La Verkin Creek Trail to Kolob Arch

Zion National Park, Kolob Canyons (Lee Pass Trailhead, off I-15)

The La Verkin Creek Trail drops from Lee Pass, in Zion’s Kolob Canyons section, to a creek lined with cottonwoods and ponderosas, then follows it to a spur below Kolob Arch. The NPS calls the area “a great area to spend a few days,” and the trail has 13 designated campsites along the way.

It’s a quieter side of Zion, reached from I-15 rather than through Zion Canyon.

The hike

The NPS lists the trail at 7 miles from Lee Pass to Kolob Arch, 14 miles round trip, with 1,037 feet of elevation change. James Kaiser says Lee Pass, 3.6 miles from the Kolob Canyons Visitor Center, is named for John D. Lee.

From Lee Pass the trail drops to Timber Creek, below Kolob Canyons Road, and runs south past the tips of the Finger Canyons before turning east along La Verkin Creek. Backpacking Routes says the trail swings around Gregory Butte, and numbered campsite posts begin to appear after a few miles. The NPS campsite list places Site 1 about 2 miles from the trailhead, in cottonwoods at the base of Shuntavi Butte, and Site 3 with views of Red Butte. Site 4 sits near a historic corral.

The Hop Valley Trail joins near Site 11. James Kaiser says 10 campsites lie below that junction and 3 above. About 6.5 miles from the trailhead, a half-mile spur heads north to a viewpoint below Kolob Arch, which Kaiser describes as “nearly 300 feet long and 75 feet thick.” The NPS lists it among the largest free-standing arches.

Past the arch spur, the trail continues up canyon toward Bear Trap Canyon and Willis Canyon. The NPS describes Site 13 as isolated, among maples and box elders, about a 10-minute walk from Bear Trap Canyon, and suggests these canyons for longer trips or day hikes. One Hiking Project user described the trail past the Hop Valley junction as “challenging, with many water crossings and downed trees.”

The NPS says the trail is best in spring, summer, and fall, with snow typical in winter. Backpacking Routes prefers late fall to early spring and warns that summer can be very hot.

For a longer Zion trip on the other side of the Kolob Terrace, see the West Rim Trail.

Tips

Pick up your permit in Zion Canyon. The NPS says permits aren’t available at Kolob Canyons.
Ask about springs before you go, and avoid filtering creek water with algae mats.
Wait out high water at creek crossings after storms.
Avoid midsummer if you don’t do well in heat.

Camping

The NPS says camping is “permitted in designated sites only.” Of the 13 sites, the park’s campsite list marks five as reservable (2, 4, 5, 8, and 11) and the rest as walk-in permits issued in person at the Zion Canyon Visitor Center Wilderness Desk the day before or the day of your trip. Group limits range from 2 to 12 by site. Reservations open on Recreation.gov on Dec. 5, March 5, June 5, and Sept. 5 for the following quarter. Fires aren’t allowed in Zion Wilderness; use a stove. The NPS says Site 5 is sandy and secluded but has active ants in summer, and Site 9 sits in a large ponderosa grove.

Inside Intel: On Hiking Project, one hiker who went over Labor Day weekend in 2016 reported that “the first drinkable water source began at camp 4,” and another used Site 4 as a base for a four-day trip with day hikes to Beartrap Canyon Falls and Kolob Arch. The NPS notes a spring near Site 7, on a promontory among oaks.

Trail facts

Distance: 14 miles round trip to Kolob Arch (NPS)
Route type: Out and back
Difficulty: Moderate
Campsites: 13 designated sites (5 reservable, 8 walk-in)
Water: La Verkin Creek (cyanobacteria Health Watch); springs, including one near Site 7
Permits: Zion wilderness permit, picked up at the Zion Canyon Visitor Center
Fires: Prohibited; stoves only
Trailhead: Lee Pass, Kolob Canyons Road
Last verified: October 12, 2026

The Lowdown

A sandy night under the cottonwoods:

Several La Verkin Creek sites sit on sand among cottonwoods and ponderosas, a short walk from Kolob Arch. See the sleeping pads testers recommend.

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Where this comes from

This page draws on the sources below, along with other guides and trip reports. Links go to the original pages.

Before you go: This page is based on published trail guides, trip reports, and reviews, along with official park and agency information where we could find it. It’s meant to help backpackers discover new trails, not to replace current, official information. Conditions, closures, permits, campsites, and water sources change, and some details here may be out of date or wrong. Confirm everything with the managing agency and check current conditions before you head out, and don’t rely on this page alone for safety or navigation. Backcountry travel involves risk.