Ultimate Guide to your Timber Creek Overlook Elopement in Zion National Park
Located 45 miles from the bustle and shuttles of Zion's main canyon, Timber Creek Overlook offers an incredible view of the Kolob Canyons making it an excellent choice for small elopement ceremonies. This location is ideal for couples who are looking for a sweeping vista and don't mind a little hike to get there. It's less ideal for couples who want quick access to the rest of Zion or have accessibility concerns. If you're considering this location for your Zion elopement ceremony, read on for the ultimate guide to Timber Creek Overlook elopements!
Timber Creek Overlook Weddings
Of the six sanctioned wedding locations in Zion National Park, Timber Creek is the only one that offers an overlook style view. Couples love Timber Creek Overlook for it's amazing views, easy access by car, and uniqueness compared to the other options. If you get a wedding permit in Zion, you'll need to abide by the permit details for each location and the general regulations for weddings in the Park.
Permit Details
Maximum Number of People: 20 people, 4 cars. This number must include everyone, including yourselves and any vendors you'll have present, like your officiant, photographer and videographer.
Shuttle required?: No.
Are chairs permitted: No.
Permit Application Fee: $100
Permit Application Due Date: At least three weeks prior to the requested date
Permit Application Open Date: 1 Year in Advance
Regulations
No matter which location you pick for your ceremony in Zion National Park, the wedding permit regulations apply. Here are a couple of regulations you'll find on the permit:
Non-exclusive: A wedding permit doesn't provide exclusive access to an area, it will remain open to the public. Wedding activities cannot unduly interfere with other visitor's enjoyment of the Park.
Decorations: Any and all decorations must be approved in advance and you can't make any changes to the environment.
Electricity: No electricity is available and generators are not allowed
Amplified Sound: No amplified sound is allowed in the Park. That includes bluetooth speakers for music and amplification for your officiant.
Make sure you take the time to thoroughly read all the regulations under the permit, you can find a sample of these regulations from Zion National Park HERE
About Timber Creek Overlook
The Kolob Canyons District, which gets its name from a place described in the Book of Mormon, connects to the main Zion Canyon via the backcountry Zion Traverse hike between Lee Pass and the West Rim Trail. The Timber Creek Overlook trail traverses a rocky ridge to a viewpoint showing off the peaks of the Kolob Canyons, the Pine Valley Mountains, and the Kolob Terrace. It overlooks the beginning of the Zion Traverse. The hike is 1.2 miles round trip with about 120ft of elevation gain over mostly firm soil that turns muddy when went. The viewpoint is a mixture of firm soil and sloped, uneven hard rock surfaces.
Where is Timber Creek Overlook Located?
The Timber Creek Overlook trail is located at the end of the Kolob Canyons Scenic Drive. The Kolob Canyons District of Zion National Park is not accessible by car from the main entrance of the Park in Springdale. Instead, you'll need to head west to I-15 and then head north, where you'll get off the freeway at the entrance of the district. The drive is about 45 miles and takes about 1 hour from the Zion Canyon Visitor's Center in Springdale.
What Amenities are at Timber Creek Overlook?
The paved parking lot at the trailhead has bathrooms as well as a collection of picnic tables that are available on a first-come first-serve basis. Water isn't available at the trailhead but can be found at the Kolob Canyons Visitor's Center before beginning the 5.4 mile Scenic Drive. Once you leave the trailhead, you will be in a primitive area with no access to amenities until you return to the trailhead.
How busy is Timber Creek Overlook?
On average, the Kolob Canyons District sees only 10% of the total visitors who come to Zion National Park. However, keep in mind the Kolob Canyons District is much smaller, so even though there are fewer people, there are also fewer places for them to go. Timber Creek is the shortest and most accessible hike in the district, so the parking lot is often full during peak hiking times of the day (mid-morning to early afternoon). So you can expect to see fewer people than other places in Zion, but you should still expect to see other people around.
Planning your elopement at Timber Creek Overlook
As local elopement photographers, we have a lot of experience helping couples plan their elopements around Zion National Park, including ceremonies at Timber Creek Overlook. Based on our experience, we've complied some general recommendations. All of our couples receive personalized planning including location recommendations, timeline planning, and permit assistance, so if you're looking for a local Zion expert, reach out so we can help!
Where can you have ceremonies at Timber Creek Overlook?
The Park has not provided specific guidance for the "ceremony site" at Timber Creek Overlook. The permit photo depicts a small paved space next to the parking lot with a metal fence and information sign. Based on this photo, we can confidently assume this spot is approved. However, most couples pick Timber Creek for it's views and less developed look compared to the other options. So without further direction from the Park, we stick to standard Leave No Trace principles and the wedding permit regulations when selecting a ceremony site. That means:
We cannot leave the trail for the ceremony
We must use hard rock and durables surfaces
We cannot set up the ceremony in a way that impedes the use of the trail by other visitors
There are only a few spots along the trail that meet all of these requirements. Make sure you pay close attention to where the trail is and where you are standing. It also helps to inform everyone under your permit of these rules, so everyone is on the same page.
The Best Times of Day for Elopement Ceremonies at Timber Creek Overlook
Like other parts of the Park, the absolute best time of day for photos at Timber Creek Overlook is right around either sunrise or sunset. During sunrise, the sun comes up from behind the canyons, often causing light streaks through the canyons and providing dreamy backlighting. During sunset, the red sandstone peaks light up and glow with deeper saturation as the sun dips below the Pine Valley Mountains. If you're planning to have your ceremony at Timber Creek Overlook but you want to prioritize the best light for other locations nearby, then you may want to consider a mid-afternoon ceremony when the light will be more direct on the canyons. In general, we do not recommend late morning or high noon ceremonies. This time of day presents the least flattering light for photos.
Choosing the best time of day for your ceremony is often a balancing act between your priorities and should factor in the rest of your wedding experience, the weather, and general visitation.
What is the Best Time of Year for an Elopement at Timber Creek Overlook
The Kolob Canyons District is at a higher elevation than much of the rest of Zion National Park. Technically the Park considers the district open year round, but frequently closes the Kolob Canyons Scenic Drive for inclement weather. As we get into the spring months, the snow melts and turns the normally firm soil into a sticky mud. For these reasons, we recommend planning weddings at Timber Creek Overlook between late spring, after the mud has thoroughly dried, and late fall, before the first snow of the season. Typically that season runs between late April - mid-November.
Recommendations for your Timber Creek Overlook Elopement
Keep it small: The trail offers few spaces large enough for 20 people without impeding the trail for other visitors. So if you want to use the trail, we recommend keeping your total group size under 10. The fewer the better.
Carpool: The parking lot for Timber Creek is small, so we recommend bringing the fewest cars possible. (Keep in mind the maximum number you are allowed to bring is 4, per the permit)
Consider sunrise for your ceremony! Timber Creek Overlook is a gorgeous spot at sunrise and we typically see far fewer people that early in the morning. Plus an early morning ceremony offers lots of space to drive to other areas for more portrait locations!
Go for All-Day Coverage: lots of time on your elopement day will let you make the most of Timber Creek by planning your ceremony at sunrise or sunset, without sacrificing the option of making the most of other locations as well!
Be flexible if you're planning a winter wedding: As long as the road is open, Timber Creek is beautiful in the winter with all the snow around. However, the Park has limited plows and personnel so closures of the road often last a day or two at a time, depending on the conditions.
Look up sunrise, sunset, and high noon times for your wedding day: This information will help you make decisions when applying for your permit.
Apply for your permit as early as you can: Once you have the info you need, submit your permit application so you have the highest chance of getting approved.
Find a local to help plan the logistics for your elopement day: Look for someone with experience planning elopements in Zion and at Timber Creek in particular, like us
Is Timber Creek Overlook the right location for your Zion Elopement?
You may want to look into some other location options if any of the following are true:
You want an epic view and have more than 10 people total and/or are unable to fit in 4 cars maximum
You want 20 people at your ceremony but don't love the paved option
You have other locations in mind that are in the main Zion Canyon or otherwise not near Timber Creek
This spot may be the right fit for you if any of the following are true:
You love the photos you've seen taken at Timber Creek Overlook
You have a special connection with Timber Creek Overlook or the trails in the Kolob Canyons
You have a small group or you are eloping alone
You want a ceremony inside the National Park and also want an epic view
You don't mind a little hike for your ceremony
Comparing the different options in Zion? Take a look at our post all about Zion Wedding Locations!
If you're feeling overwhelmed with all of this and you'd like a local elopement expert to help you navigate it all, reach out to us! We can help you decide if Timber Creek Overlook is the right option for you, and if it isn't, we can help you find the right spot!
