Zion National Park – Kolob Terrace Area

on December 25, 2024

Introduction:

What? :

The Kolob Terrace area of Zion National Park is probably “un-known” section for most visitor to this large and beautiful park.

This remote area accessible via the Kolob Terrace Road that cross this park section on its way to the Kolob Reservoir, located high in the mountains above the park.

Along the road you will have several viewing points and trails that takes you deep into the wilderness.

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The view is rewording and unlike the main park canyon you will not fill the crowd, here you can enjoy more solitude nature experience.

The road climb from elevation of 3,500 feet at the Vergin River to almost 8,000 feet at Kolob Reservoir.

In this area you can also find one of the most beautiful remote canyons in Zion: The Left Fork of North Creek, that known as "the Subway”.

Important to note: hiking to the Subway require hiking permit even if you are not camping overnight.

Plan for about 3 hours to complete this road all the way to Kolob Reservoir or Lava Point Overlook without stopping for long hiking.

Travel Time and Milage to Zion Visitor Center:

Salt Lake City, UT: 4 hours 23 minutes, 308 miles

Las Vegas, NV: 2 hours 39 minutes, 160 miles

St Gorge, UT: 1 hour, 42 miles

Bryce Canyon: 1 hour and 50 minutes, 82 miles

Kanab, UT: 1 hour, 41 miles

Page, AZ: 2 hours 20 minutes, 116 miles

Where? :

The road to this area of Zion National Park start at the small town of Virgin along highway 9.

The road start 12.1 miles west from Springdale, UT; or 7.1 miles east from La-Verkin, UT.

From here the side road follows North Creek and heading north. The road climb to the high Zion plateau area, pass near Lava Point, that is the highest point in Zion National Park.

You will reach the park boundary in 6.7 miles, and the end of the road at Kolob Reservoir in 24 miles drive.

Google Map Link

When? :

Zion National Park is open year-round.

This road climb to high elevation and will be close in winter month when it is covered with snow. The closure begins at Maloney Hill, one mile east (north) of the Hop Valley Trailhead.

The summer are hot and sunny, but this is relatively high elevation, so it is not as hot as in the valleys and deep canyons.

The best time to visit here is during late spring, after snow melt, or fall.

This will be also a good time with less visitors, although the main park section is busy year-round.

Due note 1:

This road pas through Zion Park area but there is no park entry kiosk or visitor center here. The Kolob Reservoir that is the end of the road is not in the park area.

Due note 2:

Pit toilets are located at the Hop Valley Trailhead, Wildcat Canyon Trailhead, and at the Lava Point Campground.

Not sure if there is a water filling location in this section of the park.

Minimal to no cellphone reception.

No gas station or any other service at this road.

Due note 3:

Primitive camping is available at Lava Point, the highest point in Zion National Park, 7,700 Feet Above Sea Level.

Due note 4:

Pets are not permitted on any trail.

Due note 5:

Wilderness Permits are required for all overnight backpacking trips, all through-hikes of The Narrows and its tributaries, all canyons requiring the use of descending gear or ropes, and all trips into Left Fork of North Creek (The Subway).

Advanced reservations, lottery applications, and walk-in permits are available:

My thoughts:

For many years I wanted to visit this area of Zion National Park but always did not have the opportunity to do so.

When I came this time I reach the main park gate, near Springdale, at about 10am. At that time there was a long line of cars waiting to get into the park. I assumed that the visitor center parking lot is full, and it will take me a lot of time to find parking spot. I decided to get out of the line, turn around, and drive and visit the central park area. I did not plan that, so I stop at the side of the road and download to my phone few hiking options.

I decided to hike to hike Northgate Peaks Trail and explore this area because it looks like the most interesting one.

It was indeed nice hike (detailed hike description are in another blog) and after that I drove and visit Lava Point Overlook and drove all the way to the end of the paved road at Kolob Reservoir.

The Drive:

Around 5 million visitors come to Zion National Park every year and almost all are visiting the main park canyon and locations along highway 9 crossing the park east to west. I did not find a clear statistic numbers on how many people visit Kolob Terrace area of the park, but this is probably only a very small fraction of that number, only few come to this beautiful section of the park, so it offer more secluded visit, views, and great hikes.

The road start along the valley of North Creek where the slops on both sides are red-brown desert mountains. After short drive up the road the view open-up to a large plateau where in front of you will have the panoramic view of Zion high mountains. At this location you will get into the park boundaries.

From here the road begins to climb the first hills level into wide valley, Lower Kolob Plateau. Here the road exit the park and loop around cattle grazing fields and re-enters back into the park boundaries.

Here you can see Hop Valley trailhead on your left.

The road pass at the base of cinder cone and from here it ascend with several sharp turns. At this location you will reach Wildcat Canyon Trailhead (Northgate Peaks Trailhead).

Hiking in this area:

There are only few other established trails in this vast secluded area, among them are: Connector Trail, Wildcat Canyon Trail, Wildcat Canyon Trail, Northgate Peaks Trail.

The above trails are within this area of the park.

Hop Valley Trail is connecting this area of the park to the west Kolob Canyon area.

Additional trail, connect this high area to the main Zion Canyon, it is West Rim Trail via Lava Point, it connect to Angel Landing trail. Usually, it is being done as one way trail so you will need to arrange private shuttle to you starting point.

Probably the most famous trail in this area is Left Fork Trailhead that leads to “The Subway” canyon. This trail need a permit to hike into the canyon.

Keep driving up the road, the landscape change from pine trees to high elevation aspen trees.

You will pass through Bear Valley and Blue Springs Reservoir.

Take a right-side gravel road just before Blue Springs Reservoir and drive to Lava Point Overlook, Campground and the West Rim trailhead.

Lava Point Overlook and Campground

Found 20 miles after Virgin on Lava Point Rd., there are primitive campgrounds and a small parking lot just near the Lava Point Overlook.

Lava Point is the highest elevations in Zion Park, and you will haves endless panoramic view to the east and south sides.

This point is located on high lava flow field, and it is a completely different mountains compare to the colorful Zion domes you can see in the distance below you.

West Rim Trail

Starting at Lava Point, the 14.5 miles West Rim Trail heads down from the high elevation into Zion Canyon. If you plan to spend the night on this trail you do need a wilderness permit.

You can see the first few miles of the trail from Lave Point viewing platform as it follow the ridges below.

From Lava Point Overlook drive back to the main road and keep driving up, passing through a small summer months community and few ranches until finally you will reach Kolob Reservoir at the end of the paved road.

Kolob Reservoir

The large high elevation reservoir (8,100 ft) is surrounded by large aspen groves.

I visit here during late fall, and they all turned yellow.

When driving in the dam will be to your left but keeping right there is a dirt road that circling the reservoir all the way to the back side.

The lake is perfect place for swimming, fishing, boating and all sorts of summer fun activities.

At the lake there are many locations for boat lunching, and you can camp or have a day activity here.

The dirt roads covering this upper Kolob Plateau continue to remote higher elevation and can be fun to explore them with 4x4 car.

From this point at the end of the road you need to drive back all the way (25 miles) to highway 9 and from there to your next adventure.

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