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New Harmony, Utah
Hike to Zion's Kolob Arch
14 Miles Total - Out-and-Back Trail
Originally added by Derrick Lytle
Kolob Arch makes for a great day hike or overnight in Zion. HIke along sandstone streams to this scenic sandstone arch. This is also a great trail for fall colors.
In the lesser traveled area of Zion National Park sits Kolob Arch, a sandstone arch high up on a cliff tucked back in the canyon.
To get to Kolob Arch take exit 40 on I-15 in Utah. You'll see a Zion National Park Visitor's Center. Here you can fill up on water, use the bathroom, and get a map to the arch.
From the visitor's center head up the only road in the canyon and follow it for a few miles until you reach the Lee's Pass trail head. The parking lot is a decent size but it's popular with Zion Traverse hikers and runners so parking can be limited here.
There's a pretty good map at the trail head and if you follow the La Verkin Creek trail you'll run in to a sign 6 miles in taking you up a side canyon and leading to Kolob Arch.
The hike is full of rolling hills, stream crossings, and sand so a good pair of hiking or running shoes is a must. The hike to Kolob Arch makes a great day hike but there's a few backcountry sites on the trail, permit required, that are just amazing and break the hike up. Permits can be obtained through the Zion Backcountry Office and should be asked for in advance or you may not get a spot.
Kolob Canyon gets extremely hot and very cold in the winter so be prepared for this. While it's a desert the trail head sits at 6,000 feet so the area gets cold and will receive some snow which makes for dramatic photos of white capped sandstone peaks.
Kolob Arch is a great hike that is definitely one of the underrated trails in Zion.
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Overall rating:
Don't miss this photo opportunity
If you have the strength to make it further, I highly recommend continuing south to an incredible viewpoint sitting on a table that overlooks all of Kolob Canyon. Follow the main trail past the Arch until you reach an intersection with Beatty Spring (an awesome year-round water source). Turn right for a short quarter mile up until you reach a plateau clearing marked with a large boulder, and soak up the red-rimmed sandstone views! This will add .75 miles both ways to your trip, making it a 15.5 mile day.
5.0
Kolob Canyon Arch
Great hike with amazing views of Navajo sandstone cliffs along most of the trail. Trail is for intermediate day hikers (14 miles round trip) the initial trails is along a few ridges that descend to the valley with an overall elev change of 1000ft (climb back was strenuous). Plan on at least 5-6 liters of water for a day hike or bring portable filter, there are plenty of streams along the trail to the river. Overall some of the best views I have found so far here in Utah and some of the most satisfying (but tiring) hiking I've found near Cedar.
5.0
Great way to Avoid the Crowds
This hike is on the north western side of the park away from all the hustle and bustle of the south side. We camped in the primitive campsites only a mile from the Arch so the hike to the arch was fairly easy. We hiked to the arch once at night but it is pretty difficult to see or get any night shots because of the angle.
4.0
Stay Nearby
Nearby Adventures
Backpack the Trans-Zion Trek, Zion NP
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Backpack Kolob Canyons, Zion NP
16 Miles Round Trip - 1000 ft gain
Backpack the Zion National Park Traverse
48.3 Miles Round Trip - 8200 ft gain
Backpack the La Verkin Creek Trail
14 Miles Round Trip - 1200 ft gain
