While mountaineering and the Grand Canyon don’t quite seem like a natural fit, there are well over 100 summits sprinkled throughout this extraordinary canyon, from sandstone buttes and spires to giant limestone pyramids. Whether you’re looking for solitude or just a new way to experience the Grand Canyon, there are a number of great summits to choose from.

Disclaimer: Many (although not all) of my trips involve cross country travel with varying degrees of technical difficulty. All distances and elevation gain are taken directly from my GPS. All reports include a “crux” given in the Yosemite Decimal System (YDS). This graded system is very subjective, and ratings I’ve given are either based on personal experience or overall consensus of a route within the community. Know that routes, conditions and risk factors can all change so practice your own judgement whenever setting out on your own adventures. For those less familiar with the YDS system click here for an overview article from REI.

Summit NameMileageElevation GainCrux
The Battleship9.01,900'Class 3
Escalante and Cardenas Buttes9.23,200'Class 3
Kibbey Butte2.21,200'Class 3
Cheops Pyramid and Plateau25.011,100'Class 4
Cedar Mountain8.61,900'Class 2
Coronado Butte4.22,400'Class 3
Mount Huethawali and Fiske Butte14.04,550'Class 3
Fossil Mountain2.0800'Class 2
Red Butte Mountain3.0920'Class 1
Saddle Mountain and Marion Point12.06,050'Class 3
Little Dragon4.11,360'Class 2
Oza Butte and Widforss Overlook13.53,800'Class 3
Berry Butte6.12,900'Class 3
Grandview Benchmark2.8400'Class 1
O'Neill Butte4.92,010'Class 5.0
Brahma Temple30.512,250'Class 4
Sinking Ship3.0900'Class 4
Vulcans Throne2.0675'Class 2
Grand Wash Cliffs5.81,750'Class 2
Isis Temple36.214,200'Class 5.8 R
The Colonnade14.55,040'Class 3
The Dragon and Dragons Head13.95,200'Class 3
Woolsey Butte4.12,680'Class 3
Horseshoe Mesa9.03,400'Class 4
Comache Point and Espejo Butte19.75,700'Class 3
Whites Butte and Marsh Butte23.49,150'Class 4
Lyell Butte and Pattie Butte13.05,100'Class 3