La Verkin Creek Trail to Kolob Arch

This is a 14-mile round trip from Lee Pass to the Kolob Arch viewpoint, following La Verkin Creek Trail and its short spur. Plan on 7–9 hours for a full day. The canyon walk and creek corridor are as much of the payoff as the arch. You see Kolob Arch high on a cliff from across the canyon, not from underneath it.

The trail drops quickly from Lee Pass, opening views of the red-and-cream Kolob Finger Canyons before it reaches the mostly dry Timber Creek wash. You cross that drainage several times. Around three miles in, the route leaves Timber Creek, skirts Gregory Butte and turns toward La Verkin Creek. The grade eases in places, but sandy and rocky stretches still slow the walk. At the creek, a small slickrock chute is a good place to pause before continuing along the sandy banks.

The Kolob Arch spur branches from the creek trail near the seven-mile point. It is a little over half a mile each way and rougher than the main route, with a bit of scrambling near the viewpoint. The arch spans 287 feet and is 75 feet thick, but it sits high across the canyon and can be partly screened by trees. Go for the whole canyon day as well as the landmark; the arch is a distant finish, not a close-up walk-through.

Return the same way. The early descent from Lee Pass becomes the final uphill climb, after a long day on uneven sand and rock. The arch spur is part of the 14-mile round trip, so leave time for the return climb rather than turning around at the creek.

Lee Pass has limited parking and no water or restroom. Fill bottles and use the restroom at Kolob Canyons Visitor Center before driving to the trailhead, then carry enough water for the whole day; do not count on the creek as a drinking-water stop. Summer heat can be punishing, while snow can linger into early spring. Pets are prohibited on Kolob Canyons trails. Overnight trips need a wilderness permit and must use designated campsites. Wilderness groups are limited to 12 people sharing an affiliation.