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.
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.
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:
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.
