Ruin Butte

Distance: 2.5 miles + 1,110’ Duration: 2-4 hours Difficulty: Hard- Class 4/5 exposed scrambling on steep terrain.

Gear: Light packs, helmets, and a rope of ~50’.

Adventure Type: Out & Back Hike/ Scramble

Overview- Ruin Butte is a short and steep hike near the Boynton Canyon Vortex that gains the summit of Ruin Butte (Peak 5634). The views at the top rank as some of the best in Sedona. Getting to the summit involves 2 short but noteworthy class 5 sections.

Driving- Park at Boynton Canyon Trailhead, Pit toilets and parking passes are available at the kiosk.

Hike Description- Start on Boynton Canyon Trail and at the first trail junction, keep left. Soon after you will pass the famous Vortex on your right. After the vortex, continue hiking past a fin on you right with a well-known crack climb on its far side (Watch out Grandpa Trad 5.10+). Locate the climbers trail up the slickrock on the right side and follow it to an easy class 3 chimney (C) to gain the upper bench. Once atop the upper bench, traverse north to the gully. Head up the brushy gully on the right side, as far as you can go, then exit on the right side to gain the nose.

The first obstacle is a 15’ scramble up the red rock where you will see a single bolt that can be used for a handline to get back down.

The next obstacle is a class 4 scramble up steep coconino sandstone to the summit. To the left or north is a sub peak that is worth walking the ledges around before continuing to the true summit.

At the summit there was a small register under a rock cairn that we were able to sign, before heading back down the way we came. I’ve tried finding another way down but haven’t had great success.