Kolob Canyons is an underrated section of Zion National Park. It’s overlooked by most visitors to Zion, but it can be a rewarding area to visit if you have some time.
Kolob is a term used by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, whose members settled and are prevalent in Utah, to refer to a place close to God. Zion has religious terms all over the map, and surprisingly, most of them are not from the Church of Jesus Christ.
Access Kolob Canyons by driving on I-15. It’s about 45 minutes away from Zion Canyon and 30 minutes from St. George, Utah.
It actually has its own dedicated freeway exit! When you get off the freeway you’ll see the park sign and then…
Kolob has a small visitor center located right by the entry sign.
Though it is small and separate from the rest of the national park, it still requires an entry fee if you don’t already have a Zion pass or an America the Beautiful pass.
There is only one road in Kolob Canyons. The scenic drive departs from the visitor center over the mountain pass, where the tall, red rock walls majestically appear. It only takes about 10-15 minutes to drive to the end of the road.
The road ends at the Kolob Viewpoint. Here you can park and view the multiple slot canyons. This viewpoint is a little frustrating because it’s far away and you see the canyons at an angle.
This viewpoint is also the trailhead for the Timber Creek Overlook trail, a short, mostly flat hike that is good for kids and families.
There are two main hikes in Kolob Canyons:
This 4.9-mile roundtrip hike is the most popular hike in Kolob. This gets you into one of the slot canyons and provides incredible views.
The parking lot is not very big and fills up often.
This 1.1-mile roundtrip hike starts at the Kolob Viewpoint. It’s flat and easy but does not get you into the canyon.
Yes, it is worth visiting due to the tall canyon walls and the nice hiking opportunities. Kolob receives a fraction of the visitors that the main part of Zion receives, which is all the more reason to visit!
Zion National Park is crowded!
Need a game plan to avoid the crowds? Check out our itinerary.
Most travelers want to visit the most popular sites and still avoid crowds. We have a detailed itinerary that gives you a step-by-step game plan so you can get to the best places at the right times.
But that’s not all! Our itinerary includes a free audio guide to listen to while driving with over 2-hours of stories about the park!
We’re Matt and Cheryl, and we’re in the Rockies. :) We are both teachers. Cheryl teaches special ed, and Matt teaches American history. We love the American West and the national parks. We want to help you have a great vacation on your next trip to the Rockies.
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