Joe's Guide to Zion National Park - Echo Canyon Canyoneering Guide

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ECHO CANYON (Middle Echo Canyon)

ROUTE INFORMATION

Overview:
Echo Canyon is the large canyon complex in the main canyon located just across from Angels Landing. Most hikers catch only a few glimpses into its depths as they hike the Observation Point/East Rim Trails through Echo Canyon, but the middle section of canyon makes for a great and relatively short canyoneering adventure. The route involves several short rappels, downclimbs, and swims through cold and sometimes putrid water, but the subterranean scenery is just as outstanding as other comparable Zion slots like Pine Creek or Keyhole Canyon. This route is not suitable for hikers who have no technical canyoneering experience.

Logistics:
You must get a backcountry permit to do this route. The National Park Service limits access to Echo Canyon to 12 people a day. For more information on permit reservations, please see the Zion Permits website.

Equipment Needed:
Rope for 20' rappels, a climbing harness, 50' webbing (for handlines and/or a sling), rapid links, helmet, and a drybag. Wetsuits are recommended even in the summer as the water is perpetually cold.

Detailed Description:
The standard Echo Canyon canyoneering route described here could take 3-6 hours total at an average speed with 1-3 hours spent in the belly of the canyon. Starting at the Weeping Rock trailhead, hike up the Observation Point/East Rim Trail as it zigzags up and out of the main canyon into the Echo Canyon pantheon. The trail briefly follows the dry streambed where you can peer into the narrow slot section Middle Echo Canyon just before the trail crosses over and heads above. The CCC-chiseled trail continues above the slot and soon enough you will reach the trail junction where the scraggly East Rim Trail splits off from the main and more popular Observation Point Trail.

Follow the East Rim Trail as it skirts the shelves above Echo Canyon. Within only 5-10 minutes of hiking from the trail junction, you will cross the first major drainage. This is the standard and easy entrance into Middle Echo Canyon. Look for the trail of use that provides fairly easy access down to the bottom of the drainage. This drainage joins up with Echo Canyon proper and now the fun begins!

Echo Canyon doesn't waste any time getting interesting. The next half mile of subterranean canyon involves four short rappels with floating disconnects (each roughly 20 feet), a handful of cold swims and several downclimbs. Rappel 1 is off of a chockstone (down canyon right) into a swimming pool. Rappel 2 is off of bolts into a typically waist-deep pool with rappel 3 right around the corner after a smaller little pothole. At the bottom of rappel 3 is the dark "semi-keeper" pothole room that is typically a swim. For some reason, this large pool often collects a lot of plant material and has a reputation for being foul and smelling like poo. The exit from this pool could be difficult for some as the lip is fairly high and you have to pull yourself up and out using the log that has been jammed into place for years. This obstacle is why people are warned to not do this canyon solo; a partner can help those having trouble escaping; don't get trapped in the toilet bowl! A bit further down canyon, rappel 4 is an easy rap into yet another dark pool.

Middle Echo Canyon Beyond the technical section, there are still a few downclimbs past boulders and logjams and possibly a few swims. One of the more interesting sections is the canyon's namesake, the so-called "echo chamber" where the tall and curved shape of the walls makes for excellent reverberation. (Hikers on the trail above will enjoy hearing your singing.) Soon enough, you will be back to the world of the living where the slot section opens up and you rejoin the Observation Point Trail.

Random Notes:

SEASONS: In late summer and fall, this canyon is a fun and relatively easy romp. But since several of the pools routinely get scummy, the route is much more pleasant days or weeks after a good rainstorm has flushed out the canyon. WARNING: In the winter, Echo Canyon collects a lot of snow and ice that does not melt quickly in the spring, so this canyon can be treacherous well into summer. Check current conditions at the Backcountry Desk.
HIKING UP MIDDLE ECHO: It is possible to hike up Middle Echo Canyon at the Observation Point Trail crossover, but typically several scummy pools and logjam obstacles will discourage most from making much progress. In dry conditions, it is possible to hike all the way up to the Echo Chamber.
LOWER ECHO CANYON: While this route description is solely for Middle Echo Canyon, canyoneers have occasionally descended Lower Echo Canyon, the section of canyon downstream from the Observation Point Trail crossover. While this is legal with a permit, it is not legal to exit the canyon by rappelling out over Weeping Rock. Lines must be fixed so you can ascend back up the canyon.

Joe's Spin:
When you hit this canyon in fresh water conditions, this is an amazingly wonderful canyoneering experience. A step up from Keyhole Canyon, but less committing than Pine Creek (and arguably more beautiful than both), I'm surprised it's not as popular as some of the other "trade route" canyons in Zion. I think the reputation for scummy pools really turns away a lot of people.

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Echo Canyon Topo Map

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