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Out And Back · Kolob Canyons — Zion National Park

Middle Fork of Taylor Creek

A quiet, non-technical Kolob Canyons hike up a streambed to the Double Arch Alcove, past two historic homestead cabins.

Also known as: Taylor Creek Trail, Middle Fork Taylor Creek, Double Arch Alcove Trail

A non-technical day hike up the streambed of the Middle Fork of Taylor Creek to the Double Arch Alcove — an undercut sandstone amphitheater streaked with desert varnish. The trail crosses the creek again and again on the way in, passing two early-1930s homestead cabins, and ends where the walls close overhead. It sits in the quiet Kolob Canyons corner of Zion, an hour from the main canyon, and needs nothing more technical than sturdy shoes and a tolerance for wet feet — no ropes, no rappels.

Quick stats

Distance
5.2 mi round trip
Elevation gain
800 ft
Time
3–4 hrs
Difficulty
Moderate · family-friendly
Dogs
Not allowed
Fee
Day-use parking fee
Best months
Apr, May, Sep, Oct

Getting there & parking

Take I-15 to Exit 40 (Kolob Canyons), stop at the visitor center for the entrance fee and current conditions, then drive about 2 miles up Kolob Canyons Road to the signed Taylor Creek Trailhead. A standard passenger car is fine. It is roughly an hour from Springdale and the main Zion Canyon.

The standard Zion National Park entrance fee applies (paid at the Kolob Canyons Visitor Center). There is no separate hiking permit or fee.

Know before you go

No dogs. Dogs are not allowed on Zion trails, including in Kolob Canyons.

No hiking permit required. A Forest Service day-use parking fee does apply — see Getting there & parking above.

The route

Gentle grade along a streambed with numerous creek crossings and occasional boulder steps. NPS lists 2.6 miles one-way / 5.2 round trip.

  • 0 mi · Taylor Creek Trailhead — Signed trailhead ~2 miles up Kolob Canyons Road.
  • 1.1 mi · Larson Cabin — Historic 1929 homestead cabin.
  • 2.6 mi · Double Arch Alcove — Undercut sandstone alcove (blind arch) at the trail's end.

When to go

Hikeable year-round, with spring and fall the most pleasant. Spring runoff means higher, colder creek crossings; winter can be very icy underfoot.

Kolob Canyons Road stays open in most winters but can close or ice up after storms — check conditions at the visitor center. Traction devices help on icy stretches.

Check current conditions before you go:

Safety & hazards

Numerous seasonal creek crossings — expect wet feet. Water runs higher, colder, and slicker during spring runoff.

The streambed and shaded sections can be very icy in winter and early spring. Traction devices help.

History

Named for Taylor Creek, whose Middle Fork the trail follows to the Double Arch Alcove.

Early-20th-century homesteading in the Kolob Canyons drainage.

Two early-1930s homestead cabins sit along the trail — the Larson Cabin (1929) and the Fife Cabin — remnants of homesteading in the Kolob Canyons.

Frequently asked questions

Is the Middle Fork of Taylor Creek a technical canyoneering route?
No. Despite the 'canyon' setting, Taylor Creek is a non-technical day hike to the Double Arch Alcove — no ropes, rappels, or technical gear. All three forks of Taylor Creek are hikes. The genuinely technical canyons in the Kolob area (Kolob Creek, the Right Fork of North Creek) are entirely separate drainages.
Do you need a permit to hike Taylor Creek?
No hiking permit is required. You pay the standard Zion National Park entrance fee at the Kolob Canyons Visitor Center. No overnight camping is allowed along the trail, and group size is limited to 12.
How long is the Taylor Creek hike?
About 5.2 miles round trip (2.6 miles each way) with roughly 800 feet of gain per the NPS — typically 3 to 4 hours. Expect numerous creek crossings and wet feet.