kolob

Kolob Canyons Backpacking Trip
Lee Pass Trailhead to Hop Valley Trailhead, Zion NP
October 2-4, 2005

I had been down the first part of this trail before… Back in 2000 my best friend Andrew and I completed a 14-mile dayhike to Kolob Arch and back – but we got a late start and had to hike the last part by moonlight. But this time was nice because we took our time and we stayed down there for a couple of days. I did this hike with 3 other gals that I'd met through various hiking websites - Mtnmslady, Dyan, and Bobcat. We stayed at Campsite #12 which was shady and next to La Verkin Creek. The next day Bobcat, Dyan, and I hiked up the creek a mile or so until the trail disappeared; on the way we passed a beautiful emerald green pool. Then we made our way back down to our campsite and then had to pack up and leave as the next night's occupants had already arrived! We packed up, filtered water – a lot of water as we weren't sure there would be any at our next campsite, then headed up the Hop Valley Trail. We had learned by this time that filtering from silty La Verkin creek clogged up filters real quick like so this time we filtered from a clearer side stream.

Hop Valley morning, Zion NP

The Hop Valley Trail is steep at first. The trail switchbacks up and is overgrown in many areas. I have a feeling not many people go beyond Kolob Arch! This trail is also very sandy in spots. Our campsite, B, was also not very protected from the wind and it was very windy that night. We gathered rocks to hold down our tent stakes and I made a windscreen out of some dead wood and we managed to cook dinner behind it and not eat too much sand. That night I was grateful I had a wind-worthy tent and earplugs to help me sleep.

The next day's hike out of Hop Valley was interesting. First we met a bunch of ornery cows. They were, I guess, being protective of their calves besides just being stubborn and not wanting to budge from the trail. We renamed them the Hop Valley White Faced Bears, lol The trail wasn't really obvious so we just followed the map and tried to find landmarks as we went. The trail climbed steeply up out of the valley on what appeared to be an old road that was littered with sharp lava rocks. Then it was a sandy slog the rest of the way. It got quite chilly once we were up near the Kolob Terrace Road and dark clouds were moving in behind us. When we finally made it up to Bobcat's car we were pooped! Since Bobcat and I were ahead of theo ther two, she ran be back up to my truck and on the way we passed two big beautiful bull elk. Then Bobcat ran back down to pick up Mtmnslady and Dyan. They then drove to Kolob to retrieve Debra's truck. By the time they got back to Lava Point it was late afternoon.