Cable Mountain, located on the east rim of Zion, about mid-way up the upper canyon was so named because of the Cable “draw works” that was installed in the early 1900’s to supply lumber from the pine forests of the east rim to the canyon floor. The cable could carry a load of timber down the 2,000 foot cable in about 2 minutes. The same trip by wagon would have taken about 3 days.

The wood frame mechanism was destroyed twice by fire. Once by lightning in 1911 and by a second fire in the early 1920’s. After a final rebuild, the cable operated until about 1930 when the trees on top of the rim were depleted.

Today the old “draw works”, though crumbling, still clings to the edge of the rim and the trail leading to it is a popular hike for modern day adventurers.