La Verkin Creek - Kolob Canyon Area - Road Trip Ryan, LLC - Copyright 2006-2018 1 / 5

  Trailhead 12S 306136mE 4147178mN

N37° 27' 04" W113° 11' 30"

  Kolob Arch View 12S 309552mE 4143939mN

N37° 25' 22" W113° 09' 08"

  Arch Junction 12S 309650mE 4143174mN

N37° 24' 57" W113° 09' 04"

  Falls 12S 309613mE 4144751mN

N37° 25' 48" W113° 09' 06"

  Hop Valley Junction 12S 310069mE 4143286mN

N37° 25' 01" W113° 08' 47"

  Campsite #1 12S 305705mE 4144009mN

N37° 25' 21" W113° 11' 45"

  Campsite #2 12S 305838mE 4143085mN

N37° 24' 51" W113° 11' 38"

  Campsite #3 12S 305584mE 4142329mN

N37° 24' 27" W113° 11' 48"

  Campsite #4 12S 307438mE 4142257mN

N37° 24' 26" W113° 10' 33"

  Campsite #5 12S 307946mE 4142597mN

N37° 24' 37" W113° 10' 12"

  Campsite #6 12S 308186mE 4142690mN

N37° 24' 40" W113° 10' 03"

  Campsite #7 12S 309361mE 4143151mN

N37° 24' 56" W113° 09' 15"

  Campsite #8 / #9 12S 309578mE 4143154mN

N37° 24' 56" W113° 09' 06"

  Campsite #10 12S 309729mE 4143217mN

N37° 24' 58" W113° 09' 00"

  Campsite #11 12S 310356mE 4143300mN

N37° 25' 02" W113° 08' 35"

  Campsite #12 12S 310669mE 4143620mN

N37° 25' 12" W113° 08' 22"

  Campsite #13 12S 311709mE 4144856mN

N37° 25' 53" W113° 07' 41"

LA VERKIN CREEK - KOLOB CANYON AREA

Rating: Long Dayhike / Easy Backpack

Length: Generally 14+ miles

Gear: Standard Hiking Gear

Maps: Kolob Arch, UT

Water: Filterable from about 4 miles in.

Flash Flood Danger: None.

Season: Spring, Summer, Fall (Hot in summer)

Notes: Backpacking requires a permit. See the Zion National Park for page (https://zionpermits.nps.gov/wilderness.cfm?TripTypeID=1)

more information and to make a reservation.

Waypoints:

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  Bear Trap 12S 311859mE 4144868mN

N37° 25' 54" W113° 07' 35"

  Willis Creek 12S 312686mE 4145982mN

N37° 26' 30" W113° 07' 03"

Hype

The La Verkin Creek trail offers a stunning, and long day hike to the Kolob Arch viewpoint. Until the early 21st century, Kolob Arch was believed to be the worlds largest free standing arch. At 287.4 feet, the arch is now considered the second longest spanning arch in the world, behind Landscape Arch in Arches National Park. Reaching the viewpoint is a long hike, about 14 miles and 1000' of gain, and not a day hike to take lightly. Much of the hike will be in full sun, bring at least 3 quarts and start early in hot times of the year. The views of the arch and La Verkin Creek along the way are well worth it.

Unfortunately for day hikers, La Verkin Creek begins getting more and more stunning just when the view point junction is reached and most day hikers will want to turn around! Those more interested in backpacking can make a higly recommended 2-3 day trip and see most of the area. An itinerary I would recommend would be to hike down to about the junction on the first day, leave packs, explore up La Verkin Creek as far as desired, then visit the arch and hike out on day 2. Those with 3 days could easily spend an entire day exploring up La Verkin Creek to Bear Trap and Willis canyons, then hike out on the third day before it gets hot.

Note: Backpacking requires a permit, which can be hard to get in prime seasons. Some permits are available online in advance, while some are held back for walk-ins to be gotten one day in advance. I have had good luck with getting one a day in advance, however it requires some flexibility in case you show up and can't get one. In my opinion, the best campsites are 10-12, which offer more seclusion than the other campsites that are on the busier trail, and are within a good distance of the viewpoint junction.

The early campsites, 1-3, may not have water if Timber Creek is not flowing. Be sure to ask at the Ranger Desk if you reserve one of those campsites.

Tags: hike, access: paved

Trailhead

This canyon is in the Kolob Canyons area of Zion National Park, which is just off of exit 40 on I-15. This is about 20 miles south of Cedar City Utah. If coming from the main part of the park, go west on highway 9 about 17 miles to the town of La Verkin, then go north on UT-17 about 5 miles to I-15. Follow I-15 north for 12 miles to exit 40.

From the visitor center just off the highway, go into the park on the scenic drive for 3.7 miles to Lees Pass. The trailhead and parking area are on the left.

Route

To Arch Viewpoint Junction (6 miles)From the trailhead, follow the trail as it descends the ridge to the bottom of Timber Creek. Most seasons the

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creek is not flowing. Follow it down, with the trail leaving Timber Creek and crossing the wooded shoulder to La Verkin Creek after a few miles. La Verkin Creek should always be flowing. A small falls right near where the trail joins the creek is a nice break spot.

It is a couple of miles up La Verkin Creek to the signed junction to Kolob Arch. The better campsites begin in here, with several clustered near the junction.

To Arch Viewpoint (0.5 miles each way)From the junction it is 0.5 miles and a few hundred feet of elevation gain up the trail to the viewpoint for Kolob Arch. Motivated hikers can continue up the canyon bottom an 0.5 miles one way from the arch additionalviewpoint to a series of picturesque cascades, though the going is rougher and requires scrambling and route finding around boulders. Day hikers will likely want to return the same way.

To Bear Trap / Willis Creek (2.5-3 miles)Backpacking? Or a very motivated day hiker? Continuing up La Verkin Creek is a treat. The trail crosses shortly above Arch View junction, and reaches the junction that goes south to Hop Valley. Stay left here, and continue up along the creek. The trail crosses many times, with generally easy stone hops needed to stay dry. The higher reaches close in, and become very colorful.

Bear Trap Canyon is the first major side canyon on the right you will encounter several miles above the Hop Valley junction, and will likely be flowing. There is a waterfall a short distance up canyon that makes a good turn around spot.

If continuing up La Verkin Creek from Bear Trap, it isn't far to Willis Creek, where the trail bends to the right, ascends Willis, and ends at the National Park Boundary.

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