NORTHGATE PEAKS TRAIL

A Stroll through the High Country:

The Northgate Peaks Trail is a fairly short and easy family hike to an interesting viewpoint in the Kolob Terrace section of Zion. This lesser-traveled trail was created in the 1980s, making it a fairly recent addition to the park's canon of official trails and it offers a good escape from the crowds of the main canyon. To get to the trailhead, drive north up the Kolob Terrace Road (off of Route 9 in the town of Virgin, west of Springdale) roughly 15.5 miles to the Wildcat Canyon Trailhead. If you have never driven through the Terrace section before, you will find the scenery a fascinating change of pace from the scenery in the main canyon.

Driving to the Trailhead:

The Wildcat Canyon Trailhead is an easy to spot parking area located 15.5 miles up the Kolob Terrace Road, roughly .8 miles beyond a sharp U-turn in the road that heads up a steep hill to the upper plateau. The trailhead has an official NPS marker and display case with information on hikes in the area, including the popular Subway "Top-Down" route which also starts at this trailhead.

Hiking the Northgate Peaks Trail:

A hike on the Northgate Peaks Trail is roughly 4 miles (round-trip) on mostly level terrain and could take 2-4 hours, depending on how leisurely you go. Starting at the Wildcat Canyon Trailhead, hike along the well-defined Wildcat Canyon Trail (an old 4x4 road) as it meanders through mostly level terrain of a beautiful pinion forest with open fields and a few bleach-white sandstone formations in the distance. After roughly a mile, the trail intersects with the Connector Trail to Hop Valley. Turn left (east) and continue along the Wildcat Canyon Trail towards Lava Point.

After only another .2 miles, turn right (south) onto the Northgate Peaks Trail proper. After only another .2 miles, you will see a signpost that marks the Subway Top-Down Route down into Russell Gulch, but stay on the main trail as it heads south through the forested meadows. After another mile, you will reach the end of the trail, a nice viewing area located on top of a pile of volcanic boulders--a perfect spot to relax and have lunch.

The view at the end of the trail is a bit subtle compared to the views from the West Rim Trail or the main canyon, but it gives you a fascinating look at the sandstone for formations of the Great West Canyon far off in the distance. Peaks of interest include the two Northgate Peaks in the foreground (East Northgate Peak on the left and West Northgate Peak on the right) and the North Guardian Angel framed in the distance. The Left Fork of North Creek ("The Subway") is hidden behind the North Guardian Angel. When you have had enough of the views, return the way you came.

Joe's Spin:

This isn't the most exciting trail in the park, but is one of the few easy hikes in the Kolob Terrace, so it's a great excuse to leave the Zion Canyon crowds and see some different scenery. The trail is fairly level with no exposed sections, so it would be a good choice for those hiking with children.