At Weeping Rock, water comes out of the cliff side and drips down to the valley floor. This constant supply of water allows a variety of plants to grow right out of the rock forming one of the many hanging gardens in the valley.
The water dripping down from the rock started as rain and snow in Echo Canyon, located up at the top of cliff. The Navajo Sandstone lines the sides of this canyon. Even though the sandstone looks solid, there are tiny spaces between each sand grains. Some of the rain water and snow melt percolates down into the sandstone through these pores becoming groundwater. The most percolation is concentrated at the bottom of the valley which is almost directly above Weeping Rock.
The water in the sandstone continues to move downward until it encounters the Kayenta Formation. At this location, the Kayenta Formation is a mudstone (the plaque calls it shale) which has much fewer and smaller pores. This slows the water down causing it to pile up like a puddle. The puddle spreads outward in all directions. Where the water meets the side of the canyon wall, it comes out of the sandstone and drips down off the top of the alcove.
There used to be a plaque at the weep showing a diagram of the process. It may be replaced in the future
If you follow the other trail up the canyon wall toward the overlook or hidden canyon, you can get a close look of another weep at N 37 16.265 W 112 56.151.
Logging requirements:
Send me an email (NOT a geocaching message) with :
- The text "GCZ5YB Weeping Rock - Zion NP" on the first line
- Compare the surface of the rock above and below the weep. Which things are different, which are the same? Explain.
- What do you see regarding the rates of erosion between the two? Why or why is there not a difference?
- Post a picture of yourself and your GOPS at the location. If your GPS and camera are the same device, you may post a picture of yourself (or a distinctive personal item) at the location. This requiement if NOT optional. (Make sure your photo makes it easy to determine that the person in the picture is you and that you are at the location.)
- If you are sending answers for more than yourself, include the names of all geocachers in your group.
The above information was compiled from the following sources:
- Miek, Robert F., et. al., Geology of Zion National Park, Utah in Geology of Utah’s Parks and Monuments, 2003 Utah Geological Association Publication 28 (second edition) D.A. Sprinkel, T.C. Chidsey, Jr. and P.B. Anderson, editors
Placement approved by the
Zion National Park