In a Mars-like landscape where dinosaurs once roamed, Pioneer Park is out-of this-world adventure. Within the South Utah universe, it is in a world of magnificent parks made up of Zion National Park, Snow Canyon State Park, Bryce Canyon National Park, Anasazi Trail, and numerous grand parklands. Rising above the City of St. George overlooking downtown stand the picturesque red sand stones that frame the northern edge of St. George. There have been a few times that I have felt like a pioneer exploring this frontier of red rocks, sandstones and nature in the northern reaches of St. George, Utah.
Pioneer Park is an example of a special place giving so much in exchange for so little. From Interstate 15 it is an easy drive north on Bluff Street to Red Hills Parkway which leads to the two paved parking lots. Parking is free.
With its sandstone dome, hills, Arches, rocks, slot canyon, and Dixie Rock; Pioneer Park is a rock climbers dream. Ditto for hikers.
What makes this a hikers dream is that the 52-acre Pioneer Park is joined to the 60,000-acre Red Cliffs National Desert Reserve. Pioneer Park is a gateway into this mammoth preserve. On account of the fact that they are connected, Pioneer Park shares the same attributes. The protected wildlife in the reserve that includes desert tortoises, bunny rabbits, chuckwalla pelicans, gila monster lizards, and sidewinder rattlesnakes can pass through the invisible boundary into Pioneer Park. This invisible boundary is in the vicinity of the transition zone where the Mojave Desert, Great Basin, and Colorado Plateau come together. Within this contiguous super park lives the protected drawf bear poppy that only exists in the St. George area.
The most recent time that I partook in this out-of-this-World adventure the first part was exploring Pioneer Park proper then getting on the T-Bone Trail on a long hike into the reserve. The Red Cliffs National Desert Reserve is a separate business listing. In the near future I will write on my real life experiences there.
My adventure in Pioneer Park started before parking my car in the smaller west parking lot. The drive to the park on Red Cliffs Parkway overlooks the sandstone hills above and the City of St. George below. For the record, Pioneer Park is attached to bike trails that extend the adventure into the city.
The first thing I noticed was that the kiosk said Red Cliffs National Recreation Area. There was little attention to the Pioneer Park name. At least in the west parking lot. However there was sufficient attention to the red bluffs. To the right stood Dixie Rock. This sandstone dome is the focal point of the park. Rising above the city below is the red rock that reads Dixie. There was zero need to find directions because right above the parking lot were throngs of climbers. I'd follow the people.
I made a right to a gap between the two massive sandstone rocks that form the dome that is Dixie Rock. This brought me to the north side. I followed the people to the carved steps. I scrambled up the few carved steps to the tops. Below me was a breathtaking panorama of St. George. This is a Kodak photo moment. Ahead was a small steel bridge that connected the small gap that I had walked under. This is an even better Kodak photo moment. If I had passed over the scrambling, I would not have lost out if I saw the panorama of St. George from the parking lot.
Moments after returning to the west parking lot, I walked along the shadow of Dixie Rock to the larger east parking lot. This connects Pioneer Park to the reserve via T-Bone Trail and the gardens. Without leaving the park proper, this is a red rock playground bordering sandbox topography with additional attractions. There is boy scout cave, a home carved between the red rocks with a roof and chimney. I didn't get to see it. I did get to see the beginning of the slot canyon where a family with children were propelling. I was impressed by what I saw of the one hundreds yard slot canyon that is 1-2 feet deep at its narrowest.
Sometimes when my world is one of bills, work, and stress I have to leave it for an out-of-this-world adventure. For a few hours Pioneer Park was an out-of-this-world adventure where I rose above it all in a red rock playground overlooking St. George, Utah. read more