Dox Castle facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Dox Castle
Southwest aspect at sunrise
Highest point
Elevation	4,780 ft (1,460 m)
Prominence	760 ft (230 m)
Isolation	2.05 mi (3.30 km)
Parent peak	Evans Butte (6,379 ft)
Naming
Etymology	Virginia Dox
Geography
Dox Castle Location in Arizona Show map of Arizona Dox Castle Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Location	Grand Canyon National Park Coconino County, Arizona, US
Parent range	Kaibab Plateau Colorado Plateau
Topo map	USGS Havasupai Point
Type of rock	sandstone, siltstone, limestone
Climbing
Easiest route	class 5.3 climbing

Dox Castle is a tall rock formation, or "summit," located in the amazing Grand Canyon in Arizona, USA. It stands 4,780 feet (about 1,460 meters) above sea level. This impressive natural landmark is found in Coconino County, in the northern part of Arizona.

Dox Castle is a huge structure. It rises about 2,500 feet (760 meters) above the famous Colorado River that flows through the Grand Canyon. It's located near other interesting places like Havasupai Point, Evans Butte, and Holy Grail Temple.

How Dox Castle Got Its Name

Dox Castle was named by two people: William Wallace Bass and George Wharton James. They named it after Virginia Dox (1851–1941). She was a remarkable woman who, in 1891, became the first white woman to explore this specific part of the Grand Canyon.

Virginia Dox was very impressed by her guide, William Bass. She actually named another nearby rock formation Bass Tomb (which is now called Holy Grail Temple) in his honor. William Bass, in turn, was so impressed by Virginia Dox that he named Dox Castle shortly after her visit. The name "Dox Castle" was officially recognized in 1908 by the U.S. Board on Geographic Names.

What Dox Castle is Made Of

Dox Castle is made up of different types of rock that have formed over millions of years. The upper parts of the castle are made from rocks that formed during the Cambrian period. These rocks are part of what geologists call the Tonto Group.

Below these layers, closer to the river, you can find even older rocks. These are from the Proterozoic era and are part of the Unkar Group. A scientist named Levi F. Noble studied these rocks. He even named a specific rock layer, the Dox Formation, because he found good examples of it near Dox Castle in a small stream that flows into Shinumo Creek.

The area around Dox Castle has a "cold semi-arid climate." This means it's generally dry, but it can get cold, especially in winter. Any rain that falls in this area usually flows into Shinumo Creek, which then carries the water west towards the Colorado River.

Gallery