Kolob Canyons
National parks
The quieter northwest corner of Zion National Park, reached from its own entrance at I-15 exit 40, with a five-mile scenic drive beneath 2,000-foot crimson cliffs.
A separate entrance to the same park
Kolob Canyons is part of Zion National Park but has its own entrance off Interstate 15 at exit 40, about 40 miles north of Zion Canyon and 17 miles south of Cedar City. Driving between the two districts takes roughly an hour, so Kolob is not a detour from the main canyon — it is its own outing.
The payoff is that it carries a fraction of Zion Canyon's traffic while delivering the same Navajo sandstone at the same scale. The cliff walls here rise about 2,000 feet.
The scenic drive
A five-mile paved road climbs from the visitor center into the finger canyons, with viewpoints and trailheads along the way. The road can close in winter for snow or ice, so check conditions before making the drive from St. George.
Hiking
More than 20 miles of trail leave the road, from the short Timber Creek Overlook walk near the end of the drive to long backcountry routes into the Kolob wilderness. Groups larger than 12 are restricted to the Timber Creek Overlook Trail.
Before you go
Every visitor stops at the Kolob Canyons Visitor Center to pay the entrance fee or show an interagency pass. Wilderness permits are not issued here — those come from the Zion Canyon Visitor Center on the other side of the park.
See also Kolob Canyons and Zion in winter.
Frequently asked questions
Is Kolob Canyons the same as Zion National Park?
Yes. Kolob Canyons is the northwest district of Zion National Park, but it has a separate entrance at I-15 exit 40 and no road connects it directly to Zion Canyon. Driving between the two takes about an hour.
Do I need a separate entrance fee?
No. The same Zion National Park entrance fee or interagency pass covers both districts. You still stop at the Kolob Canyons Visitor Center to show it.
Can I get a wilderness permit at Kolob Canyons?
No. Wilderness permits are issued at the Zion Canyon Visitor Center, not at Kolob Canyons.