Zion's Kolob Canyons/LaVerkin Creek

The trip started out on a Wednesday evening. We drove from Orem, Utah to Parowan, spent the night and then headed in the morning to the Kolob Canyon Visitor center to pick up a backcountry permit. The Visitor center is located just east of I-15 south of Cedar City. The permit is required for all overnight stays in the National Park backcountry. When we specified the route that we would like to take we were asked to specify the campsites that we would be using. This particular area has about 23 designated campsites that are managed by the park rangers.

We then drove the truck up to Lee's Pass about 1 mile from the visitor center. We left the truck at the trail head then took my car to the Hop Valley trail head. To get to the Hop Valley Trail head we head back to I-15 and head south. We take the Toquerville (Zions National Park) exit. We keep driving toward the national park. We took the Kolob reservoir turn off located in the small town of Virgin. We drive up the road until we reached the Hop Valley Trail head.

From the Hop Valley trail head it is a flat and sandy walk across a desert floor for about 1.5 miles until you reach a gate. This gate enters private land and you will now be on private land for the next 2.5 miles. As you cross the private land the trail comes to a lookout area where spectacular views of Hop Valley can be seen. We stopped here for pictures and a snack. Now the trail will drop about 400 feet and follow a dry stream bed. The stream bed will soon run with spring water.

There are a few cows here in this valley until you reach the fence at the park boundary. The water stops shortly after the park boundary. The terrain around consists of Ponderosa pine as well as sage and scrub oak. The trail now crosses the wash for a last time and begins a 200 foot incline. After you follow the trail along the side of the canyon you come to another look out. At this point you can see the trail that heads up the canyon to Willis creek, or down the canyon to La Verkin creek.

We followed the trail down about 1/4 of a mile dropping about 400 feet. We stopped at the creek to fill our water bottles. The creek was flowing with a lot more water than I had expected for such a dry year. There is plenty of water to filter. We followed the creek downstream past the trail to Kolob arch. There was a storm brewing so we decided to hurry and get to camp and get the tents set up then we would walk back to the arch. Camp was located about 2 miles past the Kolob arch trail. There are some really good campsites in this area.

The hike back to Kolob arch was great, because we had left the packs back at the campsite. The trail was about .5 miles up the Kolob arch trail making 2.5 miles from our camp. The arch was spectacular. The Park claims this is the world largest arch spanning over 300 feet. There was a little water running down this side canyon to the creek.

The next day we broke camp and started the last leg of our journey. We worked around Gregory Butte and started the climb out of the canyon. The first 2 miles had about a 300 foot incline, through sage and juniper. The creek turns from the trail and there is no more water until we reach the car. We had filled the water ate the camp before we left so we both had about 2 quarts for the trail. Now the trail begins to move up along the dry wash of Timber creek. You will follow this for about 1.5 miles of relatively level ground.

Now comes the last 500 to 600 feet elevation gain. The trail starts to move along the west side of the wash and along the Kolob fingers. There are some spectacular views of the cliffs. The trail now follows a ridge up. This part of the trail is steep and we stopped for a while to rest, drink water and take some pictures. We can see the road but this is somewhat deceptive. There is a 100-200 foot drop and incline between the ridge and the last .25 of the trail to Lees pas trail head. We now reach the car for some spectacular pictures before we leave to go and get the other car at the Hop valley trail head.

For More Information:

Kolob Canyon Visitor Center