Hop Valley Trailhead

Hop Valley Trailhead sits along Kolob Terrace Road, roughly 12.5 miles north of the town of Virgin, in the less-visited high country west of Zion Canyon. It's the starting point for the Hop Valley Trail, a 6.5-mile route through Zion's Kolob Terrace section that connects to the La Verkin Creek Trail in Kolob Canyons — part of the long-distance "Trans-Zion" traverse backpackers use to reach Kolob Arch.

What to expect

• About 2.8 miles in, the trail drops into Hop Valley itself, a long, narrow valley draining northwest toward La Verkin Creek.
• The valley crosses a private grazing inholding, so expect cattle, multiple stream crossings, and muddy stretches rather than solitude the whole way.
• Fall generally offers the driest ground and most comfortable temperatures on this stretch.

Access is by private vehicle via Kolob Terrace Road — this trailhead sits outside the shuttle-served main canyon, so plan your own driving time from Springdale or Virgin.