Taylor Creek Trail

Taylor Creek Trail is a 5.2-mile out-and-back along the Middle Fork of Taylor Creek to Double Arch Alcove, a shaded sandstone recess at the end of a narrow canyon. The walk passes two early-1930s homestead cabins and the Kanarraville Fold before it reaches the alcove. Allow three to four hours. Choose it for the creek crossings, the canyon walls, and an unusual endpoint; you return the way you came.

From the trailhead, steps drop to Taylor Creek, then the route follows its corridor into the canyon. Crossings come repeatedly. In low water, stepping stones sometimes keep shoes dry, but seasonal flow can turn this into a wet-foot hike. Wear shoes you are willing to get wet and bring a pole if it helps with balance. Much of the tread is firm soil or soft sand, with boulders and short stair-like sections. The first descent is brief; you climb back to the parking area at the end.

Near the North Fork confluence, a short spur reaches the Larson Cabin. Gustav Larson built it in 1930 from white-fir logs hauled by wagon from Cedar City, then spent summers here from 1930 to 1933 raising pigs. Farther up the Middle Fork, the Fife Cabin sits on a bench above the north bank. Arthur Fife built that cabin in 1930. The trail also passes the Kanarraville Fold, where the sandstone layers bend into broad curves along the canyon wall.

The name makes it sound like a hole through the rock, but the destination is a deep alcove cut by water into Navajo sandstone. Its broad overhang is shaded, with dark and pale seepage streaks running down the curved wall. Give yourself a few minutes to look up at the layers. For a photo, keep part of the overhang and the red ground in frame so the size of the recess reads clearly.

The route is moderate overall, but it is not a smooth stroll. Water level changes how the crossings feel, and sandy stretches, large rocks, and steps demand attention. Winter can bring ice; spring flow can wet feet. The trail reaches Zion Wilderness, where groups are limited to 12 people who share an affiliation. Pets are not allowed on Kolob Canyons trails.

Use Taylor Creek Trailhead on Kolob Canyons Road. It is roughly an hour from Zion Canyon, and no shuttle serves this part of the park, so plan it as its own outing. Pit toilets are at the trailhead; restrooms and water-bottle filling are at Kolob Canyons Visitor Center, with no water or food service found along the route. Park entry fees apply, but there is no separate activity fee or reservation. Visitor reports say trailhead parking can fill on busy days, though availability varies; an earlier start gives you a better chance at a space.