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.
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.
Echo Canyon can be a fairly easy hike, but with some bouldering
and climbing, when the slot canyon is dry. When water is present it's cold during
the summer and icy cold in the spring and winter.
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.
Echo Canyon Hike
Hikers on the East Rim Trail get the Echo Canyon section of the hike and peer over the rock's edge wondering what is down in that dark, skinny slot. This slot canyon exploration will answer that question. This hike is only done in the summer season and often only in dry years when the water that runs through Echo Canyon dries up so parts of the canyon can be explored by hikers. Be aware there are pockets of water that may stagnate. The more water that is present the harder exploration will be. Do not go into any section of this canyon that must be swam or climbed. (Remember you would have to climb up what you climb down to get out!) Going past any section that requires simple hiking skills is not allowed without a permit. The water deep in this canyon is ice cold and wetsuits, ropes and other equipment are required. Echo Canyon technical information
Echo Canyon at a Glance
Photo Album: Echo
Canyon Pictures (non technical)
Trail Map: Echo Canyon Map
Day Hike: Yes Distance: To explore Echo Canyon when dry: 2 miles
one way to the slot, then about 2 miles through the slot and back out to the
Observation Point Trail. 8 miles round trip. Average Hiking Time: 5 hours Difficulty: Hikers should only explore the canyon as
far as is comfortable. The conditions in Echo Canyon change rapidly and constantly.
Often there is standing water the entire summer, limiting exploration by hikers.
Do not enter the technical sections without a ZNP
permit or the proper gear and
knowledge. 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. Permits:
Required if doing Echo Canyon as a technical canyon. Trailhead: Weeping Rock parking lot Trailend: Same as trailhead. Trail Access: From mid-March to late October, 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 next to the last shuttle stop.
From November until late March drive into the canyon and park at the Weeping
Rock parking lot. Off the Beaten Path: Observation Point is a heavily
used trail, but once dropping into Echo Canyon there are few hikers. Classic Zion Canyon: Yes Best season: mid-June to mid-September when the water
in Echo Canyon is warmer or even gone. Call the Zion Canyon Visitors Center for weather
conditions prior to the hike: (435) 772-3256. Hiking in slot canyons presents
a very real danger from flash flooding. Do not hike this trail if it is raining.
Remember a storm far off can trigger a flash flood. Check the weather report Water Availability: Bring your own. Restrooms: Located at the Weeping Rock parking lot.
The Trail to Echo Canyon - Begin at the Weeping Rock
parking lot 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 entered. Bypass this
area for a moment and continue up the Observation Point Trail so that you can
look down into the slot canyon. Backtrack to the wash and make your way into
the slot canyon entrance. In the winter and spring the water in the slot canyon
is ice cold. Bring a rope for emergencies. As with
all slot canyons there is a danger of flash flooding. Check the Zion Visitors
Center for the weather report.
Echo Canyon - The slot canyon is impressive with many high
wall sections and erie lighting. Do not enter any pools water or do any climbing
in the slot without a permit. The conditions in this slot canyon change.
After the initial section the path leads to an opening and a choice of direction.
Take the slot to the left.
There is a delight in the hardy life of the open. There are no words that can
tell of the hidden spirit of the wilderness that can reveal its mystery, its
melancholy, and its charm. The nation behaves well if it treats the natural resources
as assets which it must turn over to the next generation increased and not impaired
in value.
