Twin Buttes
A paired summit landmark on the North Rim skyline
About
Twin Buttes is the paired-summit landmark formed by Confucius Temple (7,081 ft) and Mencius Temple (7,001 ft), rising side by side from the canyon floor about 1.5 miles southeast of Point Sublime on the North Rim. Geologist Clarence Dutton named both formations in the 1880s for Chinese philosophers, continuing his practice of drawing on world religious and mythological traditions for Grand Canyon summits; the U.S. Board on Geographic Names formally adopted the names in 1906.
Where to see it
The buttes are visible from North Rim viewpoints along the Point Sublime approach, standing roughly 3,200 feet above the Hindu Amphitheater below. They aren't a hiking destination — there's no maintained trail to the summits themselves — but a distinctive pair to pick out on the skyline: Confucius Temple slightly taller and set back from its shorter partner, Mencius Temple, named for the philosopher regarded as second only to Confucius among Chinese sages.
- Point Sublime, the nearest named viewpoint, sits at the end of a long forested promontory reached by unpaved North Rim road
- Best identified with a map or app in hand, since neither butte is directly signed from a rim overlook
Best Time to View It
Point Sublime requires a rough dirt-road approach only accessible during North Rim's seasonal operating window — check current road conditions before your trip.
Good to Know
- Confucius Temple is slightly taller and set back from its shorter partner, Mencius Temple, named for the philosopher regarded as second only to Confucius among Chinese sages.
- Best identified with a map or app in hand, since neither butte is directly signed from a rim overlook.
- The U.S. Board on Geographic Names formally adopted both names in 1906.
Where to See Twin Buttes
The buttes are visible from North Rim viewpoints along the Point Sublime approach, standing roughly 3,200 feet above the Hindu Amphitheater below. They aren't a hiking destination — there's no maintained trail to the summits themselves.
What You're Looking At: Twin Buttes
Twin Buttes is the paired-summit landmark formed by Confucius Temple (7,081 ft) and Mencius Temple (7,001 ft), rising side by side from the canyon floor about 1.5 miles southeast of Point Sublime on the North Rim. Geologist Clarence Dutton named both formations in the 1880s for Chinese philosophers, continuing his practice of drawing on world religious and mythological traditions for Grand Canyon summits.
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