Echo Pinnacle

Overview

Echo Pinnacle along with its slightly shorter neighbor, Aeolian Tower, are the two most prominent formations in an area called the Courthouse Pasture. At ~220 feet tall, Echo Pinnacle is a narrow “fin” of rock lying along a north-south direction. The rock here is Entrada sandstone (like in Arches NP) with the solid material being located about 100 feet above the base (which itself is composed of looser sort of Entrada). The north prow of the tower has a separate sub-summit separated from the bulk of the formation by a narrow (<1 foot) gap staring about 170 feet up. The formation is not to be confused with a larger (and more serious) Echo Tower in the Fishers.

Getting There

From Moab, head north on highway US 191. In ~10 miles, you’ll pass junction with UT 313. Keep going north on 191 for another >4 miles till a signed junction with Mill Canyon Road (dirt) on left. Turn onto the dirt road immediately crossing the railroad track. Follow it for >0.5 miles to a signed junction: take a left heading towards Mill Canyon (Tusher Canyon is to the right). Drive for about 1.5 miles into the canyon as it narrows down occasionally catching glimpses of Echo Tower (and group). Road deteriorates as you enter the canyon and stays really rough (wash/stream crossings etc…) till you’re within ~1.5 miles of the formation. At this point the canyon once again opens up as you enter an area known as Courthouse Pasture. If you’re still driving you will be on the Merrimack Jeep trail (somewhat marked). Note that there are numerous turn-offs (dirt bike/ATV trails) – key is to keep heading in the direction of the towers using established roads. You will not make it in a sedan – high clearance and 4-wheel drive seemed mandatory (I believe the roads got much rougher following the floods of the century in fall of 2006). When you can drive no longer, start hiking staying on the roads (flat and easy) all the way to the base of the east face of the formation.

Red Tape

None. This is BLM land. Tread lightly avoiding crypto soil and drive ONLY on established roads/tracks. Note that you should be able to do the entire approach (whether hiking or driving) on very well established roads. No need to cut cross country and trample the delicate cryptobiotic soil!

Camping

Primitive camp sites available (free, BLM land) along the approach dirt roads. Practice leave-no trace ethic. For other camping options around Moab see camping information on these pages: The Priest Ice Cream Parlor Wall Street

External Links

Echo Pinnacle page on mountainproject.com.

Mountain Conditions

Local climbing information can be obtained from the friendly folks in the local climb shop, Pagan Mountaineering located in Moab, UT. Their number is 435-259-1117. Also check: Moab Climate Summary Page. Moab area web-cam.

Routes And Guidebooks Overview

Echo Pinnacle hosts three established routes and one variation. All of these are described in Eric Bjornstad’s Desert Rock: Wall Street To The San Rafael Swell (ISBN 1-57540-004-9). Additionally, the most popular Window Route is described in Cameron Burns’ Selected Climbs In The Desert Southwest (ISBN 0-89886-657-X; also describes No Reply) and Fred Knapp’s Classic Desert Climbs (ISBN 1-892540-17-7). The above mentioned routes are: East Face III 5.7 A2; Window Route III 5.10+ C1 (and one variation); No Reply III 5.9 A2+.