A massive rockfall was caught on video inside Zion National Park at round 1:10pm on May 31st. Spingfield, Utah resident Tori Gunter was waiting for a shuttle bus to Weeping Rock Trail with her grandchildren when she witnessed the rockfall and managed to pull out her phone in time to capture the debris cascading onto the East Rim Trail through Echo Canyon. Thankfully no have been reported, and debris did not reach the Weeping Rock Trail.
That part of the East Rim Trail remains closed, and visitors are urged to continue avoiding the area and any other areas where posted closure notices are in place.
“Rockfalls of this general size are not uncommon in the Cable Mountain amphitheater,” Fink added. “The National Park Service continues to monitor this area using cameras and periodic surveys to better understand rockfall activity and inform future trail and visitor safety decisions.”
Zion National Park advises visitors should protect against rockfall dangers by being aware of your surroundings, paying attention to warning signs, staying off closed trails, and keeping away from cliff edges. If you are at the base of a wall or when a rock fall occurs above, seek shelter immediately behind the largest nearby boulder or move away from the cliff.
The debris hit the same section of the East Rim Trail through Echo Canyon which has been closed since a previous rockfall in 2019. The 2019 rockslide sent a huge slab of rock from the top of Cable Mountain and injured three people. 33 tons of rock, dirt, boulders, and debris fell during the 2019 rockfall, closing several trails and shutting down the Weeping Rock shuttle stop. Zion National Park made a three part video series detailing the event you can view below:
Zion National Park Rockslide Safety Guidelines:
Rockfall hazards occur throughout the park and are especially high near any cliff face. If you witness a rockfall, quickly move away from the cliff. If you are near the base of a cliff or talus slope when a rockfall occurs and cannot quickly move away from the base of the cliff, immediately seek shelter behind the largest nearby boulder and pull your backpack over your head. After rocks have stopped falling, move quickly as far away from the base of the cliff as possible. Be aware that rockfalls can occur at any time. Pay attention to your surroundings, stay off of closed trails, and, if unsure, keep away from cliffs.
