Cable Mountain is the large prominment peak above the Weeping Rock pantheon just to the left of the Great White Throne. (Hidden Canyon is nestled between these two peaks.) If you look up at Cable Mountain from the bottom of Zion Canyon, you will be able to make out the small rectangle silouette of the old cable works which are a historical leftover of a working cable system from the early 1900s that brought timber and supplies from the upper east plateau to the canyon below.
| Rating: Fairly strenuous to strenuous day hike |
| Access: East Entrance Trailhead (near the entrance station off of Route 9 in the Upper East Canyon) or the remote Stave Spring Trailhead (behind the Zion Ponderosa Resort) |
| Time Required: 6-9 hours (from the East Entrance Trailhead), 3-5 hours (from the Stave Spring Trailhead) |
| Length: 17 miles round-trip (from the East Entrance Trailhead) or 8 miles round-trip (from the Stave Spring Trailhead) |
| Elevation Change: 1000-ft gradual ascent along the East Rim Trail (from the East Entrance Trailhead), 300-ft descent to the tip of Cable Mountain. |
| Seasons: Spring through fall. Access can be unpredictable in winter, especially the Stave Spring Trailhead. |
Before the big rockfall of 2019, the most scenic way to hike to the top of Cable Mountain was to start at the Weeping Rock Trailhead in Zion Canyon and the East Rim Trail up to the east plateau to the Cable Mountain Trail. Since the closure of the lower East Rim Trail, you can still visit Cable Mountain, but you must start at either the East Entrance Trailhead or the remote Stave Spring Trailhead.
 |
Map #1: East Rim Trail from the East Entrance Trailhead |
|
Map #2: Driving to the remote East Side Trailheads |
|
Map #3: Cable Mountain and Deertrap Mountain Trails |
Starting at the East Entrance Trailhead and following the East Rim Trail is logistically the easiest option as the trailhead is accessible year-round within the Upper East Canyon of Zion. The scenery is also more interesting, but the length of the hike makes this the more strenuous option. Starting at the Stave Spring Trailhead is a bit of a shortcut option, but you have to drive on remote dirt roads to the trailhead and parking is very limited and surrounded by private property. (There is a parking corral within NPS boundaries, but the road has been washed out for decades and 2WD vehicles often get stuck.)
The East Entrance Trailhead is located just west of the East Entrance ranger station along Route 9 in the Upper East Canyon. Follow the short dirt road to the parking area. The East Rim Trail is a very well-defined sandy trail that heads north into wonderland of the White Cliffs as it makes its gradual ascent to the top of the plateau. Once the trail loops around and gains some elevation, we start to get some beautiful views of Checkerboard Mesa and the south side of the East Canyon in the distance. The trail then passes the head of Jolley Gulch with a dramatic 200-ft vertical drop from the rim.
After passing Jolley Gulch, the East Rim Trail heads northwest slowly continuing its ascent through the forested scenery of the upper plateau. After roughly 5.7 miles of hiking, you will reach the junction with the trail to Cable Mountain and Deertrap Mountain.
The alternative Stave Spring Trailhead is accessible via dirt roads behind the Zion Ponderosa Resort. Roughly 1.7 miles east of the Zion National Park border along Route 9, turn north onto the paved North Fork Road and follow it for 5.4 miles, then turn left onto the dirt road that heads west under the Zion Ponderosa gate. Turn left at Buck Road as it heads southwest towards the trailhead. (See map.)
Since parking is so limited and the final stretch of road to the NPS parking corral is always in poor condition, during the tourist season, East Zion Adventures offers a shuttle service for a nominal fee. Park at the Zion Ponderosa Resort and get a ride to and from the Stave Spring Trailhead. While the logistics of driving and parking are more difficult, the hiking is easy. Follow the mostly level forested trail .5 miles to the junction with the East Rim Trail and turn left (south) and continue for another .5 miles to the junction with the trail to Cable Mountain and Deertrap Mountain.
After the junction at Stave Spring, the trail gradually ascends the arid plateau scenery and after 1.1 miles, we reach the junction for the Cable Mountain Trail and the Deertrap Mountain Trail. For this hike we will take the Cable Mountain Trail; it is another 1.8 miles of hiking to reach the Cable Mountain viewpoint.
Along the way, you will reach a teaser viewpoint that shows the tip of Cable Mountain and Zion Canyon in the background. The trail descends roughly 300 feet to reach the tip of Cable Mountain. Once at the end of the trail, the views from the rim are spectacular and it's pretty cool to see the old (reconstructed) cable works ruins as well. Retrace your steps when you have had your fill.
The cable works were originally constructed by David Flanigan in 1901 to transport timber from the plateau to the main canyon below. The operation was shut down by 1930, but the ruins remain.
For your own safety and to preserve the delicate ruins, please do not touch, stand on, or disturb the structure. Over the past few decades, the structure has become more and more unstable and several beams have even fallen off. The National Park Service has stablized and reconstructed parts of the cable works framework, but it is still recommended to stay clear of the structure.
Although fast hikers might be able to visit both Cable Mountain and Deertrap Mountain in one day, a more enjoyable option would be to do both as a two-day backpacking trip. A wilderness permit is required for any overnight stay, but because this part of the park doesn't get much traffic, there are no designated camping sites. Stave Spring is usually a reliable water source, but check with the wilderness desk as you get your permit. You are required to camp out of eyesight of the trails and the area past the Deertrap Mountain Trail may offer the best opportunities for good campsites. (See the official Zion Backpacking page for more info on permits.)
The hike to Cable Mountain isn't really a Zion classic and it probably won't appeal to everybody, but it is a good opportunity to see some less-visited territory. And the view from the tip of Cable Mountain is quite sublime.
Please note: This web site and all images on this site are the property of CitrusMilo Adventures ©2025. Unauthorized public or commercial use of any of the images or text on this website without explicit permission is strictly forbidden.
