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.
Beta: Coordinates and other trail and canyoneering information
by Zion Park search and rescue veteran team member Bo
Beck and www.zionnational-park.com author Tanya Milligan.
To post trip reports, offer corrections, updates, or for more
information please visit the Zion
National Park Forum
Suggested
Gear: A sturdy pair of shoes are recommend to hike the trails in Zion National
Park. Many quality shoes will help grip the rocks and prevent injury. Experienced
Zion hikers and canyoneers like the La Sportiva Exum Ridge. This shoe is great
for hiking, bouldering and canyoneering.
Middle Fork Taylor Creek
Kolob Canyons is accessed off I15 (exit 40), about 90 minutes from the south entrance of the main section of Zion National Park. The Kolob Canyons section of the park is also known as the finger Canyons. The fingers are tall, orange colored rock formations with narrow canyons between them. The Finger Canyons of the Kolob were formed by the north, middle and south forks of Taylor Creek.
Middle Fork Taylor Creek at a Glance Photo Album: Taylor Creek Pictures Trail Map: Taylor Creek Trail Map
Day Hike: Yes Trail Distance: 5.4 mile/8.7km round trip Average Hiking Time: 4 hours Trail Usage: Moderate Difficulty: Easy to Moderate. Little elevation change, but its a dirt trail with several stream crossings. Sun Exposure: Winter hiking is shady and cold. Snow accumulates at the end of the canyon. The rest of the year some sun and some shade. Permits: Not required. Trail Conditions: Dirt path with some stream crossing. The path can be muddy after rains or snow.
Trailhead: Two miles past the Kolob Canyons Visitor Center. Trailend: Same as trailhead Trail Access: Year-round. Best Season: March to November
Off the Beaten Path: No Classic Zion Hike: Yes Larsen Cabin: 5674'/1729m Highest Elevation: 5950'/1814m Restrooms: Kolob Canyons Visitor Center Water Availability: Taylor Creek is a year-round spring -fed stream.
Middle Fork Taylor Creek
The route begins at the Middle Fork of Taylor Creek Trailhead. This is a 5.4 mile, easy to moderate hike, leading to a double arch alcove. The ascent is 450'. There are a couple of charming historic cabins along the way. This hike has one very rattling problem. Rattlesnakes are very common along the trail. We experienced two rattlesnakes in different sections of the hike that were on the trail during our May hike. It was scary enough to the adults, but the children in our group were terrified. The two children that led this hike were face to face with a coiled snake rattling its tail. The next snake siting was when several of us walked right past it without knowing, but the last two kids in the group saw it. It was resting under a log. Later we read on the brochure that rattlers are common on the hike.
Trailhead: Drive 2 miles past the Kolob Canyons Visitor Center and pull into the marked parking area. The Middle Fork of Taylor Creek Trail and the North Fork of Taylor Creek share the same trailhead.
Trail Beta: Follow the well marked Middle Fork of Taylor Creek Trail, crossing the stream numerous times. Paria Point is to the right and Tucupit Point is the left.
Larsen Cabin: The Larsen Cabin is located among a grove of Pines and of Juniper trees 1.2 miles up the trail, a little off the trail on the left. The 1930s cabin marks the confluence of the two forks. Tucupit Point towers above the cabin. To the left of this point is the North Fork of Taylor Creek. The limestone capped mountain behind Tucupit is, Horse Ranch Mountain, the highest point in Zion National Park at 8726'/2660m.
Middle Fork Taylor Creek: Follow the beaten path along the creek. The path does crisscross back and forth from side to side.
Fife Cabin: SUSC instructor, Arthur Fife also built his cabin in 1930. When not at the college in Cedar City he live in the cabin and raised goats. This cabins rests in a grove of maple, oak and fir trees. The trail bends to the right after the Fife cabin.
Double Arch Alcove: Continue following the creek bed to where the canyon ends at two blind arches in one rock face.
Note: Kolob Canyons and Kolob Terrace are different sections of Zion National Park.
The Trail: Rattlesnakes are common along this trail during the hotter months of the year. The Larsen homestead cabin was built in 1930 and was lived in by Gustav Larson until 1933.
Best Trail Features: If it were not for the snakes this would be an ideal family hike.The orange-red color of the cliffs is from hematitem, an iron oxide. If you love the wildest of nature then this trail is for you. We also ran into a tarantula on the trail and cougar tracks. There is a lot of vegetation along the path. The red flowers were abundant such as the bright red penstemon, indian paintbrush and the skyrocket that are common in Zion Canyon.
As I was walking that ribbon of highway, I saw above me that endless skyway; I saw below me that golden valley; the land was made for you and me. I've roamed and rambled and I followed my footsteps to the sparking sands of her diamond deserts; And all around me a voice was sounding; This land was made for you and me.
