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Middle Fork Taylor Creek Trail

RECOMMENDED ROUTE
Intermediate
 4.4 (31)
  1. Areas
  2. UT
  3. …Southwestern Utah
  4. …Zion National Park
  5. Kolob Canyons
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“A relatively easy hike up one of Kolob Canyon's mesmerizing finger canyons. ”

Tom Robson
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Map Key

4.6

Miles

7.3

KM

Out and Back

5,921' 1,805 m

High

5,482' 1,671 m

Low

455' 139 m

Up

455' 139 m

Down

4%

Avg Grade (2°)

7%

Max Grade (4°)

Dogs No Dogs

Features Birding · Cave · Fall Colors · River/Creek · Views · Wildlife

Overview

This child-friendly route takes hikers up one of Zion's many amazing canyons to a breathtaking alcove at its apex.

Although beautiful, this is one of the less-photogenic hike's in the park. However, Double Arch Alcove is without a doubt a worthy destination.

Description

The Taylor Creek Trail leads hikers deep into a narrow box canyon toward the Double Arch Alcove, where erosion has carved out natural openings in the Navajo sandstone. As the trail reaches the mouth of the canyon it enters the Zion Wilderness and begins to crisscross Taylor Creek.

The trail passes the geologic formation of the Kanarraville Fold and two historic homestead cabins built in the early 1930's. The vertical walls of Tucupit and Paria tower 1700 feet above the trail as hikers arrive at the Double Arch Alcove.

Flora & Fauna

Visitors are often surprised by the relative lushness found in Zion Canyon. The riparian area of the Virgin River supports enormous cottonwood trees and a diversity of herbaceous plants and grasses. Nearby, saturated wetlands make nice habitat for cattails, willows, aquatic plants, and rushes. Water seeping out of the Navajo sandstone creates tranquil springs and the unique “hanging gardens” for which Zion is famous, full of ferns, wildflowers, and mosses.

The cliffs of Zion stand resolute, a glowing presence in late day, a wild calm. Melodies of waters soothe desert-parched ears, streams twinkle over stone, wren song cascades from red rock cliffs, cottonwood leaves jitter on the breeze. But when lightning flashes water falls erupt from dry cliffs, and floods flash down waterless canyons exploding log jams, hurling boulders, croaking wild joyousness, and dancing stone and water and time. Zion is alive with movement, a river of life always here and always changing.

Contacts

Land Manager: National Park Service - Zion National Park

Shared By:

Tom Robson
Full Details

Trail Ratings

  4.4 from 31 votes

#3

in Kolob Canyons

#435

Overall
  4.4 from 31 votes
5 Star
42%
4 Star
55%
3 Star
0%
2 Star
3%
1 Star
0%
Recommended Route Rankings

#3

in Kolob Canyons

#36

in Utah

#435

Overall
23 Views Last Month
4,894 Since Feb 5, 2015
Intermediate
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Photos

Double Arch Alcove
Feb 5, 2015 near Cedar City, UT
Tucupit Point
Oct 17, 2017 near Toquerv…, UT
Taylor Creek Trail
Oct 8, 2019 near Toquerv…, UT
Taylor Creek Trail
Oct 8, 2019 near Toquerv…, UT
Zion Mists
Feb 5, 2015 near Toquerv…, UT
Alcove at the end of Taylor Creek Trail.
Oct 17, 2017 near Cedar City, UT

5 Comments

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Current Trail Conditions

All Clear 10 days ago
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Check-Ins

Nov 12, 2022
Clare McGlory
4.6mi
Aug 21, 2022
CORINNE Mooring
Lots of river crossings 5.2mi
Aug 10, 2022
Haley Phemister
Mar 26, 2022
Martin B
Mar 15, 2022
Ariel Volpe
Oct 11, 2021
Kristy Van
k 1.5. A the whole thing.
Aug 17, 2021
Mike Duchock
Jun 21, 2021
Nick Barendregt
A great quiet hike that feels entirely different than the rest of Zion! Well-worth the detour out of the popular southern area. 4.8mi — 2h 43m

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