Taylor Creek Trail (Kolob Canyons) Hiking Guide
Taylor Creek is the classic hike in Kolob Canyons, Zion's quieter northwest corner off I-15. The Middle Fork route follows the creek into a narrowing box canyon, past two homestead cabins from the early 1930s, to Double Arch Alcove, a huge recess eroded into the Navajo sandstone. It sees a fraction of the crowds in Zion Canyon and needs no shuttle.
Permit: Kolob Canyons is part of Zion, so park entrance fees apply: $35 per private vehicle for up to 7 days, $30 per motorcycle, $20 per person 16 or older without a car, or the $70 Zion annual or $80 America the Beautiful pass. Non-US residents 16 and older pay an added $100 apiece unless they enter on one of those annual passes. A day hike needs no wilderness permit.
Distance and Climb
AllTrails maps the out-and-back to Double Arch at 5.1 miles with 521 feet of gain and two to two and a half hours. The park's trail survey measured the Middle Fork at 2.6 miles one way, with about 800 feet of climbing and 370 feet of descent on the way in, and suggests three to four hours. The trail opens with steps, then becomes a sandy path along the creek.
Creek Crossings
Once the trail reaches the mouth of the canyon it enters the Zion Wilderness and crisscrosses Taylor Creek again and again; AllTrails hikers count 15 or more crossings. In spring the park says the crossings will get your feet wet, and in winter the trail can be very icy. Wear shoes you don't mind soaking, or bring a dry pair for the drive.
Along the Way
The trail passes the Kanarraville Fold, a bend in the rock layers, and two homestead cabins built in the early 1930s. Leave them as you find them. At the end, Double Arch Alcove is a deep, tall recess in the canyon wall where erosion has carved openings in the sandstone. Turn around here; the trail is out and back.
Rules for Wilderness Trails
Groups are limited to 12 people sharing an affiliation, and the park strictly enforces the limit; bigger groups can't split up to hike the same trail on the same day. Pets aren't allowed on any Kolob Canyons trail. There are pit toilets at the trailhead but none beyond it, so be ready to pack out human waste.
Getting to Kolob Canyons
Kolob Canyons is about an hour's drive from the Zion Canyon area, reached from I-15 near New Harmony. There's no shuttle; you drive the Kolob Canyons Road past the visitor center to the Taylor Creek Trailhead. Fill water bottles at the visitor center, since there's no water at the trailhead. The road is open most of the year but closes frequently in winter, and the trailhead lot is small.
Hiking tips for Taylor Creek Trail (Kolob Canyons)
- Stop at the Kolob Canyons Visitor Center for water and road conditions before you drive up.
- Pack a dry pair of socks in the car; you will get wet feet on most spring days.
- Leave the homestead cabins as you find them; they're part of the canyon's history.
- Carry a human waste bag; past the trailhead toilets the trail is wilderness.
- Watch for ice on shaded crossings in winter; the park warns conditions can be very icy.
Nearby trails to explore
- Timber Creek Overlook Trail
- La Verkin Creek Trail to Kolob Arch
- Riverside Walk (Zion)
Hike this trail with TrailMates
Kolob Canyons is quieter than Zion Canyon, so it's worth finding a hiking partner before you drive up. Use TrailMates to find Zion hikers heading to Taylor Creek. Download the TrailMates app to connect.