Colter Butte | |
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![]() Colter Butte centered. Northwest aspect as seen from Point Imperial. (summit spire of Mount Hayden in foreground) | |
Highest point | |
Elevation | 7,254 ft (2,211 m) [1] |
Prominence | 994 ft (303 m) [1] |
Parent peak | Alsap Butte (7,500 ft) [1] |
Isolation | 1.94 mi (3.12 km) [1] |
Coordinates | 36°14′12″N111°55′09″W / 36.2368047°N 111.9190839°W Coordinates: 36°14′12″N111°55′09″W / 36.2368047°N 111.9190839°W [2] |
Geography | |
Location | Grand Canyon National Park Coconino County, Arizona, US |
Parent range | Kaibab Plateau Colorado Plateau |
Topo map | USGS Walhalla Plateau |
Geology | |
Type of rock | sandstone, limestone, shale |
Colter Butte is a 7,254-foot-elevation (2,211-meter) summit located in the Grand Canyon in Coconino County of northern Arizona, USA. [2] It is situated four miles southeast of Point Imperial, where it towers 3,600 feet (1,100 meters) above Nankoweap Canyon. Its neighbors include Brady Peak, 2.5 miles to the west-northwest, Alsap Butte two miles to the northwest, and Swilling Butte one-half mile to the east. Colter Butte is named after James G. H. Colter (1844–1922), born in Nova Scotia, Canada, he came to the Arizona Territory in 1872 as a pioneer, farmer, cattleman, Apache and desperado fighter. [2] [3] He was the father of Arizona state senator Fred Colter. [4] This geographical feature's name was officially adopted in 1932 by the United States Board on Geographic Names. [2] According to the Köppen climate classification system, Colter Butte is located in a cold semi-arid climate zone. [5] This butte is composed of Pennsylvanian-Permian Supai Group which overlays cliff-forming Mississippian Redwall Limestone, which in turn overlays slope-forming Cambrian Tonto Group. [6] Precipitation runoff from this feature drains east to the Colorado River via Nankoweap Creek on the north side and Kwagunt Creek from the south slope.
Brahma Temple is a 7,551-foot-elevation summit located in the Grand Canyon, in Coconino County of Arizona, USA. It is situated six miles north-northeast of the Yavapai Point overlook on the canyon's South Rim, and 4.5 miles south of the North Rim's Bright Angel Point. It towers 5,000 feet above Phantom Ranch in Bright Angel Canyon. Its nearest higher neighbor is Oza Butte, four miles to the north-northwest. Other neighbors include Zoroaster Temple one mile to the south, and Deva Temple, 1.5 miles to the north. Brahma Temple is named for Brahma, the Hindu creator of the universe. This name was applied by Clarence Dutton who began the tradition of naming geographical features in the Grand Canyon after mythological deities. This geographical feature's name was officially adopted in 1906 by the U.S. Board on Geographic Names.
The first ascent of the summit was made by Donald Davis and Clarence "Doc" Ellis on May 15, 1968. The pair covered 12 miles and climbed 5,071 vertical feet from Phantom Ranch to reach the summit, and returned in 14 hours to complete the accomplishment. According to the Köppen climate classification system, Brahma Temple is located in a Cold semi-arid climate zone.
Angels Gate is a 6,761-foot (2,061 m)-elevation summit located in the Grand Canyon, in Coconino County of Arizona, United States. It is situated seven miles (11 km) due north of the Grandview Point overlook on the canyon's South Rim, three miles (4.8 km) west of Vishnu Temple, and three point five miles (5.6 km) southeast of Zoroaster Temple. Topographic relief is significant as it rises over 4,200 feet (1,300 m) above the Colorado River in three miles. Angels Gate is the place in Paiute mythology where the gods would return to earth by descending from the shadow world above. George Wharton James applied the "Angel Gate" name to this geographical feature in his book, In & Around the Grand Canyon, in 1900. This feature's name was officially adopted in 1906 by the U.S. Board on Geographic Names. Angels Gate has four peaks composed of Coconino Sandstone. The main highest summit and three spires are known as "Snoopy and his Doghouse" for a resemblance to Snoopy, and the first ascent was made April 1972 by Chuck Graf and Dave Ganci. According to the Köppen climate classification system, Angels Gate is located in a cold semi-arid climate zone.
Buddha Temple is a 7,212-foot-elevation (2,198 meter) summit located in the Grand Canyon, in Coconino County of northern Arizona, USA. It is situated 6.5 miles (10.5 km) due north of the Mather Point overlook on the canyon's South Rim, and four miles southwest of the North Rim's Bright Angel Point. Topographic relief is significant as it rises over 3,800 feet (1,160 meters) in two miles above Bright Angel Canyon to the east, and 3,000 feet in less than one mile above Haunted Canyon to the immediate west. Its neighbors include Manu Temple 1.5 mile (2.4 km) to the northeast, Isis Temple 2.3 miles to the southwest, Zoroaster Temple 3.8 miles to the southeast, and Deva Temple, 3.5 miles to the east. Buddha Temple was named by Henry Gannett, a geographer for Clarence Dutton, in following Dutton's practice of naming features in the Grand Canyon after mythological deities, in this case Buddha. This geographical feature's name was officially adopted in 1906 by the U.S. Board on Geographic Names. The first ascent of this butte was made in 1973 by Bruce Grubbs, Chauncey Parker, and Mark Brown via the Northwest Arete. According to the Köppen climate classification system, Buddha Temple is located in a Cold semi-arid climate zone.
Chuar Butte is a prominent 6,500-foot-elevation (1,981 meter) summit located in the Grand Canyon, in Coconino County of northern Arizona, USA. It is situated 1.5 miles northwest of Cape Solitude on the canyon's East Rim, three miles southeast of Gunther Castle, and immediately west of the confluence of the Colorado River and Little Colorado River. This position also places it where Marble Canyon ends, and the Grand Canyon begins. Topographic relief is significant as it rises nearly 3,800 feet (1,160 meters) above the river in less than one mile. According to the Köppen climate classification system, Chuar Butte is located in a cold semi-arid climate zone.
Gunther Castle is a 7,199-foot-elevation (2,194 meter) summit located in the Grand Canyon, in Coconino County of northern Arizona, USA. It is situated three miles northwest of Chuar Butte, between Kwagunt Valley to the north, and Chuar Valley to the south. Topographic relief is significant as it rises nearly 4,500 feet (1,370 meters) above the Colorado River in three miles.
Brady Peak is an 8,121-foot (2,475 m)-elevation summit located in the Grand Canyon, in Coconino County of northern Arizona, United States. It is situated one mile (1.6 km) northeast of the Vista Encantada viewpoint on the canyon's North Rim, where it towers 4,800 feet (1,500 m) above the bottom of Nankoweap Canyon. Its nearest higher neighbor is Mount Hayden, two miles (3.2 km) to the north, Kibbey Butte is one mile to northwest, and Alsap Butte lies one mile to the northeast. Brady Peak is named after Peter Rainsford Brady (1825–1902), a pioneer and politician of the Arizona Territory. This geographical feature's name was officially adopted in 1932 by the U.S. Board on Geographic Names. According to the Köppen climate classification system, Brady Peak is located in a cold semi-arid climate zone.
Steamboat Mountain is a 7,410-foot-elevation (2,260 meter) summit located in the Grand Canyon, in Coconino County of northern Arizona, USA. It is situated four miles northwest of Holy Grail Temple, and 2.5 miles west-southwest of Timp Point on the North Rim. George Wharton James described it as a "majestic butte", nearly encircled by Galloway and Saddle Canyons. Topographic relief is significant as it rises over 5,400 feet (1,645 meters) above the Colorado River in three miles. According to the Köppen climate classification system, Steamboat Mountain is located in a Cold semi-arid climate zone, with precipitation runoff draining west to the Colorado River via Tapeats Creek and Stone Creek. This feature's name was officially adopted in 1932 by the U.S. Board on Geographic Names.
Diana Temple is a 6,683-foot-elevation (2,037 meter) summit located in the Grand Canyon, in Coconino County of northern Arizona, USA. It is situated nine miles northwest of Grand Canyon Village, and immediately northeast of Mescalero Point. Pollux Temple is one mile northwest, Marsh Butte one mile east-northeast, and Vesta Temple is one mile south. Topographic relief is significant as Diana Temple rises nearly 4,300 feet (1,310 meters) above the Colorado River in less than two miles. Diana Temple is named for Diana, the goddess of the hunt and the moon according to Roman mythology. Clarence Dutton began the practice of naming geographical features in the Grand Canyon after mythological deities. The U.S. Geological Survey applied the name, and this geographical feature's name was officially adopted in 1908 by the U.S. Board on Geographic Names. In the early 1900s this mesa was sometimes called "No Mans Land". According to the Köppen climate classification system, Diana Temple is located in a Cold semi-arid climate zone.
Marsh Butte is a 4,721-foot-elevation (1,439 meter) summit located in the Grand Canyon, in Coconino County of northern Arizona, USA. It is situated eight miles northwest of Grand Canyon Village, immediately east-northeast of Diana Temple, and Tower of Ra stands across the opposite side of Granite Gorge. Topographic relief is significant as Marsh Butte rises over 2,300 feet (700 meters) above the Colorado River in half a mile. Marsh Butte is composed of Mississippian Redwall Limestone, overlaying the Cambrian Tonto Group, and finally granite of the Paleoproterozoic Vishnu Basement Rocks at river level in Granite Gorge. According to the Köppen climate classification system, Marsh Butte is located in a Cold semi-arid climate zone.
Cheops Pyramid is a 5,401-foot-elevation (1,646 meter) summit located in the Grand Canyon, in Coconino County of Arizona, USA. This butte is situated four miles north of Grand Canyon Village, 2.5 miles south-southwest of Buddha Temple, and 1.7 mile south-southeast of Isis Temple, which is the nearest higher neighbor. Topographic relief is significant as it rises 3,000 feet (914 meters) above the Colorado River in 1.5 mile. It was named by George Wharton James for the fanciful resemblance to the famous pyramid constructed by Egyptian Pharaoh Cheops. This was in keeping with Clarence Dutton's tradition of naming geographical features in the Grand Canyon after mythological deities. This butte's name was officially adopted in 1906 by the U.S. Board on Geographic Names. According to the Köppen climate classification system, Cheops Pyramid is located in a Cold semi-arid climate zone.
O'Neill Butte is a 6,071-foot (1,850 m)-elevation summit located in the Grand Canyon, in Coconino County of northern Arizona, United States. It is situated 2.5 miles (4.0 km) east-northeast of Grand Canyon Village, one mile (1.6 km) northeast of Mather Point, and one mile immediately northwest of Yaki Point. Cedar Ridge connects O'Neill Butte with Yaki Point on the South Rim. Topographic relief is significant as O'Neill Butte rises 3,600 feet (1,100 m) above the Colorado River in two miles (3.2 km). Access to this prominence is via the South Kaibab Trail which traverses the east slope of the peak. According to the Köppen climate classification system, O'Neill Butte is located in a cold semi-arid climate zone.
Newberry Butte is a 5,105-foot-elevation (1,556 meter) summit located in the Grand Canyon, in Coconino County of northern Arizona, USA. It is situated 4.5 miles north of the South Rim's Grandview Point, three miles southwest of Vishnu Temple, and 2.5 miles south of Wotans Throne. Topographic relief is significant as it rises over 2,500 feet (760 meters) above the Colorado River and Granite Gorge in one mile. According to the Köppen climate classification system, Newberry Butte is located in a Cold semi-arid climate zone.
Hancock Butte is a 7,683-foot-elevation summit located in the Grand Canyon, in Coconino County of northern Arizona, USA. It is situated one mile south of the Point Imperial viewpoint on the canyon's North Rim, where it towers 3,700 feet above Nankoweap Canyon. Its nearest higher neighbor is Mount Hayden, one mile to the north-northeast, Kibbey Butte is one mile to the south-southwest, and Brady Peak is 1.5 mile to the southeast. Hancock Butte is named after William A. Hancock (1831–1902), a pioneer and politician of the Arizona Territory known for performing the survey work required to create the town of Phoenix and erecting the first building there in 1870. This geographical feature's name was officially adopted in 1932 by the U.S. Board on Geographic Names. According to the Köppen climate classification system, Hancock Butte is located in a Cold semi-arid climate zone.
Alsap Butte is a 7,494-foot-elevation summit located in the Grand Canyon in Coconino County of northern Arizona, USA. It is situated two miles north of the Roosevelt Point on the canyon's North Rim, where it towers 3,700 feet above Nankoweap Canyon. Its nearest higher neighbor is Brady Peak, one mile to the southwest, with Hancock Butte and Mount Hayden set to the northwest, and Colter Butte two miles to southeast. Alsap Butte is named after John T. Alsap, a pioneer and politician of the Arizona Territory who served as the first mayor of Phoenix, and is known as "Father of Maricopa County". The geographical feature's name was officially adopted in 1932 by the United States Board on Geographic Names. According to the Köppen climate classification system, Alsap Butte is located in a cold semi-arid climate zone. Alsap Butte is composed of Pennsylvanian-Permian Supai Group overlaying cliff-forming Mississippian Redwall Limestone, which in turn overlays slope-forming Cambrian Tonto Group. Precipitation runoff from this feature drains northeast into the Colorado River via Nankoweap Creek.
Butchart Butte is a 7,602-foot (2,317 m)-elevation summit located in the Grand Canyon, in Coconino County of northern Arizona, United States. It is situated on the North Rim, midway between Gunther Castle and Siegfried Pyre, and between the Chuar and Kwagunt Valleys. Topographic relief is significant as it rises 4,900 feet (1,500 m) above the Colorado River in five miles.
Manu Temple is a 7,184-foot-elevation (2,190 meter) summit located in the Grand Canyon, in Coconino County of northern Arizona, United States. It is situated one mile south of the North Rim's Widforss Point, 1.5 mile (2.4 km) northeast of parent Buddha Temple, and three miles southwest of the North Rim's Bright Angel Point. Topographic relief is significant as it rises nearly 3,600 feet (1,100 meters) in two miles above Bright Angel Canyon to the east, and 2,200 feet in less than one mile above Haunted Canyon to the immediate west. Its neighbors include Brahma Temple and Deva Temple to the east on the opposite side of Bright Angel Canyon. From the South Rim of the canyon it may be difficult to discern Manu Temple from the walls of the Kaibab Plateau one mile behind it, but when the lighting and atmosphere are favorable, this butte of great proportions can be seen clearly defined.
Vesta Temple is a 6,299-foot-elevation (1,920 meter) summit located in the Grand Canyon, in Coconino County of northern Arizona, USA. It is situated eight miles west-northwest of Grand Canyon Village, and immediately northeast of Mimbreno Point. Marsh Butte is one mile northeast, Eremita Mesa immediately southeast, and nearest higher neighbor Diana Temple is one mile north. Topographic relief is significant as Vesta Temple rises 3,900 feet (1,190 meters) above the Colorado River in 2.5 miles. Vesta Temple is named for Vesta, the goddess of the hearth, home, and family according to Roman mythology. Clarence Dutton began the practice of naming geographical features in the Grand Canyon after mythological deities. This geographical feature's name was officially adopted in 1908 by the U.S. Board on Geographic Names. According to the Köppen climate classification system, Vesta Temple is located in a Cold semi-arid climate zone.
Guinevere Castle is a 7,281-foot-elevation (2,219 meter) summit located in the Grand Canyon, in Coconino County of northern Arizona, USA. It is situated one-half mile southeast of King Arthur Castle, one mile west of Excalibur, and 2.5 miles northeast of Evans Butte, within the Shinumo Amphitheater. Topographic relief is significant as it rises 5,000 feet above the Colorado River in 4.5 miles, and 2,600 feet above Gawain Abyss in one mile. According to the Köppen climate classification system, Guinevere Castle is located in a cold semi-arid climate zone.
Elaine Castle is a 7,431-foot-elevation (2,265 meter) summit located in the Grand Canyon, in Coconino County of northern Arizona, USA. It is situated three miles north-northwest of King Arthur Castle near the head of Shinumo Creek, and immediately southwest of Lancelot Point. Topographic relief is significant as it rises 2,800 feet (850 meters) above Merlin Abyss in one mile. According to the Köppen climate classification system, Elaine Castle is located in a cold semi-arid climate zone.
Kibbey Butte is a 7,801-foot-elevation summit located in the Grand Canyon, in Coconino County of northern Arizona, USA. It is situated two miles south of the Point Imperial viewpoint on the canyon's North Rim, where it towers over 3,000 feet above Nankoweap Canyon. Its nearest higher neighbor is Brady Peak one mile to the southeast, Hancock Butte is one mile to the north-northeast, and Alsap Butte is two miles to the east. The summit of this butte is composed of dark reddish Permian Hermit Shale overlaying the Pennsylvanian-Permian Supai Group, in turn overlaying the cliff-forming Mississippian Redwall Limestone. According to the Köppen climate classification system, Kibbey Butte is located in a cold semi-arid climate zone. Precipitation runoff from this feature drains east into the Colorado River via Nankoweap Creek. Cross-country access to Kibbey Butte starts at the parking area for Greenland Lake. The first ascent of the summit was made by Harvey Butchart and Allyn Cureton on May 31, 1961.
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