Echo Canyon - Zion National Park

Echo Canyon
Zion National Park
Technical Canyoneering

The upper slot in Echo Canyon is a great technical adventure. Think of it as Keyhole Canyon on steroids. I have no idea why this canyon has yet to become popular since it is as beautiful and fun as anything in Zion National Park. I had heard about this canyon for over a year before I found a free morning to check it out. Nobody told me it was such a great adventure, but I am telling you. Add this one to your must do list.

General Information:
Echo Canyon is a technical canyoneering adventure that will require 4 to 5 hours to complete. You will need a 60-foot rope, several slings and a drybag for your gear. The route contains 6 short rappels, all less than 20 feet in height. Leave your bolt kit at home. There are plenty of natural anchors at every rappel. Bring 50 feet of extra webbing and a couple of rappel rings and you can eliminate the extra weight of a bolt kit. Temple of Sinawava is the USGS 7.5 minute topographical map that shows Echo Canyon. Navigation for this adventure is easy. All waypoints and maps for this route use the WGS84 datum.

This canyon requires plenty of swimming and wading. The water is cold and a minimum of a shorty wetsuit is advised, and a full wetsuit or drysuit is preferred if you are slow or lounge in the canyons. You might want something warm and dry to put on when you complete this canyon so throw a fleece into your drybag. I suggest a group size of six or less. Do not solo this canyon. It contains two semi-keeper potholes, which should not be a problem with two or more in your party. However, during certain water conditions a solo canyoneer might have trouble exiting these semi-keeper potholes.

Echo Canyon is rated 3B II using the Canyon Rating System. You will need a Zion backcountry permit to enter the technical section of Echo Canyon. Echo Canyon has a moderate flash flood danger, check the weather report at the Visitor Center when you pick up your permit.

Warning:
If attempting this route before July you might encounter huge debris fields of snow inside Echo Canyon that have avalanched down the sides of Cable Mountain. This can create a difficult, scary and very dangerous situation. Often half-a-dozen major snowdrifts in the range of 75 feet tall and 100 feet long will be encountered. You will be presented with major ice barricades, bergschrund type lips that form and collapse, snow bridges, seracs and other unstable conditions. If spring and early summer conditions are unknown, then every member of your team should be equipped with at least an ice axe. Additional snow and ice gear will improve your odds of success. These snow conditions do not occur every year, but when conditions are right Echo Canyon can easily become an early season trap. You have been warned!

Tanya Milligan and Bo Beck in Echo Canyon

Trailhead Information:
From the main Zion Canyon Visitor's Center take the Zion Canyon Shuttle to the Weeping Rock Picnic Area located in Zion Canyon. This is the trailhead for the popular Weeping Rock, Hidden Canyon, Observation Point, Cable Mountain and East Mesa Trails

Route Information:
From the Weeping Rock Picnic Area (N37° 16' 16", W112° 56' 18"), take the paved East Rim Trail towards Observation Point and Cable Mountain. The route snakes up the side of the mountain, past the Hidden Canyon Trail, crosses Echo Canyon and climbs toward the rim. The hike up offers a good look into a section of the Echo Canyon Narrows. Two miles and approximately one hour from the Weeping Rock Trailhead the Observation Point and Cable Mountain trails separate. The junction is signed (N37° 16' 26", W112° 55' 38"). Take the right (south) fork toward Cable Mountain.

From the Observation Point/Cable Mountain junction hike up the Cable Mountain trail for 1/2 mile or 15 minutes. After 5 minutes of hiking you will cross a large wash, which leads into Echo Canyon. Cross the wash and continue hiking the trail until it swings over near the large cliff and Echo Canyon to the south. Find a good spot and climb down to the floor of Echo Canyon (N37° 16' 35", W112° 55' 19").

Let the fun begin. You will encounter a short rappel, a little bit of down climbing and several scummy pools right from the start. The second rappel is 10 feet into a black pool of water, which might require a floating disconnect and a 20-foot swim. From here on down you will encounter 7 or 8 pools or potholes. Some are clean and others contained floating logs and pinecones.

Near the mid-point of your route you will encounter a small deep pothole followed immediately by a short rappel into a large deep pothole. These two deep potholes can be a little difficult to exit under certain conditions and are often referred to as semi-keeper potholes. Two people will not have trouble exiting these pothole, most people are able to climb out solo with some effort.

After the final rappel the slots personality changes from technical to beautiful. The slot opens up at an intersection and than narrows back up to form the "Echo Chamber". The acoustics in this section of the canyon are fantastic so give it a good yell. There is some downclimbing and wading through this section of canyon but nothing very difficult.

Soon enough you will reach the point where the Observation Point/Cable Mountain trail crosses Echo Canyon. You must exit Echo Canyon here and hike back down the trail.

If you continue down Echo Canyon below the Observation Point/Cable Mountain trail you must leave fixed ropes because it is against Zion Park regulations to rappel into the Weeping Rock area.

Full Meal Deal:
Experienced and physically fit canyoneers can combine Echo Canyon and Mystery Canyon into one long day by starting at Weeping Rock. The "Combo Platter" should only be attempted by skilled canyoneers, in a small party, with a very early start. After finishing Echo Canyon it is a good idea to reevaluate your condition and the amount of daylight remaining.