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Zion National Park > Hidden Canyon
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Hidden Canyon is one of the many scenic, narrow side ravines that join Zion Canyon. The trail leading to it combines aspects of the two nearby routes to the Narrows and Angel's Landing. It starts at Weeping Rock, one of the more easily accessible and often visited landmarks in Zion Canyon Park, where water seeps from between two rock strata forming an elongated mini waterfall, with attractive curtains of green vegetation and colorful wildflowers in the spring. |
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Location: The canyon is reached from a trail that starts from a carpark 2 miles from the end of the Zion Canyon Scenic Drive - the same starting point for a visit to Weeping Rock.
Permit: No special permit is required, just a standard $20 Zion National Park entry fee.
Map: TopoZone topological map of Hidden Canyon.
Description: The path climbs steeply at first with several switchbacks before becoming more level, traversing the cliff face. At this point, the trail divides; one branch follows Echo Canyon for a while and then climbs to the top of the cliffs, eventually meeting the East Rim and East Mesa backcountry trails.
The Hidden Canyon branch of the trail climbs a little more after the Echo Canyon junction, winds around a small side-valley and traverses a steep cliff face. For the last few hundred meters the path is cut into the side of the cliff and has a sheer drop of several hundred feet at one side. Chains are provided in places to help the unsure; many of the people when I was there didn't like this part much, especially one woman who sat down half way along and refused to move any further.
The marked trail ends one third of the way up the main cliffs at the mouth of Hidden Canyon, which is dry for most of the year. However, it is possible to walk and climb up the whole length of this canyon for about 2 miles, and eventually link up with other trails. The route is similar to the Narrows trail, but without water, and there are several small cliffs that require the use of tree branches as improvised ladders. The journey becomes more taxing further upstream, with several steep, narrow sections and large boulders.
The canyon is cool and sheltered; this is an ideal hike for hot summer days as the sun rarely reaches the floor. Although rather strenuous, the experience can be very peaceful, as few people come very far along the gorge. This is partly because the first major obstacle - a 2 metre high cliff - occurs quite close to the beginning. I saw a variety of wildlife, including a large spotted owl in one of the darker, shadowy parts of the canyon.
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