Hiking the Timber Creek Overlook Trail in Zion National Park
Distance: 1.0 miles / 1.6 km
The Timber Creek Overlook Trail is arguably the best day hike in the Kolob Canyons District of Zion National Park!
I say this because the short 1.0-mile (1.6 km) out-and-back trail is one of the best effort-to-reward day hikes outside of Zion Canyon, especially if you plan to stick around for sunset at the Timber Creek Overlook!
U.S. National Park Pass
Did you know that the same America the Beautiful Pass that grants access to all 63 U.S. National Parks can be purchased in advance at REI?
Yes, you can save time when you arrive by purchasing your National Park pass, along with your other outdoor gear, at REI before traveling to the park!
Timber Creek Overlook Trailhead Parking
Parking for the Timber Creek Overlook Trail is located at the very end of Kolob Canyons Road in the Kolob Canyons District of Zion National Park.
That being said, the Timber Creek parking area can be one of the more congested trailheads in the Kolob Canyons District, but if you plan to hike the trail for sunset, as I highly recommend, finding a place to park is typically less of an issue.
Google Maps Directions: Timber Creek Overlook Trailhead
Hiking Checklist - Zion
Here is a complete list of must-have things that you will want for any hike in Zion National Park.
Osprey 3L Water Bladder - The Osprey 3L water bladder is the most universal hiking and backpacking water bladder on the market, and it’s my go-to because of the slide-off seal that allows it to be quickly filled from the top. Additionally, individual parts are easily replaceable, such as the bite valve.
Blister / Heel Protectors - I swear by these cheap, amazing heel protectors to prevent blisters for nearly every kind of hiking and backpacking that I do!
Black Diamond Headlamp - Personally, I recommend the Black Diamond Storm because it is one of the brightest, lightest, and longest-lasting headlamps on the market—and trust me, the weight-to-battery-life ratio really does matter!
Hiking / Trail Running Shoes - Depending on the type of trail, I prefer to use either the Keen Targhee for longer, more rugged hiking or the HOKA Zinal Trail-Running Shoe for lighter, less intense trails. In either case, both have been amazing to me for many years across countless environments, and both can be found in men’s and women’s sizes. - (Men’s Keen / Women’s Keen) (Men’s HOKA / Women’s HOKA)
Waterproof Rain Shell - You never know when it may rain, and I’ve learned over the years that a rain shell is far better than a rain jacket. By this, I mean that it’s best to have something that the water will roll right off of, which is why I recommend the Patagonia Torrentshell 3L available in both men’s and women’s sizes.
Sun Shirt w/ Hood - A quality sun shirt can be your best friend on a trail with minimal shade, which can be found in both men’s and women’s sizes.
High SPF Sunscreen - Packing high-SPF sunscreen is a must for long days outside!
Hiking the Timber Creek Overlook Trail
Located across the parking lot from Kolob Canyons Viewpoint, the Timber Creek Overlook Trail begins, climbing roughly 100 ft (30.5 m) from the trailhead to the highest point on the ridge.
Timber Creek Overlook-Picnic Area Junction
After only 0.1 miles (0.2 km), the Timber Creek Overlook Trail splits, with the path that leads to the picnic area, located just off the main trail.
After the split, the Timber Creek Overlook Trail simply follows the ridge out to the southernmost point, which is where I recommend catching sunset on a clear evening!
Sun Shirts
If this is your first time in the area, you’re likely unprepared for how strong the sun can be.
For this reason, I recommend picking up a quality, hooded sun shirt if you plan to do any hiking. Protection from the sun cannot be overstated, and in my experience, sunscreen alone has never been enough over a multi-day visit, especially if you’re visiting during the summer season!
This rocky section is generally thought of as the most 'challenging' part of the entire trail.
Timber Creek Overlook
After just 0.5 miles (0.8 km), the Timber Creek Overlook Trail ends where the ridge suddenly cliffs out above Timber Creek, down in the valley below.
This panoramic viewpoint, with the Kolob Canyons to the east, is exactly where I recommend catching sunset because when the light begins to fade during golden hour, the best views of the towering peaks to the east really begin to glow.
That being said, be sure to hike with a quality headlamp for the Timber Creek Overlook Trail or any trail in Zion National Park that you plan to hike for sunrise or sunset. A good one can really come in handy, especially if you plan to hike other trails, like Angels Landing early, which I highly recommend learning more about in my separate article.
More Zion Adventures
If you’re interested in reading about some more amazing adventures within Zion National Park, check out my separate posts below!
Best Way to Find Places to Stay!
Wherever I travel, I love to start my search for places to stay on VRBO.
Even if I don’t end up booking through them, I think it’s one of the best ways to see what’s in the area!
Washington
Best Way to Book Rental Cars!
I travel quite a bit, and I know firsthand that finding a good rental car deal can be a challenge, but that’s why I recommend comparing all of your options with Discover Cars.
In short, Discover Cars is a well-known, reputable business that allows you to search for the best deal across companies, and they have the best full-refund cancellation policy I’ve ever seen, valid up to 72, or sometimes even 48, hours prior to your reservation!
Book Here: Discover Cars
Discover Cars!
Safety
Zion National Park is widely known for its extreme weather swings.
In the summer, the temperature in Zion will soar well above 100º F for weeks on end, while, on the contrary, the upper elevations of the park accumulate several feet of snow come winter.
Every year, this creates an interesting dynamic, as the snow melts during the day and freezes at night, resulting in extremely hazardous black ice conditions on many popular trails throughout the park, such as Angels Landing – trails where you cannot afford to fall.
To stay safe, always hike with 2-3 liters of water, try to avoid hiking midday during the hot summer months, and prepare for snowy/ icy conditions by bringing micro-spikes during the off-season months (October - March).
As always, find the most up-to-date information and conditions on the official National Park website.
National Park Service: Zion National Park
U.S. National Parks Pass
Did you know that the same America the Beautiful Pass that grants access to all 63 U.S. National Parks can be purchased in advance at REI?
Yes, you can save time when you arrive by purchasing your National Park pass, along with your other outdoor gear, at REI before traveling to the park!
More U.S. National Parks
If you’d like to read more about some of my best recommendations when visiting other U.S. National Parks, check out some of my other posts below!
Disclaimer
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