The Utah Canyon Where Mormon Wagons, Railroads, Telegraph Lines, and Interstate 80 All Follow the Same Route

Echo Canyon, Utah

Flash floods carved Echo Canyon over millions of years, creating walls so narrow you can touch both sides at once. The canyon sits just outside Zion National Park but gets a fraction of the visitors.

Here’s the story behind this lesser-know canyon and where to find it.

A Natural Gateway Through Mountains

Echo Canyon runs 24 miles through the Wasatch Mountains. It forms a path between Wyoming’s grassy plains and Utah’s dry lands.

Native peoples traveled this route long before mountain men found it in the early 1800s. The canyon became important for people heading west. Its walls blocked strong winds and provided water and grass for animals.

The Mormon Pioneers Arrive

Brigham Young led Mormon pioneers to Echo Canyon on July 12, 1847. They set up camp near the entrance after their long trip across the plains.

Norton Jacob, one of the travelers, wrote that the soil here was better than anywhere since they left the Platte River. The group stayed almost a week, seeing how useful this path would be to reach their new home.

Cache Cave Discovery

Jackson Redden, who once protected Mormon leader Joseph Smith, found a cave near the pioneer camp in 1847. The opening was about 12 feet wide and 15 feet deep, big enough to stand in.

First called Redden’s Cave, travelers began carving their names into the soft sandstone walls. This became Utah’s first trail register and an important landmark for people on the Mormon Trail.

The Unique Echo Canyon Acoustics

Pioneer William Clayton wrote about the canyon’s amazing sound effects in 1847. The narrow walls created sound tricks that amazed everyone passing through.

Wagon wheels on rocks sounded like hammering inside the canyon walls. Gunshots echoed like thunder between cliffs. Music played on brass instruments seemed to be copied by someone hiding in the rocks.

The Utah War Fortifications

In 1857, Mormon militia built defenses in Echo Canyon when U.S. Army troops were coming. Under General Daniel Wells, they built stone walls on the cliffs to shoot from.

They also blocked Echo Creek with rocks at the narrowest part of the canyon. Though never used in battle, remains of these walls can still be seen today along the canyon.

Wickiup City Military Camp

By October 1857, 1,300 Utah militia members were stationed in Echo Canyon, growing to 2,000 by December. They built a camp called “Wickiup City” with shelters made from poles, branches, and grass with dirt roofs.

When the U.S. Army spent winter in Wyoming, most militia went home. Only 58 men stayed to watch the outpost during winter.

The Witches Rock Formation

Near Echo stands a group of reddish-brown rocks named “The Witches” by Army Captain Albert Tracy in 1858. He said they looked like figures wearing long skirts and pointed hats.

These strange shapes formed when harder top rock wore away more slowly than softer rock below. Many travelers thought they looked like people standing watch over the canyon.

Pony Express Through Echo Canyon

Pony Express riders carried mail through Echo Canyon for 18 months starting in 1860. These riders followed the Mormon Trail toward Salt Lake City, moving messages faster than ever before.

A ten-word message from Salt Lake City to New York cost $5 (about $85 today). This service ended in 1861 when the telegraph was completed, making horse riders unnecessary.

Transcontinental Railroad Construction

Hundreds of railroad workers lived at the head of Echo Canyon during 1868-1869 while building the first cross-country railroad. They worked in harsh conditions on treeless land while laying tracks through rough terrain.

Echo became an important junction for the Union Pacific railroad, changing travel through the canyon from horses and wagons to trains.

Castle Rock Stage Station

Unusual rock formations that look like medieval castles stand near an important stop for travelers. This Castle Rock stage station served both stagecoach passengers and Pony Express riders.

Families moved nearby to trade with passing travelers. A small town grew around the station, eventually including a railroad building, store, and other services.

Visiting Echo Canyon

You’ll find Echo Canyon along I-80 between Wahsatch and Echo, Utah, with westbound access at Mile Marker 170.

The canyon serves as a historic corridor for Mormon Pioneer, Pony Express, and California National Historic Trails with interpretive displays.

Read More on WhenInYourState.com:

• The Ancient Limestone Fins Where Local Legend Says the Devil Slides Down To Bathe in the River
• Utah’s Most Vibrant Formation Looks Like Melted Strawberry Ice Cream on a Summer Day
• Red Canyons, Petroglyphs & Neon Blue Pools Line This Spectacular Utah Byway