Kolob Canyons

Kolob Canyons, Zion National Park

Kolob Canyons, Zion National Park, Utah, USA

Located in the northwest corner of Zion National Park, with high red cliffs and narrow canyons.

The road through the park is a short journey of only 10.6 miles round trip.

Most of the canyons have creeks at least part of the year and there are numerous small springs in the canyon walls.

Getting there

Drive twenty miles south of Cedar City, 2 miles from the interstate I-15 were you can find a small visitor center at the interstate exit at mile 40.

Hiking

Timber Creek Trail
Trailhead is located at the Kolob Canyons Picnic Area. Distance is about one mile round trip. Trail follows the ridge top to a small peak. Offers views of the Timber Creek, the Kolob Terrace and the Pine Valley Mountains.
Taylor Creek
Trailhead is located approximately two miles from the Visitors Center along the Kolob Canyons Road. Distance is about five miles round-trip. The trail follows the middle fork of Taylor Creek past two old homestead cabins to the Double Arch Alcove. The Taylor Creek Trailhead is well marked and easy to spot; it's a prominent parking lot on the left (north) side of the road a little over 2 miles from the Kolob Canyons entrance. This hike is fairly easy and children-friendly and should take roughly 3 to 5 hours to complete.
Kolob Arch
Trailhead is located 3 1/2 miles from the Visitors Center at Lee's Pass. Distance is 14 miles round-trip. The hike is considered to be strenuous and is not recommended during the months of July and August since the summer temperatures can reach over 100 degrees. The hike starts at Lee's Pass and follows the LaVerkin Creek into the Kolob wilderness to the world's largest free-standing arch.

Taylor Creek

Starting from the parking lot, the trail makes its way down to Taylor Creek and then heads upstream. The maintained trail stays on the banks close to the water and often crosses the streambed. (The Middle Fork of Taylor Creek usually has very light flow).
Along the trail you will encounter two historical cabins.
Almost a mile from the trailhead, the scenery gets more interesting as we make our way into the actual narrow "finger" canyon (past Tucupit Point to the north and Paria Point to the south). In the afternoon sunlight, the sandstone glows a magical orange and pink. The maintained trail ends at the highlight of the canyon: the Double Arch Alcove cave-like formation where the sandstone is undercut and water seeps through, coloring the rock with black and white lines.

Camping

Campground facilities are not available in Kolob. Tenting and RV sites are located north of Kolob in the towns of Kanarraville and Cedar City.

Permits are required for backcountry camping and are issued at the Kolob Canyons Visitors Center

Images

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