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Off the Beaten Path in Kolob Canyons

If you’re visiting Zion National Park and want to avoid the typical crowds, take a look at Kolob Canyons. The Kolob Canyons area, located in Zion’s northwest corner, is a true wilderness area and the least visited part of Zions. Kolob Canyons has all the attractions that make a visit to Zions special: remote hiking trails, majestic arches, and beautiful scenic drives. The only difference is you could end up having these attractions all to yourself.

Visiting Kolob Canyons

Getting to Kolob Canyons from La Verkin is easy. Follow South Toquer Boulevard to Interstate 15. Head north and take Exit 40 to the Kolob Canyons Visitor Center, the main entrance to Kolob Canyons. The center doesn’t have any services, but it is staffed by a park ranger. You might want to ask about any current weather conditions that could cause problems in the canyons. Note that you’ll need to pay the Zion park daily entrance fee before entering Kolob Canyons, and, if you’re doing any backcountry camping, you’ll have to pay a small daily fee, as well.


While Kolob Canyons is open throughout the year, your best bet is to visit between March and November. Prime season for fall colors is in October, when temperatures are in the 60s. One thing to keep in mind is that Kolob Canyons is at a higher elevation than Zion Canyon, so the Kolob Canyons area will be colder and get snow earlier. Of course, the higher elevation works in your favor in summer months, when Kolob Canyons is typically ten degrees cooler than the southern areas of Zion.

Hiking Trails

While Kolob Canyons has plenty of excellent hiking trails, three trails you’ll definitely want to take a look at are Kolob Arch via La Verkin Creek Trail, Taylor Creek Trail, and Timber Creek Overlook Trail.


Kolob Arch via La Verkin Creek leads to Kolob Arch, the second largest arch in the country. Getting to the arch isn’t easy, though. This is a 14-mile out-and-back trail that runs along Timber Creek and La Verkin Creek. Give yourself 5-6 hours to complete the entire hike.


Taylor Creek Trail (Middle Fork of Taylor Creek) is a popular five-mile hike that winds through a scenic finger canyon and passes by two Great-Depression era cabins. 


Timber Creek Overlook Trail is a short, easy hike with fantastic views of Kolob Canyon and Kolob Terrace. The hike is a little over a mile out and back, with very little elevation gain.

Scenic Drives

Two scenic drives run through Kolob Canyons: Kolob Canyons Road, and Kolob Terrace Road.


Kolob Canyons Road is a well-maintained paved road that runs five miles from the Kolob Canyons Visitor Center to Kolob Canyons Viewpoint. This route has plenty of turnouts with interpretive signs related to nearby areas. The overlook at the end of the route has panoramic views of a section of the Colorado Plateau, including majestic Mount Trumbull.


Kolob Terrace Road is a 25-mile scenic drive that runs from Virgin, Utah to Kolob Reservoir. This rarely traveled drive passes by Lava Point Overlook, which is one of Zion’s highest locations (around 8,000 feet elevation). Plan on spending a while at Kolob Reservoir before heading back to Virgin. The reservoir is a great place to enjoy swimming, fishing, and simply relaxing and enjoying the surroundings. Note that you do have the option of continuing past Kolob Reservoir to Utah State Route 14, but most folks just head back once they reach the reservoir.

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