National Forest, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Church Spires Area

~3 min drive

Church Spires Area in Arizona has 4 trad climbing routes.

East Twin ButtePhoto: Coconino National Forest, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

East Twin Butte

~4 min drive

East Twin Butte is a climbing area in Arizona with 3 routes.

Lower Religion WallPhoto: Coconino National Forest, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Lower Religion Wall

~4 min drive

Lower Religion Wall in Arizona has 9 climbing routes across 8 grades, offering sport and trad styles.