Timber Creek Overlook

Timber Creek Overlook sits at the far end of Kolob Canyons Road, in the separate Kolob Canyons section of Zion National Park reached off I-15 rather than through Zion Canyon proper. The out-and-back trail runs about 0.6 miles one way with roughly 120 feet of elevation gain, an easy walk that most people finish in 30 to 60 minutes.

The path follows a rocky ridge with a gentle grade most of the way, though a few short stretches steepen before leveling out again at the overlook. It's a good pick for families or anyone easing into the higher-elevation air of the Kolob district, which sits well above Zion Canyon's floor.

What you'll see

The payoff is a wide-open view that stretches across Timber Creek and Shuntavi Butte toward the Kolob Terrace and the Pine Valley Mountains. On a clear day, you can pick out Mount Trumbull near the Grand Canyon's north rim, roughly 100 miles south. Spring and early summer bring wildflowers along the route, and the red-rock peaks catch dramatic light at sunset.

• Distance: about 0.6 miles one way (1.2 miles round trip)
• Elevation gain: approximately 117 feet
• Difficulty: easy
• Estimated time: 30-60 minutes

Start at the trailhead at the end of Kolob Canyons Road, past the visitor center. Restrooms are at the trailhead; fill up on water at the visitor center before you go, since there's none on the trail itself. Large groups are welcome here, unlike some of the more constrained trails elsewhere in the park.