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The Bell Rock Trail - To the top of the rock.
 This trail is approximately 0.75 miles long and ascends the northern
face of Bell Rock. The trail is well marked as it leaves the
Bell Rock Trail Pathway. The trail is marked with cairns and
midway up it forms a small loop. That being said, the
area was crowded and many people were climbing the rock seeing how
far they could go. Some hikers scaled the slippery central slide
area (see figure below).
To the left (east) was another area where one could climb higher--
see red line in below figure.
Some hikers climb this route to ascend to the top of one of the
spires. Again, experience required. This is a strenuous
dangerous hike and not for the fair hearted. However, once the
top is reached, the views are spectacular.
-- See picture to the right (Northern Bell Rock is in the middle of
the valley).
The
hike can be divided into three sections:
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Base Section -- An easy hike.
Upper Bell Rock Trail -- A moderate
climb to the base of the upper slide area
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The Ascent -- A strenuous climb to the apex
of one of the spires.
Click on picture to enlarge
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Below are some of the fantastic views which can be seen
on
the hike.;
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Looking up the northern face of Bell Rock.
Note the central slide area where hikers are trying to ascend.
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Looking east from the trail leading from the
parking lot (just north of Bell Rock) to Bell Rock.
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Ascending up Bell Rock Trail. Looking
north shows Northern Bell Rock, a large mid-valley rock formation, and one can make out the
Chapel of the Holy Cross on the lefthand side of the picture below
the western butte of the Twin Buttes.
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Looking up the northern face of Bell Rock.
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View of the western face of Courthouse Butte
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Midway up Bell Rock looking south.
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View of the top of Bell Rock
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View to south
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View to the north from Bell Rock. Note
Northern Bell Rock, the
large mid-valley rock formation. The valley near the horizon is the pass
leading to
Chicken Point.
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A closeup view of the mid-portion of the above
picture reveals the pass that contains "Chicken Point."
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Closeup view to the north.
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View of the top of Bell Rock
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West and southern face of Courthouse Butte.
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View to the north - higher up.
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Chapel of the Holy Cross
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View to the south from the first portion of the
ascent.
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