Located 45 miles from the bustle and shuttles of Zion's main canyon, Kolob Viewpoint 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 want a big view and don't mind the developed look of the spot. It's less ideal for couples who want quick access to the rest of Zion or want a more natural looking spot. If you're considering this location for your Zion elopement ceremony, read on for the ultimate guide to Kolob Viewpoint elopements!

Table of Contents

Kolob Viewpoint Wedding

Of the six sanctioned wedding locations, Kolob Viewpoint is the only location in the Kolob Canyons District of the Park. It offers a unique view that is easily accessible and provides close access to an overlook for portraits. 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 Kolob Viewpoint

The Kolob Canyons District, located at Exit 40 on I-15 in the northwest corner of the Park, features narrow parallel box canyons that form brilliant red cliffs of Navajo Sandstone. Getting to the Kolob Canyons District from the main canyon requires leaving the Park and driving approximately 1 hour via SR-9 and I-15 to access the entrance. The district offers day hikes into the box canyons and overnight hikes through the Zion Wilderness. The Kolob Viewpoint offers a panoramic view of these box canyons.

Where is Kolob Viewpoint Located?

The Kolob Viewpoint is at the end of the Kolob Canyons Scenic Drive, in the Parking lot of the Timber Creek Overlook trailhead. The ceremony location is in the west corner of the parking lot, where the fence creates a half-circle around two sandstone benches.

What Amenities are at Kolob Viewpoint?

Kolob Canyons has easy access to restrooms and trash cans and it's easily wheelchair accessible. The parking lot has 23 standard parking stalls and 3 handicap stalls. Water isn't available but can be found at the Kolob Canyons Visitor's Center before beginning the 5.4 mile Scenic Drive. Kolob Viewpoint also has easy access to picnic tables at the Kolob Canyons Picnic area. Access to the tables is not included in a wedding permit and are first come first serve. The picnic tables area also not wheelchair accessible.

How busy is Kolob Viewpoint

While the Kolob Canyons District sees only 10% of the total visitors who come to Zion National Park, the district's limited size means you'll still likely see quite a few people while exploring here. The Kolob Viewpoint in particular sees the highest concentration of people in the district, since it's the end of the drive with the clearest view of the canyons. You can expect to see people driving by and the occasional tour bus. The parking lot is often full during peak hiking times of the day (mid-morning to early afternoon).

Planning your elopement at Kolob Viewpoint

As local elopement photographers, we have a lot of experience helping couples plan their elopements around Zion National Park, including ceremonies at the Kolob Viewpoint. Based on our experience, we've compiled 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 Kolob Viewpoint

The only authorized location for ceremonies at Kolob Viewpoint is paved viewpoint in the west corner of the parking lot. The viewpoint features two sandstone benches, an information sign, and a fence. No other places in the area are authorized for ceremonies.

The best times of day for elopement ceremonies at Kolob Viewpoint

The best times for photos at Kolob Viewpoint is a little after sunrise and a little before sunset. The sun rises directly behind the Kolob Canyons when standing at the viewpoint, which means the sun typically crests the top of the mountains 20-30 minutes after sunrise. At sunset, the canyons are lit up by the setting sun. In our opinion, morning elopements are the best at Kolob Viewpoint. The mornings are less busy and we love the light streaming from behind the canyons. If you're planning to have your ceremony at Kolob Viewpoint but you want to prioritize the best light at other locations for your portraits, then you may want to consider a mid-afternoon ceremony when the light will be direct on the canyons. In general, we don't recommend high noon ceremonies, which offers the least flattering light for photos and tends to be the busiest time of day.

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 Kolob Viewpoint?

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. We recommend planning Kolob Viewpoint weddings between late spring and late fall. Typically, that season runs between late-April and mid-November.

Recommendations for your Kolob Viewpoint Elopement

Keep it small: Your permit only allows for 20 people total (including your vendors like a photographer and officiant).
Carpool: The parking lot is small and you can have a maximum of 4 cars in your party (including your vendors). If needed, you can meet in the Kolob Canyons Visitor's Center Parking Lot to consolidate vehicles. The fewer vehicles you need to park, the easier time you'll have finding parking.
Consider portraits at Timber Creek Overlook: The trail that starts in the same parking lot offers an incredible view of the Kolob Canyons at sunrise, it's the perfect spot for a private first look and some portraits before your ceremony at the Kolob Viewpoint. Or you can head up for some epic sunset photos after your evening ceremony!
Covering the sign: If you have guests joining you for your ceremony, consider having some of them stand with you, like bridesmaids or groomsmen. That could allow you to block the information sign at the viewpoint and make it less noticeable.
Go for All-Day Coverage: That extra time will make it easy to take advantage of a morning ceremony at Kolob Viewpoint with space to spend the afternoon in the main canyon for extra variety.
Be flexible if you're planning a winter wedding: As long as the road is open, Kolob Viewpoint 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.
Don't submit your permit without having a loose plan for the rest of the day: We rarely see the Park denying wedding permits due to availability, so don't feel a huge rush to apply. 3-6 months in advance is usually plenty of time.
Find a local to help plan the logistics for your elopement day: Look for someone with experience planning elopements in Zion and at Kolob Canyons in particular, like us 👋

Is Kolob Viewpoint 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 have more than 20 people and/or your group is unable to fit in 4 cars
You want a more natural space for your ceremony (i.e. not paved)
You have other locations in mind that are in the main Zion Canyon or otherwise not near Kolob Viewpoint

This spot might be the right fit for you if any of the following are true:

You love the photos you've seen taken at Kolob Viewpoint
You have a special connection with the Kolob Canyons
You have a small group or you are eloping alone
You want a ceremony inside the Park and you want an epic view
You don't mind the developed viewpoint for your ceremony

Comparing the different options in Zion? Take a loot 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 Kolob Viewpoint is the right option for you, and if it isn't, we can help you find the right spot!