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Before heading to Zion, hiking friend Zach Drury mentioned to me that Echo Canyon was one of his favorite places to go while back home Utah. Taking his recommendation to heart, I made it an appoint to check out the narrow slot canyon while at the national park. Not having much time to research the unsanctioned trail beforehand, we had to do a little trail-finding to determine the best point to drop into the canyon, as several sections required traversing deep pools.

Not long after backpacking out of Kolob Canyon in the early AM, we began our trek to Echo Canyon via the switchbacking portion of the Observation Point / East Rim Trail.

After what seemed like an hour, we arrived at what looked like a junction off the main trail and the entrance to Echo Canyon… at least what was described to us by one of the rangers at the Visitor Center.

Immediately subjected to deep pools of cold, stagnant water, we reneged to find an alternate route to descend into the canyon.

Further up the trail we were able to look down into the narrow slot canyon, and observe several pools that we would have to traverse if we continued further.

Some of the pools were chest deep, and seemingly more turbid than the earlier ones.

Finding some signs of wear on a sharp bend in the canyon, we were able to follow a steep down scramble to the dry stream bed below…

Where we were then able to make quick progress along the canyon bottom.

I can see why Zach really loved this place…

The colors and landscape was extraordinary…

And amazing quiet, without the crowds of visitors like on other popular trails in the park.

Up until this point, we were able to keep our socks dry. However, we again ran into the cold, stagnant pools of water… but this time, we could not contour around them.

I decided to take off my socks/shoes and continue on, as I wanted to see one of the two or three technical obstacles which supposedly made Echo Canyon a “top-down” hike from the East Rim Trail.

Although I was extremely appreciative of all the vibrant colors / textures I was seeing, I could only imagine how the they metamorphose throughout the day.

Here, a log jam made for a nice foreground subject between the narrow canyon walls.

This narrow curving section was supposedly where the canyon gets its name from, as yelling would produce a reverberating echo.

In the middle of goofing off, I ran into some canyoneers who were completing the “top-down” hike. Dressed from head-to-toe in neoprene, I had asked them about the technical elements along the trail…

For the most part, the two enjoyed the obstacles and thought they weren’t too bad… however the pools were really cold. As for me, maybe next time… but I was more than content with what I had seen here already. We also had to make it back out of the canyon and down the trail so we could start the Angel’s Landing hike for the sunset and full moonrise! Third hike for the day, but still going strong, haha! 😀

More questions about Echo Canyon?? Just ask!!

Aloha and mahalo nui for visiting… Come back again soon!