Capital Butte is one of the highest summits in Sedona with fantastic views. It offers multiple challenging 4th Class routes to the summit.

The most common routes are either straight up the south facing deposition or the east facing drainage that is also on the south side. The two routes meet on the south face below the ridge that descends west from the summit. The route to the summit runs near this ridge.

Both Routes involve 3rd class boulder hopping with intermittent human and animal trails. The route up the south deposition has an unprotected 4+ class move onto the face with moderate exposure. The east facing south drainage is a bit less technical than going up the south deposition only for that one move.

Higher up on the mountain you'll find a 4th class mantle up through a chimney. No ropes are needed to make this climb. The east summit block is slightly higher. Be advised some route finding skills are required. Be able to down climb anything you ascend. Climbers have gotten stuck, requiring rescue.

Getting There

The closest trailheads are in West Sedona on Andante Dr. and Buena Vista Dr.

Buena Vista Trailhead:
From the 89A/179 roundabout ... take 89A west 2.0 miles;
turn right on Coffeepot Drive for 0.6 miles; turn left on
Sanborn for 0.2 miles; turn right on Little Elf Drive and follow
trailhead signs; parking lot is on your left at Buena Vista.

Andante Trailhead:
From the 89A/179 roundabout ... take 89A west 2.5 miles to Andante Dr. and take a right.
Go 1.25 miles to Sky View Ln. and take a left. Parking is on the right.

Red Tape

In May, 2006, after 83 years of operation out of the Brewer
Road Ranger Station in Sedona, the Red Rock Ranger District relocated to a
new (5,000 sq. ft.) Visitor Contact Center on a site south of the Village of
Oak Creek (VOC) along Highway 179.

$5 (daily) Red Rock Passes and $15 (7-day) Red Rock Passes are currently sold at the Visitor Contact Center and a variety of commercial vendors and
"fee machines" at specific trailheads.

Capitol Butte lies in the Red Rock-Secret Mountain Wilderness.

Thunder Mountain from Cathedral Rock

When To Climb

Spring and fall are the best and most popular times to climb.
Lightning and flash flooding (associated with thunderstorms) pose a threat throughout the summer months.

In winter, footing can be treacherous due to ice and snow clinging to rocks
and routes.

Camping

Nearby camping in the Coconino Nat'l Forest :

Bootlegger	Apr 15-Oct 31
Cave Springs	Apr 13-Oct 15
Manzanita	Year Round
Pine Flat West	Mar 5-Oct 26
Beaver Creek	Year Round
W. Clear Creek	Year Round

Images



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