Echo Ridge southwest ridge

Page Type Page Type: Route
Location Lat/Lon: 37.74014°N / 119.54453°W
Additional Information Route Type: Hiking, Mountaineering, Scrambling
Seasons Season: Spring, Summer, Fall
Additional Information Time Required: Most of a day
Additional Information Difficulty: Class 2-3
Sign the Climber's Log

Overview

 
Echo Ridge
summit ridge
 
Echo Ridge from Budd Lake
Echo Ridge from Budd Lake
A very satisfying  scramble to the highest peak in the Cathedral Peak area of the Cathedral Range. This goes through some beautiful scenery in the Yosemite high country to an outstanding viewpoint on a relatively moderate half day or more outing.

Getting There

 
Catherdral Peak from the southeast
Cathedral Peak from the cirque below Echo Ridge
Trailhead parking for the Cathedral Lakes is on Hwy. 120 in Yosemite National Park at the west end of Tuolumne Meadows about a mile west of the Visitors Center. 
This is a very popular trailhead with roadside parking. There are bear boxes available. Rangers check for  food left in vehicles and issue tickets.

Route Description

 
Echo Ridge and Echo Peaks from the north
Echo Ridge and Peaks from the north approach
Take the Cathedral Lakes Trail about 1/2 mile to the good use trail  off to the left going to Budd Lake. Follow the trail up past Cathedral Peak and Budd Lake to the open cirque. Echo Ridge is the big arching peak up ahead with Echo Peaks poking up to the right. Hike up to the right over easy benches and slabs to the saddle between Echo Ridge and the Echo Peaks. Take the west slope to the left up until it becomes an easy knife edge to the summit.
This route is approximately 6 miles round trip and 2,700' gain.

Essential Gear

 
Echo Ridge from Cathedral Peak southeast
Echo Ridge and Echo Peaks from Cathedral Peak
 
South to Matthes Crest and Clark Range
Matthes Crest and Clark Range from the saddle below Echo Ridge
Just water, snacks or lunch and whatever warm clothing is needed depending on the weather. Watch the skies for thunderstorms building as the day progresses in summer.


Parents 

Parents

Parents refers to a larger category under which an object falls. For example, theAconcagua mountain page has the 'Aconcagua Group' and the 'Seven Summits' asparents and is a parent itself to many routes, photos, and Trip Reports.