A Trail Across the East Plateau:
Most people are familiar with the lower section of the East Rim Trail that leads to Hidden Canyon and the Observation Point Trail, but few people hike the 11-mile long East Rim Trail in its entirety. Though usually compared unfavorably to its bigger brother, the West Rim Trail, a day hike along the East Rim Trail takes one through some wonderful scenery from the East Entrance through Echo Canyon down to Weeping Rock in Zion Canyon.
⚠ CLOSURE NOTICE: The lower East Rim Trail/Observation Point Trail are currently closed due to a massive landslide. (On August 24, 2019, a large rockfall off of the face of Cable Mountain buried the Weeping Rock pantheon in sand and rubble. The trail was previously closed from a smaller landslide that blocked the trail in January 2019.)
You can still hike in from the East Entrance Trailhead to visit Cable Mountain, Deertrap Mountain, and even Observation Point, but you cannot hike all the way down to Weeping Rock into Zion Canyon.
The hike described below still includes references to hiking down to Weeping Rock for historical reference.
Driving to the East Entrance Trailhead:
The 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. If you are planning on doing the one-way hike to the Grotto, it may be preferable to arrange a drop-off or pay one of the Springdale outfitters for shuttle service to the trailhead.
Hiking from the East Entrance to Jolley Gulch:
Starting at the East Entrance Trailhead, the East Rim 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. If you catch this stretch of trail during sunrise, it is a special experience; the section of trail in Cave Canyon is the most quiet corner of Zion. The first few miles of this trail are quite child-friendly and might make a nice leisurely stroll if you intend to hike only a few miles and then turn around.
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 a small little canyon named Jolley Gulch. Be cautious at this view point as it is a straight 200-foot drop down! For casual hikers looking for a short and easy hike, this spot makes a perfect destination to take in the view and then turn around.
From Jolley Gulch into Echo Canyon:
Beyond the head of Jolley Gulch, the East Rim Trail loops around again and gains even more elevation as our view of the East Canyon slowly disappears. For the next few miles of the hike the trail heads northwest through charming sections of ponderosa pine as it makes its way across the plateau. A few trail junctions to note: Just beyond Stave Spring is the spur trail to Cable/Deertrap Mountains, then a half-a-mile later is the junction of another entrance trail to the Ponderosa Resort. (Be sure to stick to the left!)
After an open section of sagebrush, the East Rim Trail reaches the edge of Echo Canyon and begins a dramatic descent into slickrock wonderland. This section of trail has a few exposed spots, so be more cautious here, especially in wet or snow conditions.
After descending roughly 1000 feet to the floor of Echo Canyon, the trail crosses over the drybed and now crosses many sections of slickrock where only cairns show the way. (While navigation is fairly easy in daylight, this would be an extremely difficult section to navigation in darkness, even with a headlamp.)
As the Echo Canyon slot gets deeper and deeper below to the left, the trail finally joins up with the main East Rim Trail/Observation Point Trail.
From Echo Canyon down to Weeping Rock:
Once on the main paved trail, you will feel like you are suddenly out of the wilderness. Now it's a simple, but knee-breaking task to follow the paved trail as it rapidly descends another 1200 feet and makes its way through a magical section of lower Echo Canyon. (When the trail from Weeping Rock was still open, this was a highlight of the hike up to Observation Point.)
Near the mouth of Echo Canyon, NPS signs are now in place telling hikers that the final stretch of trail down to Weeping Rock is closed. Sadly, this trail may never open again if geologists still think there is a good chance that another rockfall from Cable Mountain could come down again soon.
Alternate Hiking Ideas for the East Rim Trail:
- Day Hike from the East Entrance to the Grotto:
This fairly strenuous one-way hike is probably the most enjoyable way to do the East Rim Hike, but sadly the lower section of this hike at Weeping Rock is closed. You can still hike down into Echo Canyon, but you will have to turn around and hike back up and out again. - Leisurely Stroll to Jolley Gulch:
For those looking for a shorter, less committing route, the hike from the East Entrance Trailhead to the head of Jolley Gulch (shown on the map) is a good excuse to see some beautiful scenery without having to work too hard. Round-trip time: 2-4 hours. This stretch of trail is mostly child friendly, but the area around Jolley Gulch has some sheer cliffs. - Two-Day Backpacking:
Starting at the East Entrance, a multi-day hike along the East Rim would allow more time to soak in Cable Mountain and/or Deertrap Mountain. A permit is required for any overnight, but there are no designated campsites. See backpacking information below.
Backpacking Information:
Unlike most other areas of the park, camping is permitted on the East Rim, Cable Mountain, and Deertrap Mountain, except within Echo Canyon. A wilderness permit is still required for any multi-day hike; pick up your permit at the Zion Wilderness Desk or at the Kolob Visitors Center. (See the official Zion Backpacking page for more info on permits.) You must camp well out of sight of the trail, away from the rim, and away from any water sources (springs).
One good area for camping is the large grove of ponderosa pines just northwest of Stave Spring near the trail junction, and any good spots found along the Deertrap Mountain Trail will afford you wonderful solitude. Admittedly though, the East Rim is not the most idyllic place to camp as the terrain is mostly hot, sandy, and exposed, and camping opportunities elsewhere (West Rim Trail, La Verkin Creek Trail, etc.) are much more appealing. Camping in this area is an interesting option if you want to spend a good amount of time exploring Cable Mountain and/or Deertrap Mountain.
Water Sources:
If doing a day hike, bring your own water. For backpackers, Stave Spring is located on the East Rim Trail a few hundred feet southeast of the Cable/Deertrap Spur Trail. Look for the pipe on the south side of the trail. Flow can be quite low during the dry months, so check conditions with the Wilderness Desk before your hike.
Fun Fact about the Trail Names:
Back before the 1980s, the name "East Rim Trail" used to refer to the trail that went all the way up to Observation Point. (The trail through Echo Canyon was referred to as the "Echo Canyon Trail.") In its current usage, "East Rim Trail" refers to the entire trail that starts at the East Entrance, goes through Echo Canyon and descends to Weeping Rock. (The "Observation Point Trail" now goes up to Observation Point.)
Joe's Spin:
With its relatively long mileage and not-so-exciting stretch across the brushy plateau, the East Rim Trail is not a hike that the general public would be interested in. But I still consider the one-way East Entrance to Grotto hike to be a "classic" and one of my favorites. From the tranquil start in the east canyon to the awe-inspiring stretch through Echo Canyon, and the majestic finale down into the Main Canyon, this hike has some truly beautiful scenery!
