Echo Canyon - Middle Section

Subterranean! Echo is an amazing little canyon, that is cut deep inside the rock. The technical difficulties are few (a couple short rappels), the pools are amazingly cold, and the acoustics are fantastic. A great little half-day jaunt for the whole family, at least if the family is swathed in Neoprene!

Over the course of the winter, snow slides down into the canyon, filling it up. In the spring, Echo is often filled with snow, with the bottom of the canyon, where the water flows, melting out first. Very dangerous. The funny thing is, the snow only blocks the canyon below the rappels, so people can be easily trapped. The Park closes the canyon at times in the Spring, for good reason.

First Descent by Ken Gronseth and Dennis Turville, August 12, 1979.

From Weeping Rock Shuttle Stop, take the Observation Point Trail as it switchbacks up the slope below Cable Mountain. Nine hundred feet above the canyon floor, the trail traverses left and turns a corner into Echo Canyon. The trail soon crosses Echo Canyon. The section of Echo above this trail crossing is Middle Echo Canyon.

Continue on the trail as it climbs a bluff and then flattens out. Soon you will come to a trail junction, marked by a small, inconspicuous sign. The main trail continues up and left to Observation Point. Take the other trail, down and right toward the large bowl of Echo Canyon. Follow this 1/4 mile to where it crosses a distinct watercourse, then another 50 feet. Step right into the woods and follow small trails down into the drainage.

It is possible to enter the drainage further up the trail. This gets three more short drops and a bit of nice canyon, but also some dull walking in the sun.

The canyon narrows right away. Enjoy the cool shade of the canyon, then suit up before the first wading pool. It is a short way to the first rappel, a short drop into a slot off a natural anchor. Check the security of the anchor and rappel in. The next rap is just around the corner, off a couple bolts. Another short rappel into a pool is around the next corner, with a bit of a climb to exit the pool at some water levels. A few minutes downcanyon is the fourth and final rappel.

The hike out is fabulous. You are deep inside the rock, and the light bounces around delightfully. A few short downclimbs and a deep wade or swim or two lead in half an hour out to where the trail originally crossed Echo Canyon.

Follow the trail back down to the main road.

Zion National Park - permit required. Group size limit is SIX, with a daily limit of TWELVE.

Often closed in spring when snow accumulation makes it impassable.

https://zionpermits.nps.gov/wilderness.cfm?TripTypeID=3