When visiting Zion National Park, most visitors simply drive through on Highway 9 or visit the main Zion Canyon by shuttle. Driving into the canyon is allowed only in low season. It's fair to say that those visitors see the essence of Zion, but the park is huge and has lots more to offer for those willing to explore just a little. One of my favorite areas lies just west of the main canyon and gets few visitors. It is known as Kolob Terrace.
Kolob Terrace Road leaves Highway 9 in the town of Virgin and winds its way up the plateau for some 25 miles, passing homes and ranches adjacent to the park, until it reaches some 8000 feet in elevation. Along the way, it provides some outstanding views of the mountains that form Zion Canyon. Many of the most adventurous hikes in the park either begin or end at this road. I like to go late in the day when the setting sun gives the sandstone a magical quality.
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