Automobile Trips near Zion

Click on the headings for a slide show.  To see the show full screen, move your cursor off-screen.

Don't miss the best drives: the Kolob Canyons Rd, the Kolob Terrace Rd., and the Zion-Mt.Carmel Highway.

Trips of Several Hours

Grafton, the ghost town.  Drive to Rockville, then cross the Virgin River and head west about three miles parallel to the river. 

The town of Virgin. Go off the highway to explore the old town. Interesting old buildings, and quirky lifestyles. Be sure to stop at the Virgin Bookstore.

Hy 17 through Toquerville. The old route to Salt Lake City, along a lush creek. Interesting old houses and ranches. You can take this route towards the Kolob Canyons area.

Zion-Mt.Carmel Highway (Rt.9 east through the tunnel).  Drive to the east entrance of the park.  This is the easy way to see the fabulous back country.  Park you car at one of the roadside turnoffs, and hike along the dry creek bed.  Or take the short Canyon Overlook Trail just beyond the tunnel. 

Smithsonian Butte Rd. leaves from Rockville.  Cross the river, head west, then south.  This good dirt road connects with Rt. 59 and saves a lot of miles on a trip to Colorado City.

Half-day Trips

Kolob Terrace Road.  Drive from Virgin, as far as Lava Point. Takes you into the high country, where the scenery is very different. The road is paved most of the way to Lava Point.  It can be cool up at Lava Point, but the view of the entire Zion area is fabulous. You can drive all the way to I-15 or Rt. 14, but I haven’t tried it. Closed in winter.

The polygamous towns of Colorado City and Hilldale. Take a long loop on Hy 59 SE from Hurricane. Stop at the Twin Towns, then continue on to Fredonia and Kanab, returning via Carmel Jct. and Rt. 9. On this loop, there are lots of other things to see in the Kanab area.

Kolob Canyons Road. Take Rt. 9 west to La Verkinm, then Rt. 17 throughToquerville, then I-15 north.  Takes at least an hour one way from Springdale.  From the road, the views are even better than in Zion Valley. Watch the sun set here.

Best Friends Animal Society—a large and well-known animal rescue center near Kanab.

Coral Pink Sand Dunes—on the way to Kanab. Mainly a place for people with dune buggies, but there is a campground.  A long drive in, after you leave Rt. 9.

St. George--A big and booming town, mixing the oldest and the latest, the sublime and the ugly, the pious and the profane. Takes and hour one way.  Antique and art stores, old houses, the Mormon Temple, shopping, quirky Utah architecture, and an airfield for radio-control planes.

Kanab.  The town has a modern-day frontier feel, with lots of services, tourism, and junk strewn about in the outskirts.  Not a great deal to see or do here, but there are some interesting old houses.  You can do sight-seeing rides in an airplane from the Kanab Airport, a mile south of town.

All-day Trips

North Fork Road to Navaho Lake, then returning through Orderville on highways 14, 89 & 9. Reserve all day for this trip. Involves a long stretch of dirt road. It’s navigable with an ordinary 2-wheel drive car when dry, but you’ll need 4-wheel drive if it rains. Closed in winter. A great way to see the back country. Be sure to stop in Orderville, once a polygamous commune.

Highway 89 east to Page. A 2.25 hr drive one way, but has some very wild and scenic views.  For variety you can return via Rt. 89a, crossing the Colorado River.

Bryce Canyon National Park—You can go and return to Zion in one day, but Bryce deserves a separate visit.

Escalante UT--a charming, quirky, and well-preserved old town, with many old brick houses showing the old Mormon style of architecture.  If you're into Utah pioneer culture, you've got to see this town.

Las Vegas--About three hours each way.  Hang on for the drive on I-15 through the canyon of the Virgin River, just west of St. George.  It's like driving through the Grand Canyon.  Too bad it wasn't saved for a national park.  There are some pull-outs.