Courthouse Butte Loop Hike

Check out big old Courthouse Butte from every angle on this beautiful loop hike! This trail also shows off Bell Rock, the butte’s smaller companion. This area can get quite busy, but taking the loop approach alleviates some of the traffic. This hike is spectacular during golden hour.

The signage in this area is great, but we recommend downloading a GPS track if you’re unfamiliar with the area. There are countless junctions and trails you can roam, so it’s possible to get lost.

You’ll start from the Bell Rock Vista Trailhead. You’ll take Bell Rock Pathway as it heads up to Bell Rock. Turn right and then left to hike in between Bell Rock and Courthouse Butte.

Turn right onto Courthouse Butte Loop on the north side of Bell Rock. You’ll walk alongside the northern face of Courthouse Butte with Gibraltar Rock to your left, wrapping around to inspect it from all sides as you make your way to the south face. There tends to be less foot traffic on this side, giving you a bit of a break from the crowds that can hover around Bell Rock.

At the 5-way junction, take Big Park Loop back to the trailhead.