Kolob Canyons
Canyon · New Harmony, Utah
The other half of Zion National Park, and the half almost nobody sees — a set of finger canyons cut into the Kolob Plateau, with their own entrance off Interstate 15 at exit 40 near Cedar City, roughly forty miles by road from Zion Canyon and not connected to it inside the park. It was Zion National Monument in its own right from 1937 until it was folded into the national park in 1956. A five-mile road runs in, two trails run out of it, and Kolob Arch at the end of the longer one is described as one of the world's longest natural arches.
Kolob Canyons Road, Interstate 15 exit 40, New Harmony, Utah, United States
Part of Zion National Park, so the Zion entrance fee covers it and the America the Beautiful pass applies — if you have already paid to enter Zion Canyon, this costs nothing more. ⚠ IT HAS ITS OWN ENTRANCE OFF INTERSTATE 15 AT EXIT 40, near Cedar City, roughly forty miles by road from Zion Canyon, AND THERE IS NO ROAD BETWEEN THE TWO SECTIONS INSIDE THE PARK. There is no shuttle and no permit system here — you drive your own vehicle up the five-mile Kolob Canyons Road to the viewpoints. ⚠ THAT ROAD OFTEN CLOSES IN WINTER, and because it is the access to everything, a closure means there is nothing to see — check nps.gov/zion before setting out. Taylor Creek is about a four-hour round trip and crosses the stream repeatedly, so expect wet feet; the Kolob Arch trail is about eight hours round trip and is a full day rather than an add-on.