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Kolob Terrace

The Kolob Terrace is in the middle of Zion between Zion Canyon and the Kolob Canyons which are located near Cedar City. The Kolob Terrace offers a 21-mile scenic drive to Lava Point, starting at the small town of Virgin.  At first you will notice homes and farms as you travel in and out of Zion. The road transitions to gravel once you are beyond Lava Point and headed to the Kolob Reservoir.  It can take you another 20-miles to SR-14 near Cedar City, ending about a-mile from a long standing restaurant - Milt’s Stage Stop. Keep in mind the Kolob Terrace is a primitive area and there are no services so be prepared with water, a spare and other items you might need if you break down.

Directions to the
Kolob Terrace - Take the signed turn-off located on SR-9 in the small town of Virgin. Coming from Zion’s south entrance, leave the park and drive on SR-9 to Virgin.  On the right, just after entering the town of Virgin you will see a road sign for the Kolob Terrace Road. Turn there and follow the scenic drive up the hill.

Mileage from SR-9 & the Kolob Terrace Road
Right Fork Trailhead - 6.9 miles
Grapevine Trailhead - 7.3 miles Smith Mesa Road - 7.7 miles
Left Fork Trailhead 8.2 miles
Hop Valley Trailhead - 12.8 miles
Wildcat Canyon Trailhead 15.8
(Russell Gulch, Subway Trailhead)
Lava Point turnoff (to West Rim Trailhead) 20 miles
Lava Point and West Rim Trailhead 24 miles

Due to snow fall the road is usually closed in November
and does not open back up until June.

Virgin - Virgin is between Hurricane and Zion – 15 miles from Zion’s south entrance. This is a quaint community with around 600 people and less than 200 families.  In 2000, a law was passed requiring every homeowner to keep and maintain a firearm. This interesting tidbit was in Michael Moore’s film “Bowling for Columbine.”  The unique name of the town was from the Virgin River. Follow the Kolob Reservoir Road for 21 miles to remote and primitive Lava Point. Keep your speed down, the road is patrolled by Zion’s Rangers and they will ask for your park pass if you are pulled over.

 Lava Point – There is a primitive campground and the trailheads for the West Rim and Wildcat Canyon trails. Lava Point is 7890 feet which is one of the highest points in Zion. The beauty of this is when hiking the West Rim Trail mostly get to hike downhill, making this a delightful backpack all the way into Zion Canyon. The campground has 6 fee-free sites are taken on a first use basis. 

Directions to Zion National Park From the North: Travel I-15 south, past Beaver. Exit on Hwy 20. Follow US-89 to Mount Carmel Junction. Take SR-9 to Zion's east entrance. From Arizona: Travel US-89A through Fredonia, Arizona and Kanab Utah. Follow US-89 to Mount Carmel Junction. Take SR-9 to the east park entrance. From the South: Travel I-15 north. Take exit 16 and travel through Hurricane to LaVerkin. Continue on SR-9 to the south entrance of the park. SR-9 through Zion National Park is always open and is also called the Zion-Mt. Carmel Highway.			Zion Photo:Double Falls or Right Fork of North Creek is a difficult, but doable hike for most people. This is a remote and primitive hike through a stream to this beautiful and photogenic waterfall.
	Zion National Park Lodging Lodging and services are available in East Zion. The main road through Zion, the Zion-Mt. Carmel Highway (SR-9) is open year-round, and is not a route the Zion Canyon Shuttle takes. Zion Canyon is deep inside the park. Towering 3000' walls form a slot canyon, forged by the violent rush of torrent water over millions of years. From late March to late October access through the six mile stretch of road is via the Zion Canyon Shuttle, the rest of the year the canyon is accessed in private vehicles.

Left Fork of North Creek - Few know that you can hike into the Subway from the bottom and avoid the obstacles, cold water swimming and other uncomfortable parts of a technical slot canyon. You must still travel in small groups and a permit is still required.  Those hiking from the bottom-up still count as part of the 80 allowed on the Subway route per-day.

Right Fork of North Creek - Plan to begin early in the day and be ready for a full day of hiking.  The route leads to Double Falls and Barrier Falls.  This is a very long hike through the creek leading to a photogenic waterfall.

Northgate Peaks Trail - This easy, family suited trail, follows the eastern edge of Pine Valley to a nice view point of the Guardian Angels of the Kolob. This easy trail is the start of the North Guardian Angel Trail.

North Guardian Angel - The North Guardian Angel is on the Sierra Clubs list of the" top one-hundred desert peaks to do." About 12-miles into the drive on the Kolob Terrace Road, there are some large “white Hershey kiss" shaped peaks. The sandstone mound to the right is Pine Valley Peak, (7428'). North Guardian Angel (7408') can be seen behind and to the right of Pine Valley Peak.

You cannot drive from the Kolob Terrace to Zion Canyon or to Kolob Canyons. You can however hike from Lava Point into Zion Canyon on the West Rim Trail and you can also hike on a trail to Kolob Canyons.

History of the Thunderbird