Overview

Zion National Park’s Kolob Canyons offers easily hiked paths to marvelous sights. The most popular trail is the Middle Fork of Taylor Creek, which ends at Double Arch Alcove. Along the way you’ll visit two homesteads from ages past. Enjoy the views of Paria and Tucupit Points and see a lot of wildlife along the way. This 5-mile roundtrip hike doesn’t have a lot of elevation change, so it’s relatively easy, despite all the stream crossings.

Taylor Creek created the Finger Canyons, which you’ll see as you hike. These finger-shaped rocks tower above the canyons between them, tall, colored rock formations stretching towards the sky. The colors come from an iron oxide within the rock.

Trailhead

Take I-15 to exit 40, go 2 miles beyond Kolob Canyons Visitor Center. Here you’ll find a parking area for the Middle Fork of Taylor Creek Trail as well as the North Fork of Taylor Creek Trail.

Details

• Distance – 5 miles
• Average Time of Hike – 4 hours
• Elevation Gain – 450 feet
• Difficulty – Easy to moderate
• Trail Type – Out and back

Plan & Prepare

You can access this trail year round, but the best time to hike it is from March to November.

You can get water from Taylor Creek, a year-round spring, but be sure to purify or filter it before drinking.

Rattlesnakes are common along the Middle Fork of Taylor Creek Trail, so you should always be prepared for some sightings.