Willis Creek

 

Description: A hiking trail from the junction of the La Verkin Creek and Hop Valley Trails that takes you up Willis Creek Canyon.

Distance: 4.5 Miles One Way.

 

Difficulty: Moderate

 

Highest Elevation: 6,400 Feet Above Sea Level

 

Dangers: Potential Flash Floods

 

Jurisdiction: Zion National Park

  

 

   Since this trail begins at the junction with the La Verkin Creek and Hop Valley Trails, the Trailhead is the same as the La Verkin Creek Trail. Simply drive 3.5 miles up Kolob Canyons Road and begin at the Lee Pass Trailhead.

   The Willis Creek Trail follows the canyon of La Verkin Creek and will quickly take you to a point where a spring comes out from the ground. This spring is from the stream that disappears underground on the Hop Valley Trail. From this spring, you will hike downhill and cross the stream (which you will again cross many times hereafter).

   In about one and a half miles, you will notice a major cleft that comes in from the south. If you were to follow the side trail that leads into this cleft, you would have a 0.6 mile round trip that would take you to the Beartrap Falls and back to the Willis Creek Trail. At Beartrap Falls, there is a beautiful hanging garden with a 12 foot waterfall and a serene pool of water under the falls.

   The Wills Creek Trail continues to follow La Verkin Creek and will take you, eventually, to a point where the stone cliffs rise above the confluence of Willis Creek and La Verkin Creek. Willis Creek, which is the creek you will follow, is the creek to the east and is the smaller creek. The trail will continue to follow Willis Creek until you dead end at the boundary of Zion National Park. At this boundary is a gate which will require a hiker to have written permission from the Spilsbury Ranch (the owners of the private land beyond this gate) to proceed through. Should you have this permission, there is a trail here that will continue to take you up to Kolob Reservoir.