Zion East Rim Overnighter: Two Days of Rim Walking Bliss
Ty Treks Adventure Blog
There’s something magical about stepping into Zion from its quieter corners. The East Rim Trail doesn’t shout for attention the way the main canyon does. Instead, it calls you in slowly - through pine forest, breezy meadows, and wide-open mesas where the horizon feels like it belongs entirely to you.
This 2-day overnight to Cable Mountain and Observation Point is the kind of trip that sneaks up on you - simple, peaceful but packed with some of the best views in the entire park. It’s perfect if you’re craving solitude and a different perspective of Zion.
Trip Details
Route: Zion National Park -> East Rim Trail -> Cable Mountain (camp) -> Observation Point -> return via East Rim
Distance: ~28 miles total (10 miles Day 1, 18 miles Day 2)
Elevation Gain: ~4,300 ft (1500 ft Day 1 to Cable Mountain, 2800 ft Day 2 to Observation Point)
Duration: 2 days / 1 night
Difficulty: Strenuous
Trailhead: East Rim
Campsite: Cable Mountain area (backcountry permit required)
Best Time: Spring & Fall
Highlights: Sunrise on Cable Mountain, historic logging site, solitude, grand views at Observation Point, quiet approach to Zion
Water: Seasonal - none at Stave Spring on my October trip. Carry all water needed for the overnight.
Permit & Info - Zion Wilderness overnight permit required. https://www.recreation.gov & https://www.nps.gov/zion/index.htm
Why Go: Avoid the crowds and experience Zion from it’s quiet, underrated east side.
Day 1 - East Rim Trailhead to Cable Mountain
Top of Cable Mountain looking down into the main canyon at Angels Landing & the Virgin River
Day 1 - East Rim TH to the top of Cable Mountain
Mileage: ~10 miles | Elevation Gain: ~1,500 ft
The East Rim Trailhead (easy-access spot right inside the parks east entrance) - way different from the busy shuttle stops and parking hunts that most hikers think of when they picture Zion.
The trail kicks off gentle but sneaky: sandy switchbacks through the White Cliffs, dodging ponderosa shadows as the sun claws over the horizon. By mile 2, I’m in Cave Canyon - total silence, like Zion’s holding its breath. At mile 4, Jolley Gulch overlook. I drop my pack and stare into the abyss - cracked sandstone fins plunging 1,000 ft into the gulch below. I keep moving, as I climb higher, the terrain slowly shifted into classic Zion high country - layers of sculpted sandstone, twisted juniper and canyon edges that make you stop even if you didn’t plan to.
Jolley Gulch
Reaching Cable Mountain felt like stepping into a piece of park history. The remnants of the old timber cable system sits right on the rim, perched above a massive, dizzying drop into the main canyon. You can almost imagine the logs moving down from the plateau over a century ago.
Cable Mountain
I setup camp back from the rim on a durable surface, made dinner as the cliffs caught fire in the late-day sun and watched the whole canyon shift from orange to pink to soft twilight blue. It’s the kind of campsite that makes you forget anything exists beyond the walls of Zion.
Day 2 - Cable Mountain to Observation Point
Day 2 - Cable Mountain down to Stave Spring and up to Observation Point then back to the East Rim TH
Mileage: ~18 miles | Elevation Gain: ~2,800 ft
Unfortunately, the trail down to Weeping Rock is still closed after a rockslide in 2023. So back out the way I came from, East Rim TH.
I woke before dawn, knowing that sunrise on Cable Mountain is something you don’t rush. Coffee in hand, I walked back to the edge as the world started to glow. The cliffs ignited first, then the valley, and suddenly the entire main canyon was bathed in early-morning light. Moments like that are why I love backpacking.
After packing up, I descended down Cable Mountain on my way to Observation Point. I found a good spot to drop/hide my pack and switch to a lighter daypack since I’ll be backtracking later today after my ascent to Observation Point. The trail winds through quiet forest and sandstone benches before the descent into Echo Canyon and the final ascent towards the Observation Point overlook.
Observation Point hits you like a postcard you just walked into. You can see the entire spine of Angels Landing, the Virgin River snaking through the canyon, and the sandstone towers rising all around you. Coming from the east side, I had the overlook almost entirely to myself. No crowds, no lines, just silence and a sweeping view of Zion that feels unreal.
I hung out for awhile, shot some photos and soaked in the moment before turning back toward the trailhead. The return hike was mellow and peaceful, a nice cooldown before stepping back into the real world.
Final Thoughts
This overnight is one of Zion’s most underrated routes. You get the park’s quieter side, a taste of history, an incredible campsite and two of the best viewpoints in Zion - all packed into an approachable 2-day adventure.
If you’re looking for a trek that delivers big scenery without the chaos of the main canyon, the East Rim to Cable Mountain and Observation Point should be next on your list.
Until next adventure - keep on trekkin’
—Ty
