Echo Peak #3

Echo Peak #3 is the highest point in a jagged cluster of granite towers called the Echo Peaks, set in the Cathedral Range above Tuolumne Meadows. At roughly 11,160 feet, it rises above its neighboring Echo Peaks and looks out toward Cathedral Peak and the knife-edge ridge of Matthes Crest. There's no maintained trail to the summit — this is a cross-country scramble for hikers already comfortable off-trail, not a casual walk-up.

Getting There

Start at the Cathedral Lakes Trailhead off Tioga Road near Tuolumne Meadows. Follow the trail about a half mile, then branch onto the use trail toward Budd Lake, passing beneath Cathedral Peak. From Budd Lake, routefinding takes over: most parties climb to the saddle west of the Echo Peaks before scrambling toward the summit.

What to Expect

• Reaching the top involves Class 3 scrambling — hands-on climbing with real exposure, well beyond a hiking-trail grade
• The broader Echo Peaks massif offers routes from Class 2 up through technical Class 5 rock climbs, including named lines like the Echo Peak #3 SW Ridge
• Round trip to the peaks and back runs roughly 7.3 miles with about 2,654 feet of elevation gain
• A summit register sits at the top of Echo Peak #3

Who Should Go

This is a destination for experienced Sierra scramblers and climbers, not first-time hikers. Solid routefinding skills and comfort on exposed granite matter more than raw mileage — afternoon thunderstorms build fast above 10,000 feet in summer, and once you're committed to the scramble there's no easy bail-out and no cell service.