Overview

The Cathedral Rock Trail is a moderately strenuous, 1.5-mile hike through a Pine-Fir Forest to the top of Cathedral Rock, a rocky limestone promontory with great views overlooking Kyle Canyon and the surrounding mountain peaks. Much of the trail follows an old road up an avalanche chute along the east side of Cathedral Rock to a saddle behind the summit. From there, the trail climbs a few short switchbacks to the summit overlook. Views from the top are spectacular: hikers can look straight down to the trailhead and the lodge and off to the other peaks in the area.

At about 0.8 miles out, the trail runs up into a wooded area under the Echo Cliffs for the second time. At the 5th switchback (Wpt. 04), hikers see a wooden bench above the trail, and to the left an unmarked use-trail that heads east into the trees towards the cliffs. This use-trail leads a short distance to a seasonal waterfall (Wpt. 10).

Link to map.