I want to ask how many days you need to see this park. 60+ adults who do easy hiking. We will drive in from the east and go through the Zion Mount Carmel tunnel. Plan to hit the Human History Museum, then the visitor's center. Will catch the shuttle and go north along the Zion Canyon Scenic Drive, getting off here and there to do a couple easy hikes. Staying overnight in the lodge.
The other part of the park seems to be totally disconnected from the Canyon area. You have to leave through the southern gateway into the park and drive north on Highway 15 to go in to the Kolob Canyons Visitor Center. Prob would do the five-mile drive up there then.
I am wondering if we should spend a whole day in the first area and spend the night in the lodge. Then leave the next morning and visit Springdale and possibly St. George for a bit before driving on up to Kolob. Not sure I want to drive all the way back to spend another night in the lodge. Is there a good place to stay near Kolob? Our next stop would be Cedar Breaks National Monument and Panguitch area the next day. Thanks for any helpful insights!

I'd skip the Kolob section (not worth the drive honestly) and enjoy the main canyon. The Riverside Walk and Emerald Pools trails are easy and highly scenic. Also as you are coming into the park right at the main tunnel entrance you'll find the Overlook Trail. Pretty easy and short with a big payoff with a big payoff at the end. A fun drive is also the road up toward Kolob Reservoir (different from the Kolob Canyon section of the park...much closer)to the Lava Point Overlook. The road is the Kolob Terrace Rd. and you start up it in the little town of Virgin just west of Springdale. You'll reenter the park and look down on the main canyon from above.

Here's a look at the view from the end of The Overlook Trail.

http://www.pbase.com/peterb/image/88429137

Here's a scene along the Kolob Terrace Rd.

http://www.pbase.com/peterb/image/146411959

You're gonna love this trip. Try to get up and out early though...Zion is busy these days.

Avoid St. George unless you want to tour Brigham Young's winter home. Nothing else there.

Stay at Cedar City - excellent museum and all tourist facilities.
In the late 1800s, Cedar City was the focus of making Utah steel. Fascinating history. They have replicated a 'blast' furnace at the museum.
https://stateparks.utah.gov/parks/frontier-homestead/

To clarify peterboy
"Also as you are coming into the park right at the main tunnel entrance you'll find the Overlook Trail"

Just before the tunnel there is parking along the road to the right. Also, to the left is a large parking area that is usually full. (the hike down from that parking lot is also scenic).

There are initially about 80 steps up the trail to where the trail flattens out. Wear shoes, not sandals or flip flops.

NOTE: you will be facing west at sunset that is not the ideal time for a photograph.

Vaga

I loved the Kolob section of Zion. Much less crowded than the "main" section. We had a great hike there.

Is the Kolob Terrace drive just as uncrowded as the Kolob Canyon section?

I don't know about the drive. We drove up to the canyon and parked and hiked. We had kids with us and did the hike as our final activity out of Zion/on the way home.

Kolob Terrace Rd. up to Kolob Reservoir was very quiet.

Thanks guys!

Kolob road ends at Highway 14 to Cedar City
Agree that it is scenic, but it is not a Zion - not even close. In Zion you look up - here, just across.

At Lava Point Campground, there is a spur road to an excellent overlook of Zion - way far away.

The prize of this journey is hiking the Subway. The first time we hiked it, there was not trail or people. Now it is regulated to 50 per day, may have changed. Trailhead is at mile 8.3 from Highway 9
They hike back is somewhat strenuous, so probably not your choice. It is not technically difficult.

Kolob Reservoir is free camping

Vaga