The Local Lookout
The Local Lookout for May features one of my FAVORITE places to recreate in the summer. Kolob Reservoir. Although this is only about a one hour drive from St George, getting there sometimes takes me twice as long because of all the beautiful scenery along the way. The drive takes you along the west rim of Zion National Park and the road goes in and out of Park boundaries many times. Although you are technically inside Zion National Park, there are no fees to use the road or hike one of the many Park trails along the way. Some trails along the way require a permit to hike because of the degree of difficulty involved (The Subway, West Rim Trail, etc.) so check the trail head marker before you start your hike!
Starting from Virgin, Utah (just outside of Hurricane) the paved road winds upward, sometimes at quite a steep grade, and follows the North Creek gorge. All along the drive, you are passing massive sandstone domes and cliffs with fields of wild rye growing below them. Zion’s main vistas are visible to the east and are quite stunning especially when the sun is setting.
One of the reasons I like to go here in the summer time is that there is about a 30 degree temperature difference between the reservoir and the city. It is nice and cool up there, and there are very few people. The reservoir is surrounded by forest and has a completely different feel than the desert below. Only non-motorized boats are allowed on the reservoir and the fishing is typically pretty good. It’s a great place to picnic, camp, hike, kayak, fish, or just drive to for an afternoon.
Getting there: From SR-9 in Hurricane, continue heading east towards Zion National Park. When you come to the town of Virgin, take a left on Kolob Terrace Road. The elevation gain is about 4000 feet. The road is undergoing construction so if you plan on going during the week, check the construction schedule. http://www.nps.gov/zion/learn/news/kt-road-schedule.htm. You are good to go on the weekend! Call or email if you would like more information about Kolob reservoir and HAVE FUN up there this summer!