Explore Zion’s Underrated Sister Park – The Kolob Canyons
Every year, the red rock state of Utah receives millions of tourists and travelers from across the globe to experience firsthand the American southwest. Those who come wish to see the magic of the desert, along its sprawling valleys and towering red rock formations. What better place to find this than Zion National Park? One of the Mighty 5 National Parks of Utah.
Did you know Zion ranks as the 3rd highest visited national park in the entire US? In recent years, this park has received around 4-5 million visitors annually! That’s an insane amount of people all flocking to one place. While the winter season usually draws in less people, it’s still enough to assume that Zion National Park is basically always busy.
However, there is one side of Zion that many don’t even know exist. This underrated sister park gets far less visitors but has a landscape just as breathtaking as the main park.
On the tip of the northwest section of Zion lies the incredible Kolob Canyons. Colossal red rock cliffs & buttes, beautiful hiking trails, and a much smaller crowd allow you to more simply enjoy nature.
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To reach Kolob Canyons, you need to enter Zion National Park from a completely different entrance. Access to the canyons is not accessible from the main southern section of the park. The entrance and visitor center are located right off Interstate 15, just 20 minutes south of Cedar City.
Cedar City is the closest city for nightly accommodation, food, and other supplies. If not there, then St. George is your next best option, clocking in about 30 minutes away. This is the most common and popular city for those visiting southwestern Utah.
- Entrance Fee – $35/vehicle (prices subject to change)
- Includes both Zion Canyon (southern side) and Kolob Canyons (northern side)
- Do not have to pay entrance fee twice
- Accepts National Park Interagency Annual Pass – $80/vehicle for 1 year (prices subject to change)
- Kolob Canyons Visitor Center Hours – 8am-5pm
If you’re a frequent national park visitor, we highly recommend getting the Interagency Annual Pass. We use ours religiously and it continues to save us loads of money every year. You can read more info on the annual pass here from the NPS website.
The most common things to do when visiting Kolob Canyons is hiking or sightseeing along the 5-mile Scenic Drive.
If you have an hour or less to see the canyons, then you can easily complete the scenic drive and maybe tack on a short hike. However if you have all day, hiking will be the best way to fully immerse yourself in the beauty that is Kolob Canyons.
In total, there are 3 hiking trails in this region:
- Timber Creek Overlook Trail – 1 mile round trip
- Taylor Creek Trail – 5 miles round trip
- Kolob Arch via La Verkin Creek – 14 miles round trip
We opted for Taylor Creek Trail which is the most famous trail within the canyons. Not too long, not too short, and you can easily fit it into one day!
Hiking Taylor Creek Trail of Kolob Canyons
Let me just start by saying Taylor Creek Trail is absolutely AH-MAZING.
This quick (and easy) 5 mile trail takes you through an insanely gorgeous desert landscape.
You’ll do several crossing over a flowing creek, hike between massive red rock canyons, and see the incredibly unique Double Arch Alcove featured at the end of the trail. Which is a cave like sandstone formation with a natural shelf above. But more on that later!
Taylor Creek Trail Hike Details
- Distance: 5 miles roundtrip
- Elevation: 715 ft
- Route Type: Out and back
- Difficulty: Easy-Moderate
- Time to Complete: 3-4 hours
KNOW BEFORE YOU GO:
- Wear proper hiking shoes as this trail is rocky with numerous stream crossings
- Consider these 3 Top Performance Day Hiking Shoes if you’re needing pair
- Hiking during the summer is doable but it gets very hot, temperatures can reach around 100°F
- Prep accordingly with sunscreen and a wide brim hiking hat for the ultimate sun protection
- Bring ample water, especially during the hotter season
- Learn more about how much water to bring and how to best stay hydrated while hiking
- If hiking in the winter, prep for possible snow and ice along the trail
- Don’t forget a daypack/hiking backpack to store all your gear, water, and snacks/lunch
To access the trailhead, park in the parking lot about 2 miles up Kolob Canyon Road. Spots can fill up fast being a rather small parking lot, but we like to think this aids in crowd control.
There are also bathrooms on site right before the trailhead, which is always a nice perk.
Starting Taylor Creek Trail – The First Portion
The very beginning of Taylor Creek Trail takes you down a few flights of stairs. Just 2 minutes into the trail and you’re already greeted with Taylor Creek. This trail travels along the Middle Fork of Taylor Creek trail the entirety of the way.
A bit past these stairs and you’re already at your first creek crossing. This is one of many that you will cross for the duration of the trail. All are easy to walk across as long as you keep your balance on the visible rocks.
Waterproof shoes aren’t necessary but do give you a peace of mind when you accidentally dip a foot into the water.
Just in this first 10 minutes, we were already in awe of our surroundings. The slow trickling creek, paired with the red dirt and surrounding green trees was enough to feel completely at peace.
The lush colors of this desert scenery are especially dazzling.
As you continue up the trail, you’ll be walking alongside Taylor Creek with a glimpse of Kolob Canyons off in the distance. You can see a couple of the rock cliffs peeking over the horizon.
As you hike further, the canyons become more into view as you’re basically hiking straight towards them.
“Are we approaching some fancy resort? It’s so incredibly beautiful it doesn’t feel real!” My exact words while hiking through such an impressive landscape. The twinkling green leaves of the trees, the scattered red boulders, and the trickling water was all so picturesque it honestly felt man-made!
We realize that’s backwards. Obviously people have taken after incredible places like this.
What’s nice is that this trail is mostly flat with very little elevation gain. This allowed us to fully take in our surroundings without the huffing and puffing that comes with other steeper trails.
Keep in mind, this first portion of Taylor Creek Trail is mostly exposed to the sun. There is little shade or tree cover so make sure you have sun protection no matter the season.
Find The Squiggly Tree & Large Boulder
Just around the bend, past another stream crossing, you’ll come across a wide opening with a tall, curly looking tree sitting next to a large boulder.
For some reason, we both loved these 2 natural elements together. The strange figure of the tree and the big lumpy boulder made for a cute pair! At least that’s what I thought. A fun & memorable landmark along the path.
As you continue onward, the huge canyons ahead just keep getting bigger. Making you that much more excited to keep going.
Eventually along the trail, you’ll see a small log cabin off to your left. This is the Larson Cabin which is 1 of 2 historic homestead cabins on Taylor Creek Trail. Both built in the early 1930’s and used by Gustive Larson and Arthur Fife who surveyed the land.
You can’t go inside but you can easily peer inside the small abode.
Meeting The Kolob Canyons
Just past the cabin, after you break more out of the tree cover, you’ll start to see the BEST view of the Kolob Canyons yet!
Standing tall on each side of the trail are 2 of the parks most magnificent rock formations with slick vertical walls.
These vertical walls, known as Tucupit and Paria, tower 1,700 feet above the trail making you feel like an ant compared to these Goliaths.
What we love is that Taylor Creek Trail literally takes you right into the heart of these stunning canyons. Something you wouldn’t experience just from taking the Scenic Drive.
The right one specifically reminded us of a Mammoth as you can kind of make the shape of the head along the front of the rock surface.
As you start your trek in between the canyons, expect to continue hopping across Taylor Creek throughout the trail while enjoying amazing views of the canyon walls around you.
Watch for Frogs & Tadpoles in Taylor Creek!
To our surprise, Taylor Creek is actually home to small fish, tadpoles, and frogs! We saw a bunch of tiny tadpoles when looking up close in the water. Watch out for these little guys if you’re trekking straight through the water in waterproof shoes.
If you’re lucky, you may even see some of the adult frogs chilling next to the creek!
They blend in extremely well to the reddish/brown rock so it’s hard to spot them. We managed to find 2 in total along our hike.
This is also where we had to stop for a bit just to take in the incredible Kolob Canyons. Sitting creek side with views such as these was pure bliss.
Hiking The Second Portion of Taylor Creek Trail
As you hike deeper into the canyon, you will notice more trees and shrubs growing around you.
This second portion of the trail is more dense and offers more shade compared to the first portion.
Once again, you will hit Taylor Creek and will basically be hiking in the creek as there are even more crossings nearing the end. You’re now essentially going in and along the riverbed. This area is a nice spot for lunch or a snack break due to all the shade.
You’ll also come across the 2nd historic homestead cabin, The Fife Cabin. Similar to the first one, you can’t go inside but you can easily look inside.
Since you’re now under tree cover, the views of the canyons are less apparent, especially the Mammoth looking one on the right. Although, you’re now hiking right up to the base of the one on the left.
Imagine a towering rock slab of rock standing so tall above you, that you basically have to look up at a 90° angle just to get it all into view.
Eventually the trail veers right past this rock wall to introduce you to another massive rock wall ahead.
Move a bit further down the trail to reach the Double Arch Alcove.
The Double Arch Alcove
Holy cow. While Taylor Creek Trail doesn’t end with a view, this alternate ending of the Double Arch Alcolve is just as amazing.
This geologic formation is a unique cave-like sandstone formation with layers of color streaked across the con-caved walls. Green, brown, black, and white strokes of color make it appear like it could have been hand painted.
If you look outside and above the cave, you will see a shelf above. Almost like a natural rock arch but without the hole through the middle.
This peculiar rock formation is from the result of repeated flash flooding which overtime formed an alcove. Since Navajo Sandstone is porous, water naturally seeps through the rock and nourishes the surrounding vegetation and creates the colorful streaks we see on the rock.
This area is also amusingly echo-y. Any slight sound emitted creates loud echoes throughout the alcove.
Even as you look around, there are huge canyon walls in almost all directions, making it hard for sunlight to penetrate the area. This section is usually covered in shade from the tall walls engulfing your surroundings.
Once you’re done taking it all in, head back the way you came to get back to the parking lot.
The Scenic Drive Through Kolob Canyons
If you have enough time after the hike, or didn’t have a chance to hike, make sure you complete the Scenic Drive through Kolob Canyons. This short 5-mile drive takes you deeper into this area of Zion that many unfortunately miss.
As you drive, you can stop at numerous pullouts along the way. There’s one pullout that places you directly in between the 2 walls of the canyon, with the one looking like a prehistoric mammoth.
We couldn’t help but stop for a photo!
The road takes you up a bit higher where you’re met with dramatic views of the bright orange canyon walls. If you look closely, you can even see actual meadows on top of some of the canyon peaks.
At the very end of the road you will reach Kolob View Point. This is the last stop along the Scenic Drive. It’s essentially a similar view to what you’ve already been seeing but from a higher vantage point.
From here, you can also access Timber Creek Overlook Trail which is 1 mile round trip. For more info on this trail, check out the Timber Creek Overlook Trail post by travel blog National Parks With T.
Overall, it only takes 15-20 minutes to drive the entire scenic drive. Add on more time if you include stops along the way.
Since it’s fairly quick, we highly recommend including the Scenic Drive during your visit to Kolob Canyons.
Don’t Forget Kolob Canyons During Your Next Trip to Zion National Park
For those visiting Zion National Park, we hope you have the chance to check out it’s neighboring (and less crowded) sister region, Kolob Canyons.
As much as we love Zion, we really enjoyed the visiting this section of the park for the light crowds and ability to truly disconnect. Nature isn’t as fun when you feel like you’re in line for a ride at Disneyland. Know what I mean?
The majestic red rock canyons and incredibly scenic hiking trails are truly just as breathtaking as the other parts of Zion National Park.
If you have a full day in the park, you will not be disappointed with Taylor Creek Trail. The gorgeous desert landscape of Taylor Creek, the red rock walls, and green foliage will make it a place we will never forget.
Anyone who’s planning to see the southern side of Zion National Park – check out The Narrows Trail if you’re craving a magnificent hike through tight canyon walls while you trek up the North Fork Virgin River. Or check out our Zion National Park Travel Guide that provides more info on what to do in the park!
Have any thoughts or questions on Kolob Canyons? Share with us in the comments below!
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