Gallery photos coming soon
Thor Temple
A thunder god's namesake rising from Clear Creek Canyon
About
Thor Temple is a butte deep in the canyon's interior, rising about 4,300 feet above the Colorado River along Clear Creek, roughly 2.5 miles west-northwest of Cape Royal on the North Rim. At 6,741 feet in elevation, it stands near Brahma Temple and Wotans Throne, built from the same layered story of Supai sandstone and shale over older Redwall limestone that gives the inner canyon its banded color. You don't hike to it; you view it from the rim, most notably from Francois Matthes Point and looking southwest from Honan Point, where it appears alongside Clear Creek Canyon and the Ottoman Amphitheater.
Naming
Geologist François E. Matthes named the formation for Thor, the Germanic god of thunder, continuing Clarence Dutton's 1880s practice of giving Grand Canyon buttes names drawn from world mythology. The U.S. Board on Geographic Names made it official in 1906.
- Best seen from North Rim viewpoints, not reached by trail
- Look for it near Brahma Temple and Wotans Throne on the horizon
- North Rim viewpoints and roads are open for day use in 2026
Best Time to View It
North Rim viewpoints and roads are open for day use in 2026 — plan a Francois Matthes Point or Honan Point visit within current seasonal access.
Good to Know
- Geologist François E. Matthes named the formation for Thor, the Germanic god of thunder, continuing Clarence Dutton's 1880s practice of mythological naming; officially adopted in 1906.
- Look for it near Brahma Temple and Wotans Throne on the horizon.
- Best seen from North Rim viewpoints, not reached by trail.
Where to See Thor Temple
You don't hike to it; you view it from the rim, most notably from Francois Matthes Point and looking southwest from Honan Point, where it appears alongside Clear Creek Canyon and the Ottoman Amphitheater.
What You're Looking At: Thor Temple
Thor Temple is a butte deep in the canyon's interior, rising about 4,300 feet above the Colorado River along Clear Creek, roughly 2.5 miles west-northwest of Cape Royal on the North Rim. At 6,741 feet in elevation, it stands near Brahma Temple and Wotans Throne, built from the same layered story of Supai sandstone and shale over older Redwall limestone.
Reviews
See all on GoogleNo reviews yet for this listing.