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Zion
Hiking Forum
The Ultimate Southwest Vacation includes Zion National Park, Utah!
Stay in Mount Carmel Junction, the heart of the parks, and
visit the treasures of the Southwest.
Zion Park 12 miles
Grand Staircase 9 miles
Sand Dunes 11 miles
Dixie Forest 22 miles
Cedar Breaks 45 miles
Red Canyon 47 miles
Coyote Butte 57 miles
Bryce Canyon 60 miles
North Rim 85 miles
Toroweap 90 miles
Plan your Zion National Park Vacation with our Utah Maps and
Information
In these pages you will find insiders information on Zion National
Park lodging, adventures and hikes. This detailed guide includes road maps, park
maps, pictures, trail beta, backpacking, history, fees, geology, flora, fauna,
campgrounds, things for kids to do and even information on Zion's hidden treasures.
Making summer memories in the Utah National Parks and National
Monuments.
Utah!
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Zion
National Park Map
Directions to Zion National Park
From Salt Lake City: Travel I-15 south, past Beaver.
Exit on Hwy 20. Follow US-89 to Mount Carmel Junction. Take U-9 to Zion's east
entrance.
From Arizona: Travel 89A through Fredonia, Arizona
and Kanab Utah. Follow US-89 to to Mount Carmel Junction. Take U-9 to the east
park entrance.
From Las Vegas: Travel I-15 north. Take exit 16 and
travel through Hurricane. Make a right on U-9 at the second traffic light in
LaVerkin. Continue on U-9 to the south entrance of the park. U-9 through Zion
National Park is always open and is also called the Zion-Mt. Carmel Highway.
Oversized
Vehicle Information
Zion
Canyon Shuttle Information
Well known canyoneer, Shane Burrows, in Echo Canyon. Echo Canyon is a cold narrow slot canyon located along the Observation Point Trail. The route has some fun downclimbing and short rappels.
GPS Coordinates
WGS84 Datum
Echo Canyon
Leave East Rim Trail to
enter into Echo Canyon:
37°16.5541N
112°55.5295W
GPS coordinates are only references and may or may not be accurate. Do not rely on GPS coordinates as the sole method of navigation. Always have an accurate, detailed map at hand and have the proper map reading and navigation skills before setting out on any hike. Many of the hikes listed in this guide travel into canyons where a GPS has limited capabilities. Always check your position with a detailed map before dropping into a canyon.
Non-technical route:
Echo Canyon Pictures
Beta: Coordinates and other trail and canyoneering information
by Zion Park search and rescue veteran team member Bo
Beck and www.zionnational-park.com author Tanya Milligan.
To post trip reports, offer corrections, updates, or for more
information please visit the Zion
National Park Forum
Suggested
Gear: A sturdy pair of shoes are recommend to hike the trails in Zion National
Park. Many quality shoes will help grip the rocks and prevent injury. Experienced
Zion hikers and canyoneers like the La Sportiva Exum Ridge. This shoe is great
for hiking, bouldering and canyoneering.
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Echo Canyon
Echo Canyon is a delightful slot canyon located right in the heart of Zion National Park. To begin the route canyoneers hike up the popular East Rim Trail then traverse over slickrock to drop down into the slot canyon. The canyon is a fun one with lots of entertaining downclimbs and short rappels. The route ends where the East Rim Trail and Echo Canyon meet. Its an odd site for East Rim hikers to see canyoneers emerge from the slot in wetsuits.
Echo Canyon at a Glance
Photo Album: Echo Canyon Pictures
Topo Map: Echo Canyon Map
Day Canyon: yes
Distance: 5 miles total (2.5 miles to the drop in point for Echo Canyon. Then after exiting the canyon section its 2 miles back to the trailhead. .5 miles for the slot.)
Average Hiking Time: 5 hours
Equipment: 60' rope, webbing, helmet, harness, rappel device, map, dry bag and wetsuit.
Technical: About 6 short rappels, depending on water levels some can be down-climbed. A hand-line can be helpful when down-climbing.
Difficulty: The conditions in Echo Canyon, like most slot canyons, change rapidly and constantly. Echo Canyon is a technical slot canyon that often has cold water sections that must be swam. The water is cold enough that canyoneers shiver in a 3mm suit in the summer. There are difficult down climbs and a keeper pot hole might be present depending on the current conditions of the canyon. The trail up to Echo Canyon is an uphill strenuous hike on a paved and populated trail. Obtain current canyon conditions at the Zion backcountry desk before attempting any slot canyon hike.
ACA Canyon Rating: 3B II
Permits: Required
Trailhead: Weeping Rock parking lot
Trailend: Same as trailhead
Trail Access: During the summer canyoneering season park at the Zion Canyon Visitors Center, the Zion Human History Museum or Canyon Junction and ride the Zion Canyon Shuttle. Get off at the last to the last shuttle stop.
Off the Beaten Path: Observation Point is a heavily used trail, but once dropping into Echo Canyon ZNP only allows 12 canyoneers per day.
Classic Zion Canyon: Yes
Best Season: Mid-June to mid-September when the water in Echo Canyon is warmer.
Hazards: Spring and winter canyoneering in this canyon has snow hazards. Call the Zion Canyon Visitors Center for weather conditions prior to the hike: (435) 772-3256. Canyoneering in slot canyons presents a very real danger from flash flooding. Do not enter slot canyons if it is raining. Remember a storm far off can trigger a flash flood. Check the weather report. Echo Canyon has a moderate flash flood danger.
Water Availability: Bring your own.
Restrooms: Located at the Weeping Rock parking lot
Trailhead: Echo Canyon - Begin at the Weeping Rock parking lot located about midway in Zion Canyon. Hike 2 miles up the Observation Point Trail to where the trail crosses a wash. There is often water present especially in the winter and spring. This is where the slot canyon is exited. Bypass this area for a moment and continue up the Observation Point Trail to the East Rim Trail junction. Follow the East Rim Trail for about .5 miles, watching for a wash. Cross the wash and look for an area to drop into Echo Canyon. Try and drop in high up in the canyon.
In the winter and spring the water in the slot canyon is ice cold. This hike is best done in the summer when the water is warm. The stream that runs through Echo Canyon may dry up in the summer leaving behind pockets of water that may stagnate. The more water that is present the harder exploration will be.
Echo Canyon - The slot canyon is impressive with many high wall sections and erie lighting. There are some areas blocked by boulders that will be difficult to climb up and down. A good climber should be part of the group. Be prepared for pools of neck high cold, stagnant water and pools that must be swam and may contain debris. The rappels and downclimbs should be 20' or less. The conditions in this slot canyon change.
Zion Canyoneering
Trail Options - This section of Echo Canyon can be accessed as part of an East Rim Trail hike or Observation Point hike.
Best Trail Features - This is a magnificent slot canyon right in the heart of Zion Canyon. Technical canyoneers will be thrilled with the narrow slot canyon, pools of cold water to swim, exciting down climbs and odd-start rappels.
Rappelling skills are required to navigate
through this slot canyon. Remember slot canyons can change dramatically in a
short time due to flash floods and water levels in this canyon change. These
directions are only a general reference. Be prepared for variations in the canyon.
Technical Canyoneering: Never enter a semi-technical or technical canyon without the knowledge and skills needed to safely explore and return. Many technical canyons also require GPS skills or excellent map reading skills.
Echo Canyon Non-technical trail description.
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