ENJOY THE BEAUTY OF ZION WITHOUT THE CROWDS

GUIDE TO ZION'S KOLOB CANYONS

Kolob Canyons, part of Zion National Park, is a true wilderness area. Located in the northwest part of Zion, Kolob Canyons is the most remote, and least visited, section of Zion National Park. In Kolob Canyons, you get the opportunity to see all that Zion has to offer--arches, waterfalls, slot canyons, winding hiking trails--without the crowds you'll find in other areas. Kolob Canyons also has a couple of relatively untraveled scenic routes.

Getting to the Kolob Canyons area is simple: Take Exit 40 off Interstate 15. The Kolob Canyons Visitor Center is at the entrance to the area. The center has an information desk staffed by a park ranger, a bookstore, and interpretive exhibits. Note that the center does not have services. Also, you'll need to stop and pay a Zion park entrance fee. In addition, if you plan on doing any backcountry camping, you'll need to pay a daily fee (typically, $5/day).

Hiking Trails

Kolob Canyons has numerous hiking trails. Three of the best known trails are Timber Creek Overlook Trail, Taylor Creek Trail, and Kolob Arch via La Verkin Creek Trail.

Timber Creek Overlook Trail starts at the end of Kolob Canyons Road and runs about a half mile along a ridgeline. It's an easy trail that offers a great view of Kolob Canyon and Kolob Terrace.

Taylor Creek Trail is a popular five-mile hike through a beautiful finger canyon with 1,700-foot high walls. It follows Taylor Creek and passes by a couple of historic cabins built in the 1930s.

Kolob Arch via La Verkin Creek is a difficult 15-mile hike that leads to Kolob Arch, the second largest arch (287 feet) in the country. This trail follows Timber Creek for a while; then, drops down to La Verkin Creek before ending up at Kolob Arch.

LEARN MORE

Scenic Drives

The Kolob Canyons area has two scenic drives: Kolob Canyons Road, and Kolob Terrace Road.

Kolob Canyons Road is a five-mile drive along a paved stretch of road that runs from the Kolob Canyons Visitor Center to Kolob Canyons Viewpoint. The viewpoint is also the trailhead for Timber Creek Overlook Trail. The drive has an elevation gain of over 1,000 feet. Kolob Canyons Road has many pullouts with interpretive signs describing the nearby areas. At the end of the drive, you'll have panoramic views of this partof the Colorado Plateau, including Mount Trmbull on the north rim of the Grand Canyon.

Kolob Terrace Road is a rarely traveled scenic drive that begins in Virgin, Utah and runs around 25 miles to Kolob Reservoir. Along the way, you'll pass Lava Point Overlook, just off Lava Point Road. This is one of the highest point in Zion(around 8,000 feet elevation) and well worth visiting. Kolob Reservoir, at the end of the scenic drive, is a great place for swimming, fishing, and boating. Technically, the road continues to Utah State Route 14 near Dixie, Utah, but most folks just turn around at Kolob Reservoir.

LEARN MORE

More Info

Kolob Canyons is open year-round, but the best time to visit is between March and November. Around October, temps are in the 60s, and fall colors are out. Note that Kolob Canyons will typically get snow well before Zion Canyon since Kolob is at a significantly higher elevation. However, the higher elevation also means that, in the hot months, temperatures are normally about 10 degrees cooler than the southern areas of Zion.

Operating Hours: Open every day of the year.
Kolob Canyons Visitor Center: Daily, 8:00 a.m until 5:00 p.m.
Zion National Park entrance fee: $35 (good for 7 days)
Backcountry Camping fee: $5

LEARN MORE