Bell Rock & Courthouse Butte........12th Mar

Many of the red rock formations in the Sedona area have been named, this is Bell Rock at Oak Creek Village, near Sedona.......
I'm not sure I can put over how stunning this whole area is but I shall try.........

We decide on the Bell Rock, Courthouse Butte loop trail. The first and third part of the trail is for hikers, horses and bicycles, it is part sand part rocky terrain with some small elevation changes. the middle section is classed as a Wilderness Trail and is narrower, more rocky and has more elevation changes........cyclists are not allowed on this trail to preserve the ecology of the area......

For those who know our love of waterfalls, in the desert this is the best on offer and that's only because of the rain/snow last weekend.........but we're happy to trade water-falls this trip for the amazing landscapes we are seeing.....

Taken on full telephoto from our viewpoint at Bell Rock......a chapel for meditation has been built into the rock face....

At the back of Courthouse Butte there are huge flats rocks where they allow folks to wander and take in the view from a higher elevation.......normally one must stay on the trails.....

This is the base of the rock in the next photo,  if we were younger and not concerned about what our health insurance will cover we would hike right to the top as some folks do but content ourselves with a half way up half way down scenario, the view was still fabulous.......YorkieMan on ledge in middle of photo....

Lunch break and a short rest.......

Aha I find some more water, from this distance it looks like a big piece of tin foil but through the binoculars it is the sun glinting off the waterfall......

Another pic of our water-tower....the best view of it is from the I-17 however not the best place to stop for a photo !!
The hike today was approx 5 miles and took 3 plus hours with photos stops and time to stop and stare and enjoy the most amazing scenery.......a thoroughly great day........sorry folks back home but the weather here today was also wonderful and in the high 70's..........