Church Wall and Religion Wall

Ronnie leading the third pitch of Castles in the S...

Description 

The Church Wall hosts everything from single pitch splitter cracks and sport lines to multiple pitch trad lines and a grade IV aid route. The wall faces due south so warmth and sun are the norms.

Getting There 

Turn off Highway 179 onto Chapel Road heading east. Before reaching the gate and Chapel of the Holy Cross parking area, park in a pullout on the north side of the road. Walk through the chapel parking area and pick up a climbers trail on the eastern edge of the parking area.

Follow the climbers trail about 1/4 mile until it intersects with a wide, well maintained mountain bike trail. Follow the bike trail for another 50 to 100 yards until you are below the large roof that marks Castles in the Sand. At this point look for a wash to your left that cuts straight up towards the cliff. At the top of this wash there is a short 4th class cliff to scramble up. Once on top of this cliff walk to the right end and pick-up the trail again. From this point the trail heads more or less straight up to the cliff base. The Religion Wall is to the right of the Watchtower and the Church Wall is to the left.

This approach takes between 30 and 45 minutes.

The Classics

Featured Route For Church Wall and Religion Wall

Watchtower 5.11+  AZ : Sedona : ... : Lower Religion Wall

Super Classic left facing dihedral on the Watchtower formation. Goes from crimps, to tips, to ever widening hands at the end of pitch one. Hardly anybody does the second pitch, and there is probably good reason for that....[more]   Browse More Classics in AZ