Zion National Park

 

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The Ultimate Southwest Vacation includes Zion National Park, Utah!

Stay in Mount Carmel Junction, the heart of the parks, and visit the treasures of the Southwest.

Zion Park 12 miles
Grand Staircase 9 miles
Sand Dunes 11 miles
Dixie Forest 22 miles
Cedar Breaks 45 miles
Red Canyon 47 miles
Coyote Butte 57 miles
Bryce Canyon 60 miles
North Rim 85 miles
Toroweap 90 miles

Plan your Zion National Park Vacation with our Utah Maps and Information

In these pages you will find insiders information on Zion National Park lodging, adventures and hikes. This detailed guide includes road maps, park maps, pictures, trail beta, backpacking, history, fees, geology, flora, fauna, campgrounds, things for kids to do and even information on Zion's hidden treasures.

Making summer memories in the Utah National Parks and National Monuments.

Utah!

 

Zion National Park Map

Zion National Park Map

Directions to Zion National Park
From Salt Lake City: Travel I-15 south, past Beaver. Exit on Hwy 20. Follow US-89 to Mount Carmel Junction. Take U-9 to Zion's east entrance.
From Arizona: Travel 89A through Fredonia, Arizona and Kanab Utah. Follow US-89 to to Mount Carmel Junction. Take U-9 to the east park entrance.
From Las Vegas: Travel I-15 north. Take exit 16 and travel through Hurricane. Make a right on U-9 at the second traffic light in LaVerkin. Continue on U-9 to the south entrance of the park. U-9 through Zion National Park is always open and is also called the Zion-Mt. Carmel Highway.

Oversized Vehicle Information
Zion Canyon Shuttle Information

Kolob Arch

Kolob Arch in Zion National Park is the parks largest arch and perhaps the worlds largest arch.

Beta: Coordinates and other trail and canyoneering information by Zion Park search and rescue veteran team member Bo Beck and www.zionnational-park author, Tanya Milligan.

Suggested Gear: A sturdy pair of shoes are recommend for canyoneering in Zion . Quality shoes will help grip the rocks and prevent injury. Experienced Zion hikers and canyoneers like the Sportiva Exum Ridge. This shoe is great for hiking, bouldering and canyoneering.

To offer corrections, updates, etc... or for more information please visit the Zion National Park Forum

Zion National Park Trails with Natural Arches along the path:

Jug Handle Arch
Two Pines Arch
Hidden Canyon

Bridge Mountain
Hepworth Arch
Guardian Arch
Hidden Arch
Checkerboard Arch
Pa'rus Bike Trail
Kolob Arch
The Subway

Fat Man's Misery
Spry Canyon
Pine Creek Canyon
North Fork Taylor Creek
Englestead Hollow
Zion Narrows

 

 

 

Kolob Arch

Kolob Arch is known to have the longest span of all the freestanding arches in the world and is often referenced as the worlds largest arch. Kolob Arch is a natural bridge formed when water eroded the rock, creating the present formation. Kolob Arch measures 287.4 ', making it about three feet shorter than the world's largest arch, Landscape Arch.  This could change however as Landscape Arch is near the end of its lifecycle.

Kolob Arch at a Glance
Photo Album:
Kolob Arch Pictures
Trail Maps: Kolob Arch Topo Map
Day hike
: Can be a long day hike but usually done as a backpack.
Distance: 13 miles round trip
Average hiking time: 12 hours
Equipment: For this hike have at least 3 quarts of water per person and a means to purify and or filter water, energy type foods, comfortable, sturdy-comfortable hiking shoes, sun protective clothing and extra clothing for possible changes in the weather, insect repellant, camera and emergency bivouac gear.
Difficulty: Strenuous hiking as a day hike and moderately strenuous as a backpack. Much of the trail is soft sand. There are several stream crossings.
Permits: Required for backpacking. 15 groups are allowed to camp per night.
Trailhead: Lee Pass. 4 miles up the road from the Kolob Canyons Visitor Center is the Lee Pass parking lot.
Trailend: Same as the trailhead.
Trail access: Cold river temperatures can deter most in the winter months.
Off the beaten path: No
Classic Zion Park hike: Yes
Best season: Best time to hike to Kolob Arch is in the spring and fall. Summer is hot for this hike but its usually about 10 degrees cooler in Kolob Canyons compared to Zion Canyon.
Water Availability: Water is available 4 miles into the hike at La Verkin Creek and for 2 miles along the creek until turning north on the trail towards the Arch. Water should be purified and or filtered before drinking.

See our vacation planning section for classic Zion National Park trails or glance at our favorite Zion National Park trails list or choose from a complete Zion National Park hiking guide or the Kolob hiking guide.

Kolob Arch From Lee Pass
A view of Kolob Arch can be accessed from several different points, but in the following description, the trip into the Arch begins at Lee Pass Trailhead in the Kolob Canyons (Kolob Fingers) of Zion National Park.

Kolob Arch Trailhead
Drive 17 miles south of Cedar City on I-15 or 33 miles north of Saint George on I-15 and take exit #40. This leads to the Kolob Canyons section of Zion National Park and its visitor center. A short but spectacular 4 mile drive up the road from the visitors center is the parking lot at the Lee Pass Trailhead. The scenery here is delightful but less known, since this side of the park is less frequented than the main canyon.

Kolob Arch Beta
The first mile of the hike from the Lee Pass Trailhead descends a ridge and then follows a drainage (eventually becoming Timber Creek) for the next 2 miles, until the trail bears easterly around the western tip of Gregory Butte. Slowly the trail winds through the Pinon's and Junipers and descends into the La Verkin Creek Drainage.

At La Verkin Creek the traveling becomes relatively flat, but sand makes the progress tedious at times. Two miles of travel along La Verkin Creek soon brings the junction of the Kolob Arch Trail, heading to the left (northerly), and relief from the sandy travel behind. Another .5 miles of walking up the wash will bring the first glimpse of the awesome "Kolob Arch" which is high up and on the left. Kolob Arch rests on the backside of the Gregory Butte Formation.

Day Hiking
If doing this as a day hike instead of a backpack, this viewpoint is a great place to get out of the sun, take a lunch break, relax and regenerate for the hike back out. La Verkin Creek may be enticing on the way back out to take a quick refresher dip and cool off before the ascent begins.

Backpacking
The first 4 campsites come in the first 3 miles of the hike from the trailhead and the remaining 11 are within the next 3 miles. Camping is only in designated sites.

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Zion National Park waterfall


Study nature, love nature, stay close to nature. It will never fail you.

--Frank LLoyd Wright

Photo: Pine Creek Waterfall
©
Photography by Tanya

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