La Verkin Creek Trail to Bear Trap Canyon Falls

La Verkin Creek Trail to Bear Trap Canyon Falls is an approximately 18-mile out-and-back from Lee Pass to a pool beneath a waterfall in a narrow red-rock canyon. The direct route follows the trail through Timber Creek country to La Verkin Creek, then continues to the mouth of Bear Trap Canyon and up the creek. Set aside about 10 to 12 hours. The measured route is 18.1 miles round trip; one published estimate is 17.6, so treat it as about 18 miles. This is for hikers ready for a remote, all-day walk, not a quick waterfall stop.

The first miles drop from Lee Pass toward Timber Creek, with open views across the Kolob Finger Canyons. The path enters a mostly dry wash, then leaves it around mile 3 and bends around Gregory Butte on the descent to La Verkin Creek. The return to Lee Pass means climbing back roughly 1,000 feet from the lower creek country. It is a long climb after an even longer walk; save energy for it.

La Verkin Creek brings a change to sandy banks and creek-side walking. Deep sand can make steady progress slow, and the route crosses water several times. Continue beyond the Hop Valley junction toward Bear Trap Canyon. The optional Kolob Arch spur is near this section and adds a little over half a mile each way to the arch viewpoint; it is not part of the falls route or the mileage above. Tread gets fainter and brushier as you approach the canyon.

At the canyon mouth, leave the named trail and follow the stream upstream for about half a mile to the falls. The final narrows are framed by thin-layered red-orange Navajo sandstone, with sand and pebbles, slick gray mud, and driftwood at the water's edge. The walk ends at a pool beneath the cascade; the waterfall blocks the way farther up. If the water is low and the footing is safe, frame the falls with the vertical walls to show how narrow the canyon is.

Lee Pass Trailhead is a roadside access on Kolob Canyons Road with several parking spaces. There is no food service along the route, so bring a full day's food. Carry water and treatment gear; natural water needs purification. Spring through fall is the usual hiking season, while snow can linger into early spring. Several creek crossings can become difficult during or after heavy rain, and narrow canyons in Zion can flash flood at any time. Check the forecast and park flood potential, and do not enter the canyon when storms threaten. Overnight stays require a wilderness permit and a designated campsite. Pets are not allowed on this trail.