Hop Valley is one of those hikes that surprised me with its beauty. I hadn't seen many pictures or heard much about it before we did it, but it turned out to be a stunning hike. Starting high up from the Kolob Terrace Road, the trail descends - lazily at first, then with a steeper section down to La Verkin Creek. The valley along the way is wide, with picturesque cliffs lining the walls and a wide, shallow, sand-bottomed stream running through much of it. As it heads toward La Verkin Creek, the views of the walls that make up La Verkin Creek are colorful and dramatic. A very nice hike!

Though this trail can be used to visit Kolob Arch, if your goal is just to see Kolob Arch, most people start from Lee Pass. Visiting from Hop Valley is a bit more effort than via Lee Pass and involves a bit more elevation gain. Hop Valley, coming in above Kolob Arch, is a great way to visit upper La Verkin Creek, Bear Trap Canyon, and Willis Creek. This upper area sees much less use than the section of La Verkin Creek below Hop Valley.