Kolob Arch is a 14-mile out-and-back in the northwest corner of Zion National Park. Kolob Arch is the second-longest arch in the world. This section of Zion National Park is less visited and has ample reservable backcountry campsites.
Region: Southwest (Zion National Park)
Length: 14 miles (2 days)
Physical Difficulty: Moderate
- Route gains roughly 2,500 feet over 14 miles (round trip)
- Many signed campsites near Kolob Arch
- Trail quickly gets muddy in inclement weather
Logistical Difficulty: Easy
- Out-and-back hike
- Access to reliable water
- Very well-marked trail
Season: Fall, Spring
Elevation (Average): 5,500 feet
Total Elevation Gain: 2,506 feet (round trip)
Hiking to Kolob Arch in Zion National Park
Kolob Arch is located in the Kolob Canyons section of Zion National Park. Being a more difficult location to reach than the narrows or Angels Landing, Kolob Arch is the perfect spot for an overnight backpacking trip in the third-most visited national park.
Kolob Arch is the second-longest arch in the world, only trailing after Landscape Arch in Arches National Park. But this Zion arch takes a little more effort to visit. There are technically two ways to reach the arch (one from either side) but this write-up begins at Lee Pass, off Kolob Canyons Road.
The trail is nestled between the towering peaks and smaller buttes, causing it to hold mud and puddles for a long time. The trail leaves the trailhead parking lot and immediately swings around Gregory Butte and follows the La Verkin Creek drainage. Posts with numbered campsites begin appearing after only a few miles.
There are 13 different campsites scattered along the creek. Being a national park, a backcountry reservation is required to stay at each spot. The sign marking the turn toward Kolob Arch is just over 6 miles from Lee Pass. From the sign it is a mile back to the view of the arch towering above. The trail to Kolob Arch is much rougher than the route through the drainage. Downed trees, rock hopping across small creeks, and small overgrown sections can be expected.
At the end of the mile-long hike up the canyon, look up to the left and witness the second-longest arch in the world! This route can be extended far beyond 14 miles by simply reserving a campsite farther back. The larger-numbered campsites are farther from Lee Pass.
The Virgin River and tributaries often have blooms of toxic cyanobacteria. When I hiked this route the ranger warned me to only collect water from natural springs and not La Verkin Creek. It is best to research the current conditions and status of the water in Zion National Park, as with any desert backpacking trip.
How to Get to Kolob Arch
Closest Major City: Las Vegas, Nevada (155 miles)
Closest Town: Escalante, Utah (55 miles)
Lee Pass
Getting to the Lee Pass Trailhead is simple. A signed exit off Interstate 15 will travel past a small visitors center with a park entrance checkpoint. From the Kolob Canyons Visitor Center it is a 4-mile drive up Kolob Canyons Road to a signed trailhead parking area.
Kolob Arch Season / Direction
Season: In good weather, the route is perfect from the late fall to the early spring. But bad weather can easily saturate the route, and in a cold snap, snow can stick around at elevation. Occasionally, Kolob Canyons Road is closed because of snow and ice too. It is possible to hike in the summer although it could get quite hot.
Direction: This is a simple out-and-back hike with well-signed campsites, turns, and forks.
Logistics: Permits / Camping, Navigation, Water
Permits / Camping: Permits are needed for backcountry camping in Zion National Park. They can be obtained online or in-person the day before starting your hike. You will need to camp at your reserved campsite.
Navigation: Navigation and finding your assigned campsite are simple due to the ample signage in the national park.
Water: Check the current conditions and water quality associated with cyanobacteria.
Know Before You Go
Water: Although Zion National Park has a number of streams that flow through it, the park is in the desert and water quantity and quality fluctuate greatly.
Pack It Out: Pack everything out, including human waste.
Camping: Camping is permitted only at the campsite that matches the backcountry reservation made through the park service.
