Echo Canyon Loop Trail

Echo Canyon Loop is a moderate hike in Chiricahua National Monument that is perfect for those who want to explore the fascinating rock formations that are unique to this region. The hoodoos, which the Chiricahua Apache used to refer to as “standing up rocks,” were formed by eruptions from the Turkey Creek Volcano around 27 million years ago. Over time, erosion caused by wind and water have shaped the formations into what we see today.

Most hikers prefer the counterclockwise loop, as it is slightly less steep when hiking out of the canyon. From the parking lot, follow the signs for the Echo Canyon Grotto. The trail quickly begins its descent into the canyon, and some sections are rather steep. At the half-mile point is the Grotto, which is an interconnected maze of pinnacles. Echo Canyon Loop Trail has countless viewpoints of the lichen-covered pinnacles as well as the several canyons that cut through the landscape. If you have the time and energy, consider hiking the Big Loop Trail, which descends through Echo Canyon and then follows the Sarah Deming Trail through the Heart of Rocks and Inspiration Point.