Courthouse and Bell Rocks

by Tom Kelly

Title

Courthouse and Bell Rocks

Artist

Tom Kelly

Medium

Photograph - Digital Photography

Description

Bell Rock sits next to Courthouse Rock, and hiking either or both can be a fun, joyful experience. Bell is located just north of the Village of Oak Creek, south of Sedona in Yavapai County. From the uptown roundabout it is about six miles south on Highway 179. From I-17 North take exit 298 and go about 8 miles and you will see Bell Rock spiraling out of the Red Rocks. The Courthouse trail can be gained from the Bell Rock parking lot. The trail is about 5 miles long, and is mostly easy walking. As your travel around it you come to Spaceship Rock on your right and further along Rabbit Ears. Look out for wildflowers after a rainy spring. One note of caution for Bell is it can be very slippery while wet, either during or after a rain, or snow. Luckily for us, this are several great hiking stores in the Sedona area to make sure you hike safely such as Canyon Outfitters, and Hike House, as well as Sedona Outdoors in Uptown Sedona. If you are a photographer, there is an excellent store in Uptown Sedona; called Rollies Camera to take care of your photo needs. Also, Sedona is a high desert area, so bring lots of water especially in the summer. I have seen many a tourist dizzy from lack of hydration. Bell Rock is one of those mystical places. Try hiking to the top of the vortex, and some say they can definitely feel the energy field. For thousands of years Bell Rock has been considered a sacred area, especially to the Hopi and Yavapai Tribes. It is considered one of the major vortex spots on Earth. It is sometimes crowded on a full moon evening, as the feeling out there can be surreal! Just remember to bring a flashlight, and if taking photos a good sturdy tripod. Bell Rock’s butte comes from sedimentary rock of the Permian Supai Formation, which occurred between 299 to 252 million years ago. The Permian period as well as the Paleozoic period ended with the largest mass extinction in the history of earth. Theories exist as to what caused this, but the end result was the loss of nearly 90% of all marine species of life. When you visit Bell, prepare to be enchanted!

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May 13th, 2013

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