Zion National Park, Kolob Canyons: What You Need To Know!

Zion Canyon: Kolob Canyon

The Kolob Canyon district of Zion National Park is a sight to behold. Situated about 40 miles north of Zion Canyon, the Kolob Canyon portion of Zion is a beautiful and must-see part of Zion if you’re visiting for multiple days. You can easily get here for a day trip if you’re camping in Zion at either Watchman or South campground, or in the town of Springdale.

You will need a private vehicle to partake in the scenic drive and to get to the few hikes situated in this portion of the park. It’s a more remote part of Zion, and is far less visited than the southern part of the park. So, chances are, you’ll have lots of time to take in the breathtaking views!

Scenic Drive in Kolob Canyon

The scenic drive in Kolob Canyon is short – only five miles long! Since it is so short, you can take your time with it and stop at all of the little turnouts! As a photographer, this was one of my favorite parts of Zion since there were so many opportunities to turn out and take breathtaking photos. Drive slow and take it all in – you may only do it once each way!

Be wary of the time of year you visit. It can get quite hot here in the summer! I visited in September and was greeted with mostly moderate temperatures the whole time; highs were 80s, and the overnight lows were low 50s, high 40s.

Timber Creek Overlook Trail

If you’ve only got a couple hours there, the Timber Creek Overlook Trail is a short, easy hike situated at the end of the scenic drive. Most abilities can do in a short amount of time and it’s only a mile long! The views along the whole trail are absolutely breathtaking, too. Once you get to the end, you can gaze onto the rest of the park. Everything you see (or nearly everything) is Zion!

You likely will not need water on this trail since it is only a mile long, but it’s never a bad idea to carry a water bottle, especially on hotter days! Since it is the desert, the air heats up and you may be wanting something to drink just because it’s so dry! Better to have it and not need it than not have it and need it, Right?

The Taylor Creek Trail

Another easy trail for a day hike is the 5.0 mile roundtrip Taylor Creek trail. With only 450 ft of elevation change, this trail should only take around 3-4 hours to complete. Make sure to bring at least two liters of water on this trail, since there is not a ton of shade and the length is deceivingly long. If able, this trail is best done earlier in the day or later in the day to fight off the heat!

Here, you’re greeted with a narrow box canyon trail that leads to the Double Arch Alcove. This trail eventually will crisscross Taylor Creek, so come prepared to get your feet wet with water shoes. Keep your eyes peeled for a couple of cabins from homesteaders in the 1800s!

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And there you have it! All you need to know about the Kolob Canyon district of Zion National Park. The one additional trail here is called the La Verkin Creek Trail; it’s primarily a backcountry trail at 14 miles long, but could be done potentially in a day for very experienced hikers only. There are multiple sites along the way though, so it’s probably best done as a one night overnight trip!

Thanks for tuning in, and I’ll see you on the next one. We have a lot more Zion to discuss!

Parting shot:

Next blog: Hiking review, National Park review, a random thoughts blog, or food? We’ve got a lot, don’t we!? 🙂