Hiking the Timber Creek Overlook Trail in Zion National Park
Distance: 1.2 miles / 1.9 km
The Timber Creek Overlook Trail in Zion National Park is an incredibly beautiful, easy, and fun day hike in the Kolob Canyons District, and it’s an adventure that I see as the single best sunset hike across all sides of Zion!
I say this because the very short 0.6-mile (0.8 km) trail really is a hidden gem, as the elevation changes are minimal—not to mention, the views are throughout the hike are stunning!
However, what sets the Timber Creek Overlook Trail apart from many others is how the towering peaks that make up the Kolob Canyons light up at sunset, which only get more and more beautiful after the sun sets behind the Pine Valley Mountains to the west!
Timber Creek Overlook Trailhead Parking
Parking for the Timber Creek Overlook Trail is located in the Kolob Canyons District at the very end of Kolob Canyons Road.
That 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.
Hiking the Timber Creek Overlook Trail
The Timber Creek Overlook Trail begins across the parking lot from the Kolob Canyons Overlook, where the trail initially climbs above the parking area before leveling out.
Timber Creek Overlook-Picnic Area Junction
After just 0.1 miles (0.2 km), the Timber Creek Overlook Trail passes the only junction on the entire hike, which is nothing more than a picnic area off the main trail.
At this split, go left to continue hiking along the ridge toward the viewpoint at the end.
Overall, the Timber Creek Overlook Trail is a very easy day hike, as the well-maintained trail only climbs about 100 ft. (30.5 m) from the trailhead to the highest point on the ridge.
On a different note, the main thing that can make this—or any Zion adventure—more challenging is the extreme summer heat, which is another reason I highly recommend hiking the Timber Creek Overlook Trail at sunset hike over any other time of day!
This is about as steep as the elevation changes get on the Timber Creek Overlook Trail.
As with most trails across Zion National Park, the Timber Creek Overlook Trail is a very exposed day hike, which is true from the moment the sun rises over the towering peaks to the east until the moment it sets in the evening.
This is why I highly recommend hiking the Timber Creek Overlook Trail in a hooded sun shirt—a sentiment that I believe applies to just about every adventure in Zion National Park.
I also think it’s worth noting that the Timber Creek Overlook Trail is a very busy day hike from about mid-morning until the later afternoon hours, but as I repeatedly keep saying, the best time to hike the trail is at sunset—both for less people and the stunning colors!
This rocky section is always a nice sign that the end of the hike is not far ahead!
This downhill stretch is the final 0.1 miles (0.2 km) to the overlook, which can be seen in the distance!
Timber Creek Overlook
After just 0.6 miles (1.0 km), the Timber Creek Overlook Trail ends where the ridge suddenly cliffs out above Timber Creek in the valley below.
For obvious reasons, this panoramic viewpoint, with the Kolob Canyons to the east, is exactly where I recommend catching the sunset on a clear evening!
That said, be sure to hike the Timber Creek Overlook Trail with a quality headlamp, as one can certainly come in handy here and on countless other Zion adventures, like Angels Landing at sunrise!
