Cathedral Rock is a natural sandstone butte near

Sedona, Arizona Sedona is a city that straddles the county line between Coconino and Yavapai counties in the northern Verde Valley region of the U.S. state of Arizona. As of the 2010 census, its population was 10,031. It is within the Coconino National Fo ...

, and one of the most-photographed sights in Arizona, United States. The

rock formation A rock formation is an isolated, scenic, or spectacular surface rock outcrop. Rock formations are usually the result of weathering and erosion sculpting the existing rock. The term ''rock formation'' can also refer to specific sediment ...

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 Year 179 (Roman numerals, CLXXIX) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar) of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Aurelius and Veru (or, less frequently, year 932 ' ...

and 89A in uptown Sedona. The summit elevation of Cathedral Rock is . The Cathedral Rock trail (

USFS The United States Forest Service (USFS) is an agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture that administers the nation's 154 national forests and 20 national grasslands. The Forest Service manages of land. Major divisions of the agency in ...

Trail #170) is a popular short, steep ascent from the Back O' Beyond trailhead to the saddle points or "gaps" in Cathedral Rock. Geologically, Cathedral Rock is carved from the Permian

Schnebly Hill formation The Schnebly Hill Formation is a section of red bed deposits found at the Colorado Plateau, near Sedona, Arizona. It is a dark red sandstone, from to thick. It lies between Coconino Sandstone and the older Hermit Formation. It is near the Supai ...

, a redbed sandstone formed from coastal

sand dunes A dune is a landform composed of wind- or water-driven sand. It typically takes the form of a mound, ridge, or hill. An area with dunes is called a dune system or a dune complex. A large dune complex is called a dune field, while broad, fl ...

near the shoreline of the ancient Pedregosa Sea. Ripple marks are prominent along the lower Cathedral Rock trail, and a black basalt dike (geology), dike may be seen in the first saddle. Cathedral Rock was called "Court House Rock" on some early maps, and Courthouse Butte was called "Church House Rock", which has caused endless confusion ever since. File:Cathedral Rock at Red Rock Crossing.jpg, Cathedral Rock from Red Rock Crossing File:Cathedral rock sedona arizona 2.jpg, These saddle points or "gaps" may be reached via the steep Cathedral Rock trail. File:Red Rock State Park, AZ.jpg, Cathedral Rock from Red Rock State Park

References

External links

"Cathedral Rock Trail"
Coconino National Forest. * {{cite summitpost , id=152506 , name=Cathedral Rock Sedona, Arizona Buttes of Arizona Rock formations of Arizona Landforms of Yavapai County, Arizona Protected areas of Yavapai County, Arizona

See also

References

External links