Sites in Utah
NPS Units
Arches
Bryce Canyon
Canyonlands
Capitol Reef
Cedar Breaks
Dinosaur
Glen Canyon
Hovenweep
Natural Bridges
Zion
Other Places
Dead Horse Point
Flaming Gorge
Goblin Valley
Grand Staircase
Kodachrome Basin
Monument Valley
Mount Timpanogos
Red Canyon
Snow Canyon
Utah Site Map
Site Search
|
|
Zion National Park > Kolob Canyons > South Fork of Taylor Creek
|
The South Fork of Taylor Creek flows through a secluded, shadowy canyon with the steep, high, red cliffs and upstream narrows that characterise many canyons in Zion National Park. Plant and animal life is particularly abundant owing to the year-round water supply, and solitude is another attraction as few venture into the canyon - there is no official trail unlike the nearby Middle Fork of the creek. There is however a rough path that follows the stream for a mile or so until the canyon narrows, starting just north of the road bridge over the creek; just opposite is a convenient parking area usually with several people taking photographs of the canyon..
The Canyon: The path is occasionally steep and overgrown but presents little difficulty. It passes a variety of trees, bushes, wildflowers and cacti, and in spring at least there is much wildlife - I came across deer, various small mammals, lizards and snakes, and numerous insects which seemed to occur in distinct zones. There were hundreds of beetles for 50 yards, then grasshoppers for a while, followed by caterpillars, moths etc. After walking for 40 minutes Taylor Creek canyon starts to become quite narrow; trees cover all of the flat sandy floor while the small creek flows gently along. Here I turned back; further on the canyon would doubtless become quite steep with deep channels and dryfalls, as is the case with the Middle Fork canyon. |
|
|
|
