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Elevation: 4,200 ft
GPS: 34.83254, -111.76932
Google Map · Climbing Area Map
Page Views: 112,688 total · 514/month
Shared By: JJ Schlick on Mar 22, 2006
Admins: Greg Opland, Brian Boyd, JJ Schlick, Kemper Brightman, Luke Bertelsen

Description Suggest change

The Church Spires Area is one of Sedona's better cragging venues, with a number of fine areas and some truly classic pitches. The climbing is spread out across the Twin Buttes area around the Chapel of the Holy Cross, and then, of course, on the spires themselves.

Formations and areas include The Church Wall, The Religion Wall, Streaker Spire, The Watchtower, North Tower, Christianity (aka Beckey) Spire, Minister and the Pulpit, and The Trundler's Club Buttress.

Getting There Suggest change

This place has everything... except parking. Arrive early for best results.

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.

25 Total Climbs

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Classic Climbing Routes at Church Spires Area

Mountain Project's determination of the classic, most popular, highest rated climbing routes in this area.
5.7+ 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b
 132
Original North Face Route
Trad 3 pitches
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a
 11
Broken Arete
Trad
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a
 40
Easy Rider
Trad
5.10- 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a
 34
Poop Chute
Trad
5.10- 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a
 49
Genesis
Trad
5.10- 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a
 33
Follow Your Bliss
Trad
5.10 6b 20 VII- 19 E2 5b
 12
Centipede
Sport
5.10c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b
 16
Blast from the Past (Isaac's Rt)
Trad 5 pitches
5.10+ 6b+ 21 VII+ 20 E3 5b
 8
Cat Claw
Sport
5.10+ 6b+ 21 VII+ 20 E3 5b
 8
Praying Hands
Trad
5.11a/b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c
 7
Brown Hornet
Trad, TR
5.11+ 7a 24 VIII 24 E4 6a
 23
Castles in the Sand
Trad 3 pitches
5.12- 7a+ 25 VIII+ 25 E5 6a
 21
Watchtower AKA Last Temptation
Trad
5.12- 7a+ 25 VIII+ 25 E5 6a
 9
Good Friday - North Tower West Face
Trad 4 pitches
5.12- 7a+ 25 VIII+ 25 E5 6a
 22
Alpine Follies Hangover
Trad
Route Name Location Star Rating Difficulty Date
Original North Face Route Streaker Spire
 132
5.7+ 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b Trad 3 pitches
Broken Arete Church Wall & R… > Upper Religion Wall
 11
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a Trad
Easy Rider Church Wall & R… > Lower Religion Wall
 40
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a Trad
Poop Chute Church Wall & R… > Lower Religion Wall
 34
5.10- 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a Trad
Genesis Church Wall & R… > Church Wall
 49
5.10- 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a Trad
Follow Your Bliss Church Wall & R… > Church Wall
 33
5.10- 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a Trad
Centipede Church Wall & R… > Lower Religion Wall
 12
5.10 6b 20 VII- 19 E2 5b Sport
Blast from the Past (Isaac'… Christianity Spire
 16
5.10c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b Trad 5 pitches
Cat Claw Church Wall & R… > Lower Religion Wall
 8
5.10+ 6b+ 21 VII+ 20 E3 5b Sport
Praying Hands Church Wall & R… > Upper Religion Wall
 8
5.10+ 6b+ 21 VII+ 20 E3 5b Trad
Brown Hornet Church Wall & R… > Lower Religion Wall
 7
5.11a/b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c Trad, TR
Castles in the Sand Church Wall & R… > Church Wall
 23
5.11+ 7a 24 VIII 24 E4 6a Trad 3 pitches
Watchtower AKA Last Temptation Church Wall & R… > Lower Religion Wall
 21
5.12- 7a+ 25 VIII+ 25 E5 6a Trad
Good Friday - North Tower W… N Tower
 9
5.12- 7a+ 25 VIII+ 25 E5 6a Trad 4 pitches
Alpine Follies Hangover Church Wall & R… > Upper Religion Wall
 22
5.12- 7a+ 25 VIII+ 25 E5 6a Trad
More Classic Climbs in Church Spires Area »

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