Zion National Park covers nearly 150,000 acres. Most people will go the most popular area in Springdale, but there's a separate area known as Kolob Canyons which is located in a different area of the park about an hour's drive away. I spent a leisurely day here, which I thought was enough to enjoy the visitor center, the scenic drive, and hike Timber Creek Overlook as well as Taylor Creek Trail. The visitor center has the NPS ranger desk, a small gift shop with the usual NPS offerings, and information about the rocks. There's also washrooms here and water available. The drive was beautiful with many pull outs to enjoy the view. I drove up to Timber Creek Overlook which is at the end of the drive. It's about a 1.2 mi path, although it was evidentially super muddy in the past with super deep foot prints and people walking everywhere. It was ok. The Taylor Creek Trail was amazing. I've never hiked a trail with as many stream crossings, which made it fun. There's also two homestead cabins on the way, and the trail takes you through a narrow box canyon toward the Double Arch Alcove. The end of the hike was pretty chilly due to the shade and the water present. Brr. I think this is a great counterpart to the more famous area - it's definitely less visited and you get more solitude. read more

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Though relatively small in size, Kolob Canyon is mighty when it comes to beautiful views and engaging hiking opportunities. Basically the back side of Zion, it has a short scenic road and both easy and more challenging hikes available. The views are pretty amazing from the road, even if you don't ever get out of the car. This is a regular stop on our road trips, usually on the way back home. During the rainy season or just after it, there are amazing waterfalls that drop from the sheer cliff faces. Definitely something worth seeing! As you drive up to the entrance, there is a little visitor center with some interesting local information. It's also where you will pay your entrance fee and interact with any rangers for additional information if you need it. They also have Zion date stamps. While it isn't a destination in and of itself, it is worth making a stop on any road trip. Five stars. read more

Kolob Canyon - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - New Harmony, Utah

Stopped by for info and for some souvenirs including a park donation Zion park ticket. Nice little shop, Matt helped us today, thank you... great friendly service read more

Kolob Canyon - Todays purchase - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - New Harmony, Utah

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We didn't get to see the whole park as we were just passing through, but will definitely have to come back to do some hiking there! It's so beautiful! read more

Kolob Canyon - Beautiful views! - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - New Harmony, Utah

Small but very friendly gift store.. If you're a collector of National Park memorabilia it's a must stop. - Good source of information about the hiking trails in the area. Ask about the trail along the river to Kolb arch and how to get there. read more

We did not realize that these canyons were part of Zion. Read a Yelper's review calling Kolob "underrated" and we HAD to go. We checked in with Ranger Grimes at the closed for now Visitor Center. Snow was on the ground. It was raining. And you know what? It was fabulous! From check in at this center to exiting this park, we had a good time touring the Canyons. The bathrooms weren't heated, but they had toilet paper and hand sanitizer. The views were encased in clouds and rain, but they were spectacular. Some looked like they had been sprinkled with confectioner's sugar. When we got to the end of the trail, with the turn around, Husband indulged my playing in the snow! read more

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Love love love beautiful and not as crowded as Zion. Sound of water all the way and little surprises on the trail. read more

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Kolob Canyons is a must stop if you have a least a couple of hours to spare before or after your trip to Zion. The Visitor's Center is just off of I-15, Exit 40, and is the start of the 5-mile scenic drive . The center itself is tiny and during the pandemic, has closed its doors to the gift shop. However, park rangers are present and available for any questions. Be sure to pick up a map! Just before the Vistor's Center is the Kolob Canyons welcome sign! A great photo opp and there are a handful of parking spaces right in front for your convenience. According to the NPS.gov website, visitors are supposed to stop and show their park pass or pay for the park entrance fee. But, when we visited in Sept 2020, it was not apparent that showing/paying for the pass was required before entering the scenic drive. The restrooms at the center were not open when we stopped by, but not to worry! At each major trail/parking lot, facilities were available there. Safe travels! read more

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This is a great way to see Zions in a small bite-size manner without all the crowds and chaos. Beautiful entry and limited crowds makes us a great way to see it. Keep in mind right now that some of it is washed out due to the flooding last week. read more

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Super friendly staff and awesome knowledge and souvenirs on your way into one of the hidden gems of this magical spot.

It cost to go through the canyon but it's part of Zion National Park so you get into both $30.00 for a 7 day pass. But use your National Park pass to get in free. You have to go in the information center to pay and there is a gift shop also. Kolob is a Beautiful Canyon that has winding roads and beautiful mountains views. It is only a 12 mile round trip drive and pull-off points along the road. You ends up at the top of canyon overlook where they have picnic tables and a restroom.It a panoramic view of finger canyon. read more

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Beautiful , majestic view of the western part of Zion National Park with a peaceful ride up a meandering road past breathtaking vistas to a lookout of the Five Fingers of Kolob! Less crowded and more peaceful/tranquil that the main area of he park only 30 minutes away. Named -by Latter-day Saint Pioneers-"Kolob" meaning "neigh unto where God dwells." read more

Kolob Canyon - Kolob Canyon - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - New Harmony, Utah

Though it's only a 10 mile round trip, well worth driving through, even if you are not hiking. Plenty of pull off stops for pictures. Very scenic views.lots more greenery on top of cliffs and mountain tops. Enjoyed it a lot ! read more

A relatively undiscovered section of Zion, far away from the crowded shuttle buses and throngs of crowds. This section of the park has a 5 mile road and access to several really nice hikes. We hiked the Timber Creek trail which was virtually devoid of other hikers, had some great views and some really interesting spots to explore. We loved the terminus of the trail, which offered a virtual 360 degree view of the surrounding countryside and rock formations of Zion. The rangers at the visitor center were very helpful, informative and friendly. My wife and I completed our Zion Junior Ranger requirements here, completed our Junior Ranger oath and were sworn in as junior Zion Rangers and awarded a wooden junior ranger badge - very cool. Check out this section of the park to see another, quieter side of Zion!! read more

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Zion National Park, Utah If you have an electric vehicle, this is a great diversion. It's off the interstate only a very short distance away, and the drive through the park ends after a few miles. The hiking trail at the end is only about a half mile and is a great way to stretch and exercise. The views are breathtaking . We pulled into several different turnouts for different perspectives. Astounding place. read more

The underrated side of Zion. Fewer people. Friendly rangers. Taylor Creek trail is worth the effort!! read more

It's smaller than Zion with a little visitor center but it's right off the highway. It's a nice steep drive up the mountain and great view it won't take more than a couple hours to visit read more

My sister and I were not sure if we were going to come here after our day trip to Zion, as it would add over an hour to our already 5+ hour driving day. After much deliberation, we finally figured we might not be back to the area for a long time, if ever, and took the plunge. Boy, am I glad we did. This is about a 45 minute drive from the main Zion NP entrance, plus about 15 minutes to drive from the visitor center to the end of the road. There are 2 hiking trails that we, unfortunately, could not go on because we A) did not have proper equipment and time, and B) did have a dog (they are not allowed on the trails). But even just from the car and the turn outs, the views were incredible! I could not believe it! The lighting was perfect and we got some great pictures to bring home and I hope to have some of them printed to hang in my home. Seriously, the scenery is so beautiful it even makes a super lame photographer like me feel like a pro! As a plus, this is part of Zion NP so you don't have to pay another admission fee. A wonderful addendum to a Zion trip indeed. read more

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So glad we took the little excersion and drove up here to see the sights. It's a lovely drive and just as magificent as Zion. Hills are alive and full of color. If you make it mid day and as the time changes, it will take your breath away. There is a secnic area with plenty of parking to take pictures but feel free to stop mid way in areas to park and take it at all angles. I loved it so much!! Thank you Utah for being so beautiful! read more

Beautiful and picturesque...great little drive for parents and kids to enjoy nature...you won't regret it!

Love this national park. Every time we visit we find something completely different. The snow is melting, air is crisp, and everything is perfect. read more

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The visitor center itself has one exhibit. Pay your fee at the information desk and proceed up the road. Another Zion awaits you. Tall red cliffs and spires with a beauty all of their own will entrance you. The best hours to enjoy these are the afternoon when the light hits the face of the rock. Expect to find much of what you love in the main Zion except in a more rugged setting. The longest natural bridge in the world (if you ask the Zion rangers who use a different method for measurement than the ones at Arches National Park) lies at the end of an 8 mile trail. But there are plenty of pullouts for the car-bound and a short trail at the end of the highway for those who want to climb high and see the surrounding countryside. I'll be back here. read more

This is a great addition to any road trip in the Cedar City/St. George area. It is FAR less crowded than the main Zion NP but it still has just as stunning views. It is relatively easy access off the I-15. And since it is a short 5-mile scenic drive, it doesn't require a lot of time added to your trip. Of course, you could make it longer by adding in some hiking. We did not have the time to do any on this particular trip. We were just there for the drive this time. However, after seeing the area, we definitely want to come back and explore more. read more

Ranger station is nice and not crowded. Ranger was knowledgeable and let us know what we needed to know. Gift shop/interior of ranger station was closed. read more

A bit of a drive NE from Zion's main campground lies Kolob Canyon. One popular trail leads to one of the tallest free-standing natural arches, a trail that we ended up not taking. Instead, we chose to find this supposed "waterfall" that a ranger at the visitor's center had recommended. This was in mid 2006. Backpacking with our gear, we soon found that our campsite was quite far, many times needing to stop and check if we had missed it (some campgrounds were somewhat hidden and so were there posted signs). Fortunately we found it towards just after noon time and rested up and unloaded our gear. After an hour or two just basking in the sun, we decide to make the most of our spur of the moment trip and decide to hike out to the waterfall. The trail was somewhat hidden and hard to follow, as we had run into a few dead ends requiring a few U-Turns. The hike varied from moderate to oh snap! as the light from the afternoon sun began to descend. We were somewhat caught in what SEEMED to be the middle or 3/4th the way to the waterfall (with no exact way to tell), and we ended up pushing through after spending all the time and effort to make it that far. Much of the trail from that point seemed to be treading and crossing through some water and pebbles until we finally turned the corner of the beaten path. We could hear the distant falls becoming louder and louder with every step and pace quickened to match the sound. We eventually came face to face with a 35-50ft tall waterfall that came crashing down to where we stood. Suffice it to say, the sight appeared to be well worth the hours of hiking that we had done that entire day. We filled our camelbaks and snapped a few pics and headed back out towards our campsite. The sky was darkening quickly as we began to push back and we soon found ourselves in the pitch dark by around that "midpoint" area. Being in the dark with sounds of only the crashing and flowing of the river along the trail, we realized that finding our campsite would be much more difficult than we had hoped for. We used our flashlights and made haste zigzagging across shallower sections of the river back towards the general direction of our site. I was usually in the lead, but at times the trail would appear to go one way, then the next, so leaders would shift occasionally...all until we hit a fork in the road. I noticed something strange as we veered further away from the dirt path and foliage that we had encountered much of our way towards the waterfall, onto a much more beach-like sandy path with my cousin John in the lead. It appeared that he knew where he was going, but I questioned him anyways and he responded that he was pretty sure it was this way. After going a little further, the noise of the river had virtually disappeared and I knew that this wasn't the path that we had taken, so I questioned him again and this time made a firm decision to head back towards the river (which we were familiar with up to that point) and follow it back towards where our campsite should be. At the very least we'd be in somewhat familiar territory, as the campsites are generally located near the river. Despite his slight hesitation, we make quick ground and soon hear the rushing rapids again. Eventually we run into more and more familiar ground and come across a tent (which turned out to be our neighboring campsite) and make it back to camp, exhausted and very much relieved to not be wandering around lost in the dark. Some important lessons we learned during that trip was to be aware of your surroundings, to not ASSUME anything, and to speak up when you start having doubts! If I hadn't spoke up during that time, we'd very likely be standing in front of the tallest free-standing natural arch and unaware of it (being in the pitch dark)! That little adventure was definitely scary and invigorating in retrospect, but could've turned out a lot worse. So be safe and take calculated risks! Oh and make sure you bring a flashlight! In a valley like we were in, things get dark VERY fast and if you're not prepared, you can very easily make some wrong turns. Make sure they have batteries and are working!! btw...still haven't found any cute co-eds during our camping expeditions, any takers? ; ) read more

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The Kolob Canyon area is a remote part of Zion National Park reached through a separate entrance along I-15. The red rock mesas here stand out in stark relief to the rich green forests below and the brilliant blue skies above. I found the rangers at the visitors center to be unhelpful. As serious hikers we asked them for suggestions and they steered us toward a short nature trail. I inquired about the longer Taylor Creek/Double Arch trail that looked interesting, but they downplayed it and gave misleading information about it. I chose to ignore their static, read the map myself, and took the hike I wanted. I'm glad I did because I had a great trip. read more

There's a tiny Visitor Center as you enter kolob Canyon National Park. It's got a few goodies the usual National Park things, and you can get your national passport of parks stamped with the appropriate date and name of the national park. And you can get a little nap and ask Ranger questions and believe me they know they're Park. There many points in many hikes if you're a hiker or there's lots of looks if you're just a looker and there's a drive if you're just a driver but there's something for everyone and the people in The Visitor Center can help you find what's best for you thank you all those rangers read more

The most beautiful mountains ever! We saw these while passing through on our way to Utah. We saw lots of beautiful mountains and hills. You can find some common exits where you can park to take photos of the view. read more

Look at Zion National Park from a less crowded area. Nice hikes and new parking designs after recent road/parking work.

The female ranger, as another reviewer mentioned was super rude. There has never been a time where I have met a ranger that was even close to rude. Also, she stated we needed a map, not really!Thanks for wasting our money. However all the stars are for the male ranger who helped us towards the end. Very friendly and exactly what one would expect from a ranger. read more

Very different than the "main entrance" to Zion, and beautiful in its own way. The ranger station is small, not much more than a gift shop the size of a small post office. The Rangers we met were very nice, and helpful. Unfortunately there aren't nearly as many developed trails for hiking as I would like. But it was a beautiful place to have a picnic with a breathtaking vista. read more

It's a visitors center. The ranger seemed like he had better things to do when I asked him questions about recommendations, but when my husband made a joke, he seemed to come around. read more

Well the visitors center is nice enough but the point is Kolob Canyon- which is a part of Zion not accessible from the main park.It's about 20 minutes from Cedar City.It's a really a spectacular red rock canyon.If you go by , go ! read more

Clean & accommodating & knowledgable staff made this facility a great stop for information & restroom stop.

We visited Bryce Canyon and Zion NP over Spring Break last week and we decided to stop at the Kolob Visitor Center on Wednesday (3/30/16).It had been rainy and snowing the day and night before so we canceled our plan to do Angels Landing and see the Kolob side of the park. The NPS Zion website made no mention of Kolob trails being closed, so therefore we decided to head over to Kolob VC. As soon as we walked into the visitor center, the Female Park Ranger at the desk (Hispanic or Native American) rudely says "what are you doing here?" Without even saying "welcome, how can I help you?" Or anything along those lines. Before we even had a chance to say we're here to explore the park, she proceeded to say "there's nothing to do here, it snowed, so all the trails are closed"... Are you kidding me? My girlfriend and I were extremely disappointed and disgusted that a Park Ranger would treat visitors like that! I was a Seasonal Park Ranger for a few years and never treated any visitors with such disrespect regardless of whether I was having a rough morning or day. She needs to retire or find another career. There are a lot of people out there (including me) who are passionate about our Country's parks and would be more than happy to take her position! read more