Kolob Reservoir Road
Region: Zion & Southwest Utah | Land Manager: U.S. Forest Service (Dixie National Forest) and BLM | Cost: Free
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Kolob Mountain Road, near the Kolob Reservoir area. Photo via Wikimedia Commons.
Kolob Reservoir Road climbs out of Virgin, north of Zion's main canyon, gaining nearly 4,000 feet as it winds up toward Kolob Reservoir. Dispersed sites along the way trade Zion's desert heat for pine forest and genuinely cool nights, all within a short drive of the park.
Quick Facts
| Distance from Virgin | About 20-25 miles up Kolob Terrace Road/Kolob Reservoir Road |
| Road & Clearance | Paved lower, graded dirt near the reservoir; passable to most vehicles in dry conditions |
| Rig Suitability | Tents, vans, and most RVs at lower pull-offs; smaller rigs recommended near the top |
| Amenities | None at dispersed sites |
| Cell Signal | Limited, especially near the top |
| Best Season | Late spring through fall; the upper road can close with early snow |
| Stay Limit | 14 days |
Map
Getting There
From Virgin, just west of Zion's south entrance, head north on Kolob Terrace Road toward Kolob Reservoir. Dispersed pull-offs appear at various elevations along the way, lower sites are warmer and drier, higher sites near the reservoir are forested and cooler.
What to Expect
A dramatic elevation change packed into a short drive, starting in Zion's red rock desert and ending in pine forest near 8,000 feet. The views back down into the Kolob Canyons section of Zion are excellent from several pull-offs along the way.
Good to Know
This road crosses a mix of Forest Service, BLM, and some private land, stick to obviously dispersed, previously used pull-offs. The upper stretch near the reservoir can close with the first snow of the season, so don't count on late-season access.
Nearly 4,000 feet of elevation gain means cold nights up top even when Zion's valley floor is baking. See what an off-grid power system looks like