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The Top 5 Things to Do at Kolob Canyons & Kanarra Falls
Tucked into the northwest corner of Zion National Park, the Kolob Canyons section feels like a different park entirely — towering crimson finger canyons, quiet trails, and a fraction of the crowds you’ll find at Zion’s main entrance. Combine it with nearby Kanarra Falls and you’ve got one of the best low-traffic adventures in southern Utah, easily reachable from Las Vegas in a camper van.
Here are our five favorite ways to experience the area.
1. Hike to Kanarra Falls
A 3.6-mile slot-canyon hike that wades through a shallow stream before opening up to a stunning waterfall and a wooden ladder bolted into the rock. Permits are required and limited daily — book ahead at kanarrafalls.com. Wear shoes you don’t mind getting wet and bring a dry bag for your phone.
2. Drive the Kolob Canyons Scenic Road
This 5-mile drive climbs from the visitor center to a panoramic overlook of the finger canyons at sunset. It’s one of the most underrated drives in the entire National Park system — pull off at every viewpoint, you won’t regret it.
3. Walk Taylor Creek Trail
A 5-mile out-and-back that follows a small creek between two massive canyon walls to the Double Arch Alcove. The trail is mostly flat, shaded, and ends at a soaring natural amphitheater that’s perfect for a picnic. Look for the historic homesteader cabins along the way.
4. Trek to Kolob Arch
For the ambitious: a 14-mile round-trip via La Verkin Creek to one of the longest free-standing natural arches in the world. It’s a long day or an overnight backpack — either way, the solitude and the scale of the canyon make it unforgettable.
5. Detour to The Subway
A short drive south puts you in range of one of Zion’s most photographed slot canyons. The bottom-up route to The Subway is a strenuous 9-mile day with rock-hopping and stream crossings, but the tunnel-like sculpted walls are worth every step. A permit is required — apply through recreation.gov.
Before You Go
The Kolob Canyons entrance has its own visitor center off I-15 (exit 40) and accepts the standard Zion entrance fee or America the Beautiful pass. There’s no campground inside the Kolob section — the closest van-friendly options are in Cedar City and on BLM land just outside the park.
Take Your Adventure Further
Kolob is just the start. Rent one of our fully-equipped Vegas Campers vans, head north on I-15, and turn a quick day trip into a full southern Utah road trip. All camping gear is included and the vans get great gas mileage so you can keep exploring.
Related Trips
Keep exploring with these nearby itineraries: