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| East Mesa Trail |
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Elevation Gain, One-way:
2,100 Feet
Vehicle Accessibility:
see remarks
Usage:
Moderate
Recommended Season:
Fall
Beginning Elevation:
4,360 Feet
Ending Elevation:
6,460 Feet
Difficulty:
Difficult
Length, One-way:
6.3 Miles
Reservation:
No
Season:
Year-round
From South Entrance, Drive northward along Highway 9 to the Zion Canyon Visitor Center. Board one of the shuttle buses and ride it to Weeping Rock Trailhead.
Location Information
This trail begins at the Weeping Rock Trailhead along Zion Canyon Scenic Drive and leads six miles northeastward to a four-wheel drive road on Kolob Terrace. The track gains 2,100 feet in elevation along its route. Most of the elevation gained initially as the route leaves the trailhead, then again as the track leaves Echo Canyon. Water is available in Echo Canyon, but the rest of the hike is dry. This route can be used in conjunction with the East Rim Trail to form a longer backpacking trip.From the Weeping Rock Trailhead the route begins by crossing Echo Canyon before it empties into the North Fork Virgin River. It ascends slowly for the first 15 minutes then begins a steep ascent toward the summit of Cable Mountain. A short distance from the trailhead the Weeping Rock Trail leads to the left. This is a easy side trail to an interesting formation that shouldn't be missed. Beyond the Weeping Rock Trail the track climbs several switchbacks of varying lengths. After three long legs, near 4,750 feet, the Hidden Canyon Trail forks to the right. This route leads into the bottom of Hidden Canyon then follows it a short distance up stream. Beyond the Hidden Canyon Trail our route continues to climb using four more switchbacks before entering Echo Canyon. The trail follows the canyon bottom for approximately a half mile before beginning to climb its northern wall. The climb is moderate to the next fork in the trail. At this fork bear left to reach Observation Point. (The right side of the fork follows Echo Canyon then climbs southward out of the canyon as the East Rim Trail.) Upon reaching this fork with the East Rim Trail you've climbed two miles from the Weeping Rock Trailhead. This may be a good place for a break to refuel before beginning your hike out of Echo Canyon. The track leads northward from this junction ascending the north wall of the canyon steeply. This climb begins at an elevation of 5,656 feet. It lasts slightly more than one mile and reaches a height of 6,225 feet. From the top of the second set of switchbacks this trail follows the eastern rim of a steep canyon emptying into Echo Canyon. A half mile from the last switchback the Observation Point Trail forks to the left. This short trail, less than half a mile in length, leads to an overlook of Zion Canyon and the terrain westward. Continuing past the Observation Point Trail, East Mesa Trail skirts the head of a small canyon on the left then climbs slowly around the head of an Echo Canyon tributary on the right. The track crosses a flat area in the middle of which Mystery Canyon begins. The route winds another mile and a half around the mesa top to reach a four-wheel drive north of Lemmon Spring.
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