La Verkin Creek Trail - Joe's Guide to Zion National Park (2024)

A Long Trail through the Kolob Canyons:

The La Verkin Creek Trail is the main connecting trail through the Kolob Canyons section of Zion. Starting at Lee Pass along the Kolob Canyons Road, this trail runs almost 11 miles in length from end-to-end, heading south to loop around the Finger Canyons and then turning east to join up with and follow La Verkin Creek to the NPS boundary. An in-and-out hike to see the Kolob Arch makes for a strenuous and rewarding day and is probably the most popular use of the trail. Numerous campsites along the trail also allow for longer visits to explore Willis Creek and the lonely northeast corner of the Kolob Section. The La Verkin Creek Trail is also stage one of the famed Trans-Zion Trek that traverses the entire park.

Three Ways To Hike the La Verkin Creek Trail:

Day Hike to the Kolob Arch:
This is probably the most popular way to hike the trail. At roughly 14 miles total (in and out), this makes for a nice long day hike to visit the famous Kolob Arch and could take between 7-10 hours. Start early in the day and since La Verkin Creek is 1000 feet lower than Lee Pass, remember that you will be doing the strenuous uphill hiking when you are tired at the end of the day.

Leisurely Two-Day Backpack:
If you want more time to soak in the views, reserve one of the primitive campsites and hike the La Verkin Creek Trail in two days! Just about every campsite along La Verkin Creek provides a wonderful backpacking experience. Be sure to visit the Kolob Arch, hang out by the water of La Verkin Creek, and if you have plenty of time and energy, hike further up the canyon to see the Beartrap Canyon Falls and Willis Creek in the remote northeast corner. (The Kolob Arch to Beartrap Canyon Falls is an extra 5 miles roundtrip (2-4 hours) of hiking and is well worth the effort. See backpacking information below.

As Part of the Trans-Zion Trek:
Starting at Lee Pass, the La Verkin Creek Trail is the first leg of a Trans-Zion Trek backpacking route. (Follow the La Verkin Creek Trail to the Hop Valley Trail to the Connector Trail/Wildcat Canyon Trail, then finally the West Rim Trail to complete a route from the Kolob Section all the way to Zion Canyon.)

Starting a Hike from Lee Pass:

To get to the Lee Pass Trailhead, drive roughly 3.8 miles from the Kolob Canyons entrance along the Kolob Canyons Road. This trailhead is the start of the La Verkin Creek Trail and there are several parking spaces along the road. The trail heads south offering great views of the Kolob Finger Canyons to the east and quickly descends 400 feet into the valley below.

Once in the mostly dry wash of Timber Creek, the trail descends more slowly as it makes its way past the various Kolob Finger Canyons. At 3 miles, the trail leaves Timber Creek to pass around Gregory Butte and then heads east to slowly descend and join up with La Verkin Creek.

At the intersection of the trail and La Verkin Creek, the stream flows through a small slickrock chute and makes for a great spot to take a break and sit by the water, especially on hot sunny days. For the next two miles, the trail follows the sandy banks of the river, passing several campsites along the way. The hiking is mostly level here, but the deep sand in spots can really slow you down, especially on a really hot summer day.

Visiting the Kolob Arch:

Roughly 6.2 miles from Lee Pass you will reach the junction with the Kolob Arch Trail, the short spur trail to see Kolob Arch, the famous landmark of the area. The short trail is a little over .5 miles long (one-way) and heads north up into the side drainage known as "Icebox Canyon" or "Waterfalls Canyon." While the trail is a bit more rugged than the La Verkin Creek Trail and involves a wee bit of scrambling here and there, soon enough you will reach the end of the trail and a good viewing area of the impressive arch with its 287-ft span.

After visiting the arch, most dayhikers will retrace their steps and hike back out to Lee Pass. Remember that Lee Pass is 1000 feet higher than La Verkin Creek, so the hike out will be more difficult than the hike in. Allow plenty of time to get out before dark.

Hop Valley Trail Junction:

If you are continuing east of the Kolob Arch, you will encounter your first river crossing and in high water (spring and after rains), it may be difficult to keep your feet dry. Only .3 miles east of the Kolob Arch Trail is the junction with the Hop Valley Trail. Those doing the Trans-Zion Trek will head south to follow the Hop Valley Trail up into the hills to start the next leg of the hike. Before you continue, if you are desperate for one last water source, continue down to the east to Beatty Spring, a spring and pool dripping out of the boulders under the mouth of Hop Valley.

Upper La Verkin Creek and Beartrap Canyon:

Beyond the Hop Valley Trail junction, the La Verkin Creek Trail continues to follow the river as it heads northeast into the narrowing canyon. While the canyon never actually slots up, it does offer some sublime remote scenery. The trail alternates between following the stream to traversing the forested hills high above the watercourse. There are several river crossings where you are likely to get your feet wet.

Two miles from the Kolob Arch Trail is the mouth of Beartrap Canyon, a beautiful dark side canyon that is more slot-like and dramatic than any of the other canyons in the region. From its mouth, it is only a quick half a mile hike upstream to Beartrap Canyon Falls, a wonderful Zen-like 30-foot high waterfall and alcove. The waterfall prevents any travel further up this canyon. Return the way you came.

Willis Creek and the NPS Border:

If you choose to explore further up La Verkin Creek from Beartrap Canyon, you will be entering territory that few people bother to see. From the mouth of Beartrap Canyon, the trail continues another 2.5 miles to the northwest border of the park and the scenery is admittedly overgrown and less interesting. After roughly a mile of hiking along La Verkin Creek, the official trail turns east into the dry Willis Creek. Hiking here can be annoying with a fair amount of bushwhacking; you will count the number of logs you have to climb over or under.

Near the border of the park, Willis Creek opens up into a valley filled with pinyon pine trees. An actual trail still exists that climbs out of the valley, but it is so lightly travelled, nature is claiming it back and it may be difficult to find and follow. You'll know you're on the right track when you locate the lonely trailhead marker and broken gate at the NPS boundary. Although the trail used to continue east to the Kolob Reservoir, the surrounding land is private property, so continuing through is not permitted. While this area might not be the most exciting destination hike, you might enjoy the fact that you are in the least-visited corner of Zion National Park! Retrace your steps to return to civilization.

Backpacking Information:

Camping along the La Verkin Creek Trail is permitted only in the 13 designated campsites. A wilderness permit is required for any multi-day hike; choose your campsite when you pick up your permit at the Zion Wilderness Desk or at the Kolob Visitor Center. (See the Zion Backpacking page for more details.) Do not squat at any campsite that you don't have a permit for, and please pack out all of your trash, including your solid human waste and TP. Let's talk about wag bags!

Campsite Descriptions:

Just about all of the designated campsites are great; many are in great spots well off the trail, either right next to La Verkin Creek or under a grove of pine trees. Campsites 5-11 are good choices if you are hiking to the Kolob Arch and back in two days. Campsites 1-3 are less interesting, but provide a good camping opportunity for those who don't want to hike too far. Campsites 12 and 13 are quite remote and secluded, and I would only recommend these if you plan on hiking far up Willis Creek. (Note: There used to be 20 campsite along the La Verkin Creek Trail, but the NPS eliminated three of them in 2005 and four more in 2012.) Names and descriptions below are from the Zion Backcountry Desk.

• Campsite 1 -- Deer Camp: This site is located about 2 miles in from the trailhead in a cottonwood tree grove at the base of Shuntavi Bluff. (Maximum Group Size: 4)
• Campsite 2 -- Ringtail Camp: A private site encircled by trees on east side of Timber Creek located just prior to the trail leaving this drainage. (Maximum Group Size: 4)
• Campsite 3 -- Dry Camp: This waterless site on the south side of the trail, half a mile above the creeks with great views of Red Butte. (Maximum Group Size: 6)
• Campsite 4 -- Juniper Camp: This site surrounded by junipers and cottonwoods is located a few minutes east of the historical corral and offers no privacy from the trail. (Maximum Group Size: 7)
• Campsite 5 -- Neagle Camp: This sandy site offers a little more seclusion about 125 feet north of La Verkin Creek Trail, be aware that ants also like campsite in the summer months. (Maximum Group Size: 4)
• Campsite 6 -- Dipper Camp: This sandy site provides plenty of privacy and is on the south side of La Verkin Creek near Skinny Dip Pool. (Maximum Group Size: 4)
• Campsite 7 -- Oak Point Camp: Near a spring on the north side of the creek, this site sits above the creek on a promontory among a stand of oaks. (Maximum Group Size: 2)
• Campsite 8 -- Flat Rock: A popular and spacious site on the north side of the creek with a large table/cooking rock. (Maximum Group Size: 12)
• Campsite 9 -- Cross Creek West Camp: A large ponderosa pine with scattered rocks mark this scenic site on the south side of the creek. (Maximum Group Size: 12)
• Campsite 10 -- Bird Camp: Visible from the trail, Bird Camp is located among ponderosas and four large boulders on the south side of the creek. (Maximum Group Size: 4)
• Campsite 11 -- Cougar Camp: This site is located on the north side of the creek after the trail junction with Hop Valley. (Maximum Group Size: 4)
• Campsite 12 -- Cottonwood Camp: Campers enjoy the cottonwoods and ponderosas that shade this site. (Maximum Group Size: 8)
• Campsite 13 -- Bear Camp: This isolated site is shaded by maples and box elder trees and is located a short 10 minute walk from Bear Trap Canyon (Maximum Group Size: 4)
  

Water Sources:

If you are doing the Kolob Arch day hike, bring your own water. If you are backpacking, La Verkin Creek is a dependable source of fresh water although it can run a bit silty. Remember to purify as the creek is downstream of farming on the high plateau above the park. Alternate sources of clear water are a small stream near campsite 7 as well as the stream in Kolob Arch Canyon (Icebox Canyon). Beatty Spring (.2 miles east of the Hop Valley Trail junction) is also usually reliable, but it's downstream of Hop Valley cattle grazing...

Joe's Spin:

This is one of my favorite backpacking/camping areas in Zion, but this isn't one of my favorite hiking trails. Parts of the trail are deep sand and the scenery is a bit more monotonous and subtle than Zion Canyon. But the campsites along the creek make this a great experience and the side hike to the Kolob Arch is well worth the effort. Beartrap Canyon up to the falls is also worth the extra effort. For most people, however, hiking further up Willis Creek to the end of the trail might be a bit anti-climactic as this section is less photogenic. It is still enjoyable to visit the most isolated corner of the park.