Loy Butte and Loy Ruins in Coconino National Forest, AZ

Hike Loy Butte and Loy Ruins Coconino National Forest, AZ

Class 3 5.2 miles 1300 gain 3-5 hrs Out + Back May 6, 2019
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude

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Loy Butte is a fantastic little peak in Sedona, featuring ruins, fun route-finding, and small sections of nice scrambling. Plus the views are pleasant with the lush greenery against the red sandstone. Starting from the Loy Canyon Trailhead, we headed up the Loy Canyon Trail, looking for a social trail leading off to the left once we were parallel to Loy Butte. We noted the ruins up on Loy Butte's northeastern ridge, but I certianly would have missed them were I not looking for them specifically. Cliffs blocked easy access, but a cairned route led up with some0 short Class 2+ sections. The ruins (marked Ruins 1 on the map) were situated in a nice alcove, where the depression in the rock served as the roof.

After enjoying the first, and most impressive, set of ruins, we continued west, passing a Class 3 slit before the terrain became flat and we followed a social trail leading around a canyon separating Loy Butte's north and south high points. We took a wrong turn in an attempt to get up to Loy Butte's summit, heading over the ridge. We noticed on this quick detour that there were ruins on the west side of Loy Butte, so we checked them out (the spot marked Ruins 2 on the map). They were just a crumbling wall of stacked rocks, likely not ancient in any way. Back on the social trail, we continued to Ruins 3, which hugged a sheer wall behind large manzanitas. We found petroglyphs that likely weren't made by Native Americans, and very old corn on the cob pieces, which could be from back then? I don't know.

After seeing the third set of ruins, we began the ascent to Loy Butte. There is likely a slightly longer and less interesting slope to the south that we didn't take, instead opting to follow cairns that zig-zagged up the east face (Class 2+). Three series of sandstone ledges got us to higher ground, where we bushehacked to the north ridge of Loy Butte. A class 3 move got us to the summit.

PEAKS ON HIKE
Elevation (ft) / Prominence (ft)
Peaks on hike
Elevation
Prominence
1
Loy Butte
5680 ft
640 rise

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Along the Loy Canyon Trail, Loy Butte pictured center.
Along the Loy Canyon Trail, Loy Butte pictured center.
Image 1 from gallery
A view of the ruins (marked Ruins 1 on my map) in the center. This was taken from the Loy Canyon Trail, right before we left it.
A view of the ruins (marked Ruins 1 on my map) in the center. This was taken from the Loy Canyon Trail, right before we left it.
A social trail leads up to the ruins.
A social trail leads up to the ruins.
Ruins 1 ahead.
Ruins 1 ahead.
The ruins are in a gorgeous area.
The ruins are in a gorgeous area.
Great views from these dwellings.
Great views from these dwellings.
Image 7 from gallery
There were more dwellings along the depression in the cliff.
There were more dwellings along the depression in the cliff.
Image 9 from gallery
Image 10 from gallery
After ruins 1, we continued along the social trail to higher ground.
After ruins 1, we continued along the social trail to higher ground.
Looking back along the social trail toward the Loy Canyon Trail is below.
Looking back along the social trail toward the Loy Canyon Trail is below.
Loy Butte on the left.
Loy Butte on the left.
A short Class 3 notch to get higher up.
A short Class 3 notch to get higher up.
Loy Butte left. Ruins 3 (labeled on my map) are located below the dark water stains on the left. The notch we took to get to Ruins 2 is located in the center. The route goes around the canyon on the left.
Loy Butte left. Ruins 3 (labeled on my map) are located below the dark water stains on the left. The notch we took to get to Ruins 2 is located in the center. The route goes around the canyon on the left.
Looking back along the social trail.
Looking back along the social trail.
Working up to the notch toward Ruins 2.
Working up to the notch toward Ruins 2.
Looking back the way we came from the top of the notch.
Looking back the way we came from the top of the notch.
Ruins 2 ahead.
Ruins 2 ahead.
Ruins 2 weren't much to talk about.
Ruins 2 weren't much to talk about.
Just a wall of piled rocks.
Just a wall of piled rocks.
Back along the social trail headed toward Ruins 3. This is a view looking back toward the route we came from, on the other side of the canyon.
Back along the social trail headed toward Ruins 3. This is a view looking back toward the route we came from, on the other side of the canyon.
Social trail leads through some brush.
Social trail leads through some brush.
The ruins are located out of frame on the right. The route up to Loy butte zig-zags up the ledges on the right in this photo. Alternatively, the slope on the left could work as an easier way up.
The ruins are located out of frame on the right. The route up to Loy butte zig-zags up the ledges on the right in this photo. Alternatively, the slope on the left could work as an easier way up.
Hugging manzanitas on the way to Ruins 3.
Hugging manzanitas on the way to Ruins 3.
Ruins 3.
Ruins 3.
Ruins 3.
Ruins 3.
Old corn cob? How old?
Old corn cob? How old?
Working up ledges to get to Loy Butte. You can see Josh in the center.
Working up ledges to get to Loy Butte. You can see Josh in the center.
Zig-zagging up the ledges.
Zig-zagging up the ledges.
Bushwhack to the summit ridge.
Bushwhack to the summit ridge.
More ledges to gain the ridge.
More ledges to gain the ridge.
Ridge to Loy Butte's summit.
Ridge to Loy Butte's summit.
Just below the summit, we went to the right and found a Class 3 scramble up.
Just below the summit, we went to the right and found a Class 3 scramble up.
Class 3 scramble to the summit.
Class 3 scramble to the summit.
Looking down the Class 3 scramble.
Looking down the Class 3 scramble.
Loy Butte summit, looking north, toward the way we came. We could trace our whole route: we came up the red ridge on the right.
Loy Butte summit, looking north, toward the way we came. We could trace our whole route: we came up the red ridge on the right.

Hire me or show me some love!

Hire/refer me as a web developer or send me a few bucks if you find my site useful. I’m not sponsored, so all fees are out-of-pocket and my time preparing trip reports is unpaid. I really appreciate it!