Lyell Butte

Lyell Butte is a 5,362-foot (1,634 m) elevation summit located in the Grand Canyon, in Coconino County of northern Arizona, United States.^[2] It is situated six miles (9.7 km) east of Grand Canyon Village, immediately east of and below Shoshone Point, and 1.5 mile southeast of Newton Butte, which is the nearest higher neighbor. Topographic relief is significant as Lyell Butte rises 2,800 feet (850 m) above the Colorado River in 1.5 mile (2.4 km). Access is via the Tonto Trail which traverses the base of the peak. According to the Köppen climate classification system, Lyell Butte is located in a cold semi-arid climate zone, with precipitation runoff draining northeast to the Colorado River via Grapevine and Boulder Creeks.^[3]

Lyell Butte
Lyell Butte, south aspect
Highest point
Elevation	5,362 ft (1,634 m)[1]
Prominence	502 ft (153 m)[1]
Parent peak	Newton Butte (5,940 ft)[1]
Isolation	1.55 mi (2.49 km)[1]
Coordinates	36°02′49″N 112°01′44″W[2]
Naming
Etymology	Charles Lyell
Geography
Lyell Butte Location in Arizona Show map of Arizona Lyell Butte Lyell Butte (the United States) Show map of the United States
Country	United States
State	Arizona
County	Coconino
Protected area	Grand Canyon National Park
Parent range	Coconino Plateau Colorado Plateau
Topo map	USGS Phantom Ranch
Geology
Rock type(s)	sandstone, limestone, shale
Climbing
First ascent	1970
Easiest route	class 4 climbing[1]

History

Lyell Butte was named in 1906 after Sir Charles Lyell (1797–1875), eminent Scottish geologist best known as the author of Principles of Geology.^[4] This feature's name was officially adopted in 1906 by the U.S. Board on Geographic Names.^[2] The first ascent of Lyell Butte was made January 24, 1970, by Alan Doty via the northwest face/chimney.^[5][6]

Sir Charles Lyell

Geology

Lyell Butte is composed of Mississippian Redwall Limestone, with a dome of the basal layer of Pennsylvanian-Permian Supai Group on top which dips to the northeast.^[7] The cliff-forming Redwall overlays the Cambrian Tonto Group, and below that Paleoproterozoic Vishnu Basement Rocks at river level in Granite Gorge.^[8]

Newton Butte centered, Lyell Butte to left. Newberry Butte to right on opposite side of Granite Gorge

See also

• Geology of the Grand Canyon area