Lava Point

At 7,890 feet, Lava Point is the highest spot in Zion reachable by road, and one of the finest overlooks in the park — quiet enough to hear wind moving through Zion Canyon four thousand feet below. It sits on Kolob Terrace, a higher, cooler district of the park entirely separate from the main canyon, reached by a long drive rather than the shuttle system.

What to know

• About 21 miles and 45 minutes up Kolob Terrace Road from the town of Virgin, off Highway 9
• Lava Point Campground is primitive — no potable water, pit toilets, reservations through Recreation.gov
• Kolob Terrace Road typically opens late May or early June and closes with the first heavy snow, usually in November; vehicles over 19 feet aren't permitted