May 17, 2015 — This really nice hike up to Observation Point starts at Weeping Rock and heads up a bunch of paved switchbacks along the East Mesa Trail before leaving the main canyon views and entering the Echo Canyon watercourse. It's a quieter area of Zion's main canyon than the other popular hikes, but there will still be plenty of people the whole way up. The sheer canyon walls seen up-close are gorgeous. The trail continues to gain elevation as it skirts the cliff face and puts you up on the mesa top, where a trail leads out to Observation Point. While this isn't a peak and is just an overlook, it definitely has incredible views of the canyon, including looking down on the dots of people on Angel's Landing.
On the way back I decided to check out Hidden Canyon, another official trail leading off the East Mesa Trail. There are great views of the Virgin River Canyon before entering Hidden Canyon. Along the way the trail has some handrails and switchbacks. It's a popular, great little canyon with wonderful features. The trail is paved until the Hidden Canyon mouth. Years ago the canyon was open to exploring, but now signs mark a turn-around point to preserve the canyon's plant and animal life.
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