Hop Valley Trail is the 13.5-mile round-trip backcountry hike from the Kolob Terrace area down through the Hop Valley to its connection with the La Verkin Creek Trail and Kolob Arch. It's primarily an access route — most parties use it as the approach to Kolob Arch from the Kolob Terrace side, as an alternative to the longer La Verkin Creek approach from the Kolob Canyons Visitor Center side.
How the route works
From the Hop Valley Trailhead off Kolob Terrace Road, the trail descends into the Hop Valley itself, a wide grassy valley with the La Verkin Creek running through it. The valley is private grazing land — cattle graze here under a permit arrangement that predates the park's establishment, and visitors share the trail corridor with livestock. The trail crosses the valley floor, follows the creek for several miles, and connects to the La Verkin Creek Trail at the wilderness boundary. From there, parties can continue to Kolob Arch (a few more miles) or extend further into the Kolob backcountry.
Sharing with cattle
This is unusual for a national park trail. The Hop Valley grazing permit is grandfathered in and the cattle are real working livestock, not a managed-for-tourism situation. Hikers may encounter cattle on the trail, in the creek, or scattered across the valley floor. Standard rules: don't approach cattle, don't allow dogs anywhere near them (NPS prohibits dogs on this trail anyway), don't leave gates open, don't cut through the herd. The cows are accustomed to occasional hikers but they're large animals and treating them with respect avoids problems.
What you see
The Hop Valley itself — a wide, flat-bottomed grassy valley between sandstone walls, an unusual landscape for Zion. The contrast between the canyon-walled valley and the surrounding plateau makes the hike feel like you've crossed into a different region. Sandstone cliffs on both sides support occasional alcoves and seeps. The La Verkin Creek runs reliably and provides water for filtering. Past the wilderness boundary, the trail enters the more typical Zion backcountry country with the cliffs closing in toward the Kolob Arch area.
Day hike vs. overnight
Strong day hikers can do the round trip to Kolob Arch via Hop Valley in 8 to 10 hours. Most parties make it an overnight, camping at one of the designated backcountry sites along La Verkin Creek. Wilderness permits are required for overnight stays; permits are limited and competitive in high seasons. Day hikes don't require a permit beyond the standard park entrance fee.
Why use Hop Valley instead of the Kolob Canyons approach
The choice depends on logistics. Kolob Canyons (via Lee Pass) is shorter to Kolob Arch and has more dramatic canyon scenery on the approach. Hop Valley is longer but starts higher (less elevation to regain on the return) and provides a different landscape (the open valley vs. the canyon corridor). Some parties do a one-way through-hike from one end to the other with a vehicle shuttle, which avoids retracing either route.
Heat and seasonality
The trailhead elevation (around 6,500 feet) is high enough to be comfortable in summer. The valley floor is somewhat hotter and more exposed than the surrounding plateau. Spring is the wildflower season; summer is comfortable rather than oppressive; fall has the most reliable weather and the best color. Winter snow can close the Kolob Terrace Road access.
Where it fits
Hop Valley is the backcountry approach to Kolob Arch for parties who want a different experience than the standard Lee Pass route. It's also one of the few Zion trails where you walk through working ranchland — a quirky and unusual feature that distinguishes the trail from anything else in the park. For multi-day backpackers, it's an option for through-hike planning that gives you a different perspective on the Kolob unit.