Northgate Peaks Trail

Northgate Peaks Trail sits in the Kolob Terrace section of Zion, about 3,000 feet above the main canyon floor. The trailhead starts at roughly 7,000 feet, which means summer temperatures run 10 to 15 degrees cooler than Springdale. While most visitors sweat through the shuttle lines in Zion Canyon, this trail offers ponderosa pine shade and an actual breeze.

How to Get There and What to Expect

The hike begins at the Wildcat Canyon Trailhead, 15.5 miles up Kolob Terrace Road from the town of Virgin. Follow the Wildcat Canyon Trail east for about 1.2 miles through open meadow and scattered pines, passing the Connector Trail junction. Turn right at the signed Northgate Peaks Trail split. From here, the trail heads south through a mix of grassy clearings and pine groves for another mile before ending at a cluster of dark volcanic boulders.

The Viewpoint and Surrounding Landscape

That volcanic knob is the payoff. The viewpoint sits between East and West Northgate Peaks, two rounded Navajo sandstone domes flanking the trail's end. Straight ahead, the 7,395-foot North Guardian Angel rises above the twisting canyon of the Left Fork of North Creek. The Subway, one of Zion's most famous canyoneering routes, cuts through the drainage below, hidden from view but close enough to make the landscape feel layered and alive.

Trail Difficulty and Distance

The trail is nearly flat the entire way. Total elevation change is minimal, roughly 150 feet of gentle undulation across the 4.2-mile round trip. The surface is mostly packed dirt with some rocky patches near the viewpoint. No exposed sections, no scrambling, no real navigational challenges on the maintained trail.

It is one of the few hikes in Zion that works well for families with younger kids, though the total distance may tire small children under five.

Rules and Resources

This area falls within the Zion Wilderness, so group size is capped at 12 people. No dogs are allowed. No water is available on the trail, so bring everything you need. The trailhead has pit toilets and a parking area with space for roughly 20 to 25 vehicles. Mornings can be busy during summer because the same trailhead serves hikers heading to the Subway top-down route, but the Northgate Peaks trail itself stays relatively quiet.

Road Access and Seasonal Closures

Kolob Terrace Road is paved but closes seasonally when snow makes the upper sections impassable. Access is generally reliable from March through November. If you are visiting in late fall or early spring, check current road conditions with the park before driving up. Cell service is unreliable along the road and nonexistent on the trail.

Why It's Worth the Drive

The drive from Springdale takes about 40 minutes each way, and the scenery along Kolob Terrace Road is worth the trip on its own. This part of the park feels completely different from the red-walled canyon most visitors picture when they think of Zion. Open plateaus, white sandstone formations, and tall ponderosa forests replace the narrow canyon and shuttle buses. If your Zion trip has room for a quieter half-day, Northgate Peaks is a strong use of it.