Orderville Canyon
This very demanding, 13-mile hike introduces visitors to the wonders
of river hiking in Zion's Narrows. After accessing the hike through
Zion Ponderosa Ranch's Orderville Gulch, hikers enter the canyon.
The beginning of the canyon is marked by a 125-foot dry fall. At many
times during the year, pools of water line this dry fall. Hikers will
continue to descend deep into the canyon. Within a couple of miles,
any noticeable trail has become a streambed and thousand-foot cliffs
tower on both sides of the stream. Orderville Canyon is much drier
than the more populated narrows trail that begins at Chamberlain's
Ranch, so the walking is faster. Hikers must still watch their footing
as they traverse the small stream in the canyon.
Upon crossing into the Park, hikers will arrive at a 15-foot drop
off. This obstacle must be negotiated with care. The use of ropes
and some down-climbing experience is recommended. This obstacle is
one of the reasons that Orderville Canyon is much less visited than
other Narrows hikes. After 9.7 miles, hikers will reach the confluence
of the Orderville Canyon and the North fork of the Virgin River. The
water is much deeper now and remains that way for the remaining three
miles of the hike. Wading and sometimes swimming is necessary ot continue
downstream. The water can be quite cold and footing on the river bottom
is very difficult. Hikers must take extreme caution in this part of
the hike. You DO need a permit for this hike. Permits can be obtained
from the Visitors Center at the west entrance of the Park.
Observation
Point
This hike begins on the East Mesa trail, 3 miles North of the Echo
Canyon trailhead. After a length walk (2.5 miles) along the wooded
trail, hikers take the scenic one half mile detour to 'The point'.
Observation Point offers a 270 degree panoramic view of Angels Landing,
Scout Lookout, the Temple of Sinawava, and the Virgin River. After
returning from the point, hikers soon merge with the switchbacks of
the Echo Canyon trail and the hike ends at Weeping Rock. This lengthy
7-mile hike is demanding but spectacular, and considering by many
to offer the best view in Zion. Hikers will be picked up five hours
after beginning the hike.
Cable Mountain & Deer Trap Mountain Trails
These hikes offer the visitor some of the most spectacular views in
the Park. Both trails are round trip in that they begin at the Echo
Canyon drop off point, but rather than descend to the bottom of Zion
Canyon as does the Echo trail, they end at sheer cliffs which overlook
the canyon. Cable Mountain is approximately 8 miles for the round
trip. Visitors will see the remains of the old bulwarks of a pioneer
logging operation that transported lumber 2,200 feet straight down
to the canyon floor. The view from Cable Mountain includes the Great
White Throne, Angels Landing, Observation Point, and the West rim
of the Park.
The Deertrap Mountain trail splits off the Cable Mountain trail at
the mid point. This trail is approximately 9 miles round trip and
includes views of The Court of the Patriarchs, Twin Brothers, and
East Temple. Both of these hikes end back at the drop off point. Visitors
will be picked up five hours after beginning the hike.
East Entrance Trail
This 3-mile hike is accessed through Jolley Gulch on the ranch. It
is easy walking and has one short ascent, midway through the hike.
After walking for nearly a mile through the wooded gulch, hikers cross
into the Park, then immediately emerge into a spectacular clearing
that overlooks the deep White Cliff canyon. The trail continues for
two more miles, circling into Cave Canyon and Clear Creek wash. Hikers
are offered an unbelievable view of Checkerboard Mesa through most
of the hike. The trail ends just opposite the East entrance of the
Ranger station. A shuttle van will meet hikers here, approximately
2.5 hours after beginning the hike.
Echo Canyon
Difficulty: easy
Length: five miles
4 hours
Hikers are transported through the ranch, and are dropped off at the
Park Fence. This clearly marked trailhead leads into the Echo Canyon
trail that spans nearly five miles from start to finish. Echo Canyon
is known for its switchbacks that take hikers on a 2,100-foot descent
over the course of the hike. The Echo Canyon trail has sheer cliffs
and impressive views of the Angel's Landing area of the Park. The
hike ends at Weeping Rock, the wall of sandstone that boasts lush
vegetation nurtured by a continuous rain that seeps from the rock.
Shuttle service will meet hikers in the Weeping Rock parking lot,
four hours after the beginning of the hike.
Canyon Overlook Trail
Difficulty: easy
Length: two miles (round trip)
Time: one hour
This hike is available year-round. Hikers begin the hike adjacent
to the east entrance of the mile long tunnel in the Park. A short
ascent takes hikers to a scenic trail used for surveying the tunnel
construction in the 1920s. This hike is approximately one hour in
walking distance and offers beautiful views of the park.