Hop Valley
Description: A hike that takes you through Hop Valley to La Verkin Creek.
Distance: 6.7 Miles One Way
Difficulty: Moderate going south to north. Somewhat Strenuous north to south.
Highest Elevation: 6,360 Feet Above Sea Level
Jurisdiction: Zion National Park
The trailhead for The Hop Valley Trail is found by beginning at the small Utah town of Virgin, and driving north on Kolob Terrace Road for 13 Miles. Park at the well-established Hop Valley Trailhead. This trail will take you from the trailhead by Kolob Terrace Road down into the beautiful Hop Valley and finally to La Verkin Creek.
The trail will begin by taking you across a sagebrush valley with deep sand in some places, making the footsteps rather difficult and heavy at times. After 1.5 miles, you will be in a privately owned area where the cattle are often found grazing and drinking from the stream. Close any gates you open to ensure the cattle remain in the area. When there is a fork in the trail, you will take the right fork and follow a ridge that descends into Hop Valley. Once your trail reaches the floor of Hop Valley, you will take up a livestock trail and follow the stream down the valley. After another mile, you will see a monolith which marks the beginning of Langston Canyon. Half a mile below the mouth of Langston Canyon, there is a fence which is the property line where the private property ends. To find a gate through this barbed wire fence, hike up onto the east of the wash. The trail will then head across a sandy bench covered with pine and will drop down into the wash again. A few hundred yards downstream, you will pop back out of the wash on the western side at a signpost. At this point, the water disappears as it goes underground and remains underground until it creates a spring near La Verkin Creek. From this signpost, your trail will climb up steep terrain to get over a hill and drop down several sand benches that form a staircase and will take you to a place where you have a fine overlook of La Verkin Creek, Gregory Butte, and Timber Top mountain. You will then drop downwards to the floor of the canyon and join the La Verkin Creek and Willis Creek Trails.
Distance: 6.7 Miles One Way
Difficulty: Moderate going south to north. Somewhat Strenuous north to south.
Highest Elevation: 6,360 Feet Above Sea Level
Jurisdiction: Zion National Park
The trailhead for The Hop Valley Trail is found by beginning at the small Utah town of Virgin, and driving north on Kolob Terrace Road for 13 Miles. Park at the well-established Hop Valley Trailhead. This trail will take you from the trailhead by Kolob Terrace Road down into the beautiful Hop Valley and finally to La Verkin Creek.
The trail will begin by taking you across a sagebrush valley with deep sand in some places, making the footsteps rather difficult and heavy at times. After 1.5 miles, you will be in a privately owned area where the cattle are often found grazing and drinking from the stream. Close any gates you open to ensure the cattle remain in the area. When there is a fork in the trail, you will take the right fork and follow a ridge that descends into Hop Valley. Once your trail reaches the floor of Hop Valley, you will take up a livestock trail and follow the stream down the valley. After another mile, you will see a monolith which marks the beginning of Langston Canyon. Half a mile below the mouth of Langston Canyon, there is a fence which is the property line where the private property ends. To find a gate through this barbed wire fence, hike up onto the east of the wash. The trail will then head across a sandy bench covered with pine and will drop down into the wash again. A few hundred yards downstream, you will pop back out of the wash on the western side at a signpost. At this point, the water disappears as it goes underground and remains underground until it creates a spring near La Verkin Creek. From this signpost, your trail will climb up steep terrain to get over a hill and drop down several sand benches that form a staircase and will take you to a place where you have a fine overlook of La Verkin Creek, Gregory Butte, and Timber Top mountain. You will then drop downwards to the floor of the canyon and join the La Verkin Creek and Willis Creek Trails.