The History of Cable Mountain Lodge in Zion Canyon

Cable Mountain Lodge, a gem of a hotel at Zion National Park, gets its name from a nearby mountain, but not just any mountain.  Cable Mountain has a jaw-dropping history, including prophetic fulfillment and amazing industry. While many of the hotels near Zion Canyon are unique and excellent, only Cable Mountain Lodge is associated with such an unusual and historical past.

Prophecy By Brigham Young

Seeing the tall mountain that overlooks beautiful Zion Canyon, Brigham Young stated in 1863 that one day, lumber would come down from this mountain “as the hawk flies.”  Sure enough. In 1901, David Flanigan, a Mormon pioneer in Springdale, Utah, fulfilled the prophecy by establishing the “Cable Mountain Draw Works.”  

Draw Works Project

Flanigan and his crew built a wooden structure which suspended rope and cables atop the mountain; and tree logs, harvested from Zion’s east rim, were lowered to the Zion Canyon’s floor, below.  The drop reached about 2,000 feet, and the lumber flew the trip in only two minutes!  The other alternative for accessing the much-needed wood was by wagon, but that would have taken three to ten days per trip.  The “Draw Works” was a single-rope tramway with a braking mechanism to control the landing. The Draw Works apparatus was hit by lightning twice, 1911 and 1920, nearly burning to destruction; however, it was repaired each time to preserve the efficient operation.

Two wooden towers were built on the floor of Zion Canyon to stabilize the cable and receive the lumber.  At times, people, goods, and even a dog were lowered from the mountain to the canyon floor.  Hundreds of thousands of board feet of lumber were transported by 1927, when the Draw Works project finally ran out of lumber.  The National Registry of Historic Places officially listed the Cable Mountain Draw Works in 1978.

Cable Mountain Hike

Carpenters and park engineers have recently restored the deteriorating Park Works structure to what they believe was its original state.  The famous Cable Mountain hike allows curious adventurers to see the Draw Works as part of the 15-mile round trip. The hike begins at Weeping Rock trailhead in Zion Park.

A Shorter Hike

For less aggressive hikers, a trail of only eight miles takes you from the Zion Ponderosa Ranch Resort to Cable Mountain.  It’s popular for both cross-country skiers and foot trekkers alike. The views are magnificent, and the exercise is exhilarating.

Cable Mountain Lodge

To experience the Cable Mountain Draw Works and Zion Canyon, the Cable Mountain Lodge welcomes you year-round.  Winter trips will likely be cold and snowy, but the overnight rates at the lodge are significantly easier on the wallet than in the busier summer season.  Come prepared with a camera and good hiking equipment to make and keep great memories.

Cable Mountain Lodge is found as the centerpiece of Zion Canyon Village, right next to the main entrance to Zion National Park.  It features classy rooms with rustic beauty, pool, Jacuzzi, free wireless internet, computer stations, gift shop, and nearby businesses of Happy Camper Market, Zion Outfitters, and Brew Pub, a cool eatery with its own microbrewery.

The History of Cable Mountain Lodge in Zion Canyon

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