LA VERKIN CREEK TRAIL (Lee Pass to Willis Creek)

TRAIL INFORMATION

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Overview:
The La Verkin Creek Trail is the main connector trail of the Kolob Canyons section of Zion. Starting at Lee Pass, this trail is almost 11 miles in length, looping south around the Finger Canyons, then turning east to join up with La Verkin Creek. The trail leads to the famous Kolob Arch and the Hop Valley Trail to provide access to the Kolob Terrace section. Continuing past Hop Valley, the trail continues up La Verkin Creek where the canyon walls get tall and narrow and then the trail ends abruptly at the northeastern border of the park. (The trail used to continue and connect to the Kolob Reservoir, but private landowners have blocked access. This makes the northeastern corner of the Kolob Section probably one of the least visited parts of the park. Since the La Verkin Creek Trail is so long and meandering, there are several interesting hiking options.

Several 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 a little over 13 miles total (there and back), this makes for a nice long day hike. Start early in the day! Remember that Lee Pass is 1000 feet higher than La Verkin Creek, so the hike out will be more difficult than the hike in.
• Leisurely 2-Day Backpack: If you want more time to soak in the views, do this hike in two days! Just about every campsite along La Verkin Creek is wonderful, so if you're looking for a great camping experience, this is the place. (See more camping info below.) Be sure to see the Kolob Arch, hang out by the water of La Verkin Creek, and if you have plenty of time, hike further up the canyon to see the Beartrap Canyon Falls. The Kolob Arch to Beartrap Canyon falls is an extra 5 miles roundtrip (2-4 hours) and is well worth the effort.
• 3-Day Backpack to Explore Willis Creek: The upper northwestern corner of the Kolob Section is pretty remote, so it's hard to get there and back in two days. If you want to explore Willis Creek, it's best done as a 3-day adventure. As the scenery in Willis Creek isn't as striking as other parts of Zion, this is the option that few choose. See my description of the "Beartrap Canyon Loop" for a grueling semi-technical possibility.

Detailed Description:
The La Verkin Creek Trail is very straightforward and the National Geographic Trails Illustrated Map is useful to track your progress. Starting at the roadside parking lot at Lee Pass, the trail heads south and quickly descends into the valley below. (In the first mile, you descend over 400 feet.) Once in the dry wash of the valley below, the trail levels off and descends more slowly as you make your way past the southern Kolob Finger Canyons. At 3.5 miles, the trail turns east and descends even further down into the valley of La Verkin Creek. The intersection of the trail and La Verkin Creek is a great spot for you to take a break and sit by the water, especially on sunny days. (This spot is roughly 1000 feet lower than Lee Pass; you will notice this difference on the hike out!)

The next two miles along the streambed are quite sandy and could be miserable in the hot summer months, but soon enough you reach the Kolob Arch Trail - a quick one-mile (round trip) one-hour diversion to see the impressive Kolob Arch. The hike up to the Kolob Arch is fairly easy but involves a little bit of rock-scrambling in the overgrown side canyon. Continuing on the La Verkin Creek Trail past the intersection with the Hop Valley Trail, you will notice the walls are closing in around you for a much more dramatic section of canyon. The trail now follows the stream more closely and crosses it several times.

Two miles from the Kolob Arch Trail is the mouth of Beartrap Canyon -- one of the most amazing spots in the Kolob Section. It is a quick hike to see the beautiful Beartrap Canyon Falls. (The falls block further access up the canyon.) If you choose to explore further up La Verkin Creek, you will be entering territory that few people bother to see. The canyon becomes overgrown and by Willis Creek, the streambed turns dry. The scenery is admittedly less interesting here, looking more like a northwestern pine forest than a southwestern desert canyon. Near the border of the park, Willis Creek opens up and you are in an open valley. The end of the trail is extremely anti-climactic -- the NPS gate that marks the border of the park. (Although the trail used to continue to the Kolob Reservoir, private landowners have blocked access, so this is off-limits.)

Camping Suggestions:
A permit is required to camp at any of the campsites on the La Verkin Creek Trail. You may purchase a permit for your group at the Backcountry Desk in the main Visitors Center or at the Kolob Visitors Center. 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 5-17 are good choices if you are hiking to the Kolob Arch and back in two days. Campsites 1-4 are less interesting (4 is the least inviting), but provide a good camping opportunity for those who don't want to hike too far. Campsites 18, 19, and 20 are quite remote and secluded, and I would only recommend these if you plan on hiking far up Willis Creek.

Water Sources:
If you are doing the Kolob Arch day hike, bring your own water. If you are backpacking, La Verkin Creek is a great dependable source of fresh water. Remember to purify as the creek is downstream of farming on the high plateau above the park.

Joe's Spin:
This is one of my favorite backpacking/camping areas in Zion, but this isn't one of my favorite trails. Parts of the trail are sandy and monotonous and the scenery is more subtle than the main 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 effort. For most people, hiking further 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 be in the most isolated corner of the park.

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