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    Red Cliffs Desert Reserve

    4.3 (20 reviews)

    Red Cliffs Desert Reserve Photos

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    Nycole R.

    About twenty years ago, I went with a group of friends from high school hiking through this reserve. For years, I had fond memories of it and how beautiful it was. Then, this year, I had the opportunity to return and see it again with my family. Not much had changed, of course, except that the water that I'd remembered was dried up. But it looks like it may have seen water earlier in the year. Go in the spring if you want to see the pools fill up. There are a few trails-mostly marked, although there are some areas where it can be easy to wander off the marked trail. There are cool rock formations that invite you to climb on them. Be careful-some of that sandstone can get slick. Be sure to bring some water with you-the sun can beat down pretty hard, especially in the afternoon. Also, if you're visiting on a weekend or holiday, come early. The parking area fills up quickly. And bring $5 in cash to pay the entrance fee via envelope. There's no attendant, so it's on your honor. I wouldn't chance it, if you're feeling like being a jerk. I saw some government trucks driving around.

    Alina S.

    I recommend downloading the All Trails app to get familiar with the trails, which is where I heard about Gecko Trail. We started on the Gecko trail, it is an in-and-out trail located behind a neighborhood so no parking fee and little to no crowds. Trail was easy for our kids and it was a perfect day to go outside. Temperature mid 50s at the end March. Popular area for mountain bikers too. Red Cliffs Desert Reserve is not to be missed during your visit!

    Ricky R.

    I had a lot of fun. We came pretty early. Hit a few trails. I am coming from Washington and it's a completely different experience. The one thing that is the same is the crowds. Just pretty busy like all hikes. It was beautiful for sure. The dinosaur stuff was pretty cool. The sites were lovely. I would love to spend a few days camping here. Drink all night hike all day.

    Paul P.

    Yelp seems to not want to listen that the address to this location is the Visitor Center. It's 15-20 minutes away from the actual park and campground. I have sent them this detail 3 times, and they keep defaulting to addresses in the middle of the city. That being said, there is a hiking area and campground 15-20 minutes north off I-15. I posted a picture and URL of the map to the entry. There are newly paved single lane roads into the camp with overnight and day use parking. This is a fee use area and not free. I went hiking at this location based on the reviews and pictures with running water. This location is desolate and there was no running water, if there is ever running water its likely only spring or fall. There is very little maintenance of the trails, markers, or view areas. You are really on your own and good luck. I would not return to this location to go hiking and would prefer Mt Charleston or Red Rock which seem to be much better maintained in the least they are closer and more suitable for hiking on a day trip.

    Steffi L.

    Love, love, LOVE this place!!!! We did a quick stop on the way from St. George to LA, and honestly, it's about as good of a nature getaway as you can get off of i15. Only $5 to enter, and there are pretty picnic areas and beautiful red rock you can take in at a fairly easy and quick pace, without having to take a huge dip into your drive time. Highly recommend -- we will be back to try other trails.

    Dino Track
    Morgan H.

    Came into the park just off Washington Parkway & I-15. Good sized parking lot that on weekends is always full to bursting. Trail starts out on a access road as you head north. We continued about 3/4 of a mile and spit off to the west towards a rocky ridge. We found a trail that ran to the south that was moving in and out of the small canyons. We saw a few other hikers and even encountered a horse back rider. Exposed with no shade so bring water for everyone. Along the trail we saw a few signs that told us of Dino tracks. As we kept going we weren't sure where they were. As we came to the bottom of a dry river wash we headed up to the side and that's were we found the tracks. They are great and easy to see. Sand obscures them, but a small broom/brush left by someone helped so we took some pics. To make it back to the car we walked down a service road from a water tower to main paved road. Then about 3/4 a mile to car parking. So many trails you could spend lots of romaine here exploring. Saw hawks, ravens and lots of lizards. Alas no desert tortoise!

    Shelby W.

    Super fun and easy family hike! it was only $5 to park ($15 if you camp)! This whole area was just breathtakingly beautiful! I was worried it might be difficult to hike bc it's red cliffs but it was super easy and super fun for everyone! It rained a little while we were there but we were able to take cover under some of the rock. It was a pretty to see. I would definitely recommend hiking here!

    Nicole D.

    This was a very pretty camp site. It was a smaller campground and seemed a little off the beaten path, which is kind of nice. It was close to the highway yet still quiet. I don't believe there were showers here, but the pretty red rocks make up for it. The camp site was very nice and included a covered patio and picnic table which was crucial due to the thunderstorm that passed through. Even in the pouring rain, we were able to cook and eat our dinner thanks to the covered area. Our camp site was $15, pay via envelope, and it was a quick drive to Zion the following morning.

    Nice park full of red rocks. Lots of hiking trails to choose from that vary in difficulty. It's a dog friendly park also. But for a black cockapoo there isn't much shade while hiking and it was close to 90" on the day we were there. Didn't realize how large an area the park encompassed until I actually looked at a map of the area. Evidently a good place to look for desert tortoises too. Morris and I decided that on our next visit here we are going to look for Gila Monsters.

    pyramid shaped sandstone

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    7 years ago

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    6 years ago

    Nice, beautiful, and peaceful nature. I have young children so we only did a quick walk on the trail. It was amazing and my kids loved it.

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    7 years ago

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    8 years ago

    Super fun, quick hike. The scenery is awesome and if you go in the spring you can cool off in the water. Good for kids too.

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    11 years ago

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    10 years ago

    Best, little known place in Washington County to take the kids for a hike!

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    And bring $5 in cash to pay the entrance fee via envelope.

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    Pioneer Park

    Pioneer Park

    4.6
    (79 reviews)
    0.7 mi

    I took my dogs on this trail for a hike and they were happy and tired! HAha. Amazing rock…read moreformations and views! It's only 1hr and 45 mins drive from Las Vegas. Just wanted a different scenery out of Vegas. They also have a garden area. It is worth a drive! No entrance fee. Free parking and they have plenty different areas to park.

    We visited Pioneer Park for the first time recently, and while it's definitely a beautiful and…read moreunique spot, our experience was a bit mixed . We didn't really know where to start when we arrived, and there wasn't much direction, so we ended up just climbing the first rock formation we saw. Honestly, if it weren't for a group of people ahead of us, we probably wouldn't have had any idea where to go. I was hoping to make it to the arch, but the climb felt a little too steep and slippery, especially with kids. We were carrying our three-year-old and keeping a close eye on our six-year-old, who was feeling a bit more adventurous than we were comfortable with in that terrain. We didn't make it very far in and mostly just stopped to take a quick photo so we could say we visited. It was also pretty hot, with the sun beating down the whole time, which made it harder to explore and enjoy the park fully. That said, the park itself is really nice, and you can tell there's a lot to see if you're prepared and know where you're going. I'd recommend going earlier in the day, bringing plenty of water, and maybe looking up a map or trail guide ahead of time, especially if you're visiting with young kids. Overall, it's a cool place, but we didn't get to experience it as much as we had hoped. Definitely worth another try with better planning!

    Photos
    Pioneer Park
    Pioneer Park
    Pioneer Park

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    Paria Canyon-Vermilion Cliffs Wilderness

    Paria Canyon-Vermilion Cliffs Wilderness

    5.0
    (1 review)
    2.0 mi

    Paria Canyon-Vermillion Cliffs is a designated wilderness area within the Vermillion Cliffs…read moreNational Monument, which straddles the border between Utah and Arizona and is approximately 40 miles East of Kanab, UT. This wilderness area wraps around the northern side of the monument and encompasses the Paria River canyon and other smaller, connected canyons. It is also the site of the famous landmark known as "The Wave," though that area (called 'Coyote Buttes North') is only accessible via permit; and such a permit can only obtained via a lottery system. But if, like us, you don't win that lottery, this beautiful area still has plenty to offer, namely: stunning slot canyon hiking. PCVC wilderness area is accessible via three trail-heads on two different roads off Hwy 89. We chose the Wire Pass trail-head off House Rock Road, which involved just over 20 miles of driving on a winding, sandy (and sometimes rutted) dirt road off the highway. (Note: this road is not passable after heavy rain). Our destination was the Paria River canyon itself, which can be reached from the the trail-head by passing through Wire Pass. Long story short, our hike was beautiful. Wire Pass itself narrowed from a wide 'wash' to a narrow slot canyon about 50 ft high, and we could feel the temperature drop about 10 degrees as we entered the latter. There was at least one semi-treacherous spot where a steep, blind climb-down over a large rock was required (I was glad to have long legs). The canyon opened up a bit at the confluence with Paria River canyon, before transforming again into a wider but much deeper slot canyon downstream. But due to the dangers of flooding in this narrow space, we ended up turning back before our planned turnaround point, since we sighted (and heard) some big thunderheads about 20 miles or so upstream. (We agreed not to die of stupidity). But we still had a great day. Other things you should know before visiting Paria Canyon-Vermillion Cliff Wilderness: -- A permit is needed for backpacking overnight in Paria Canyon -- Don't think you can just sneak over to 'The Wave' without a permit. It is patrolled daily; and fines range from $1k to $10k. They've even been known to impound vehicles -- If hiking a long distance in Paria canyon, you will get wet; wading through some deep pools may be required (so bring water shoes and hiking poles) -- All poop must be packed out (You heard me) -- Local monsoon season is June - Sept; best avoided for flash flooding

    Photos
    Obstacle in Wire Pass
    Obstacle in Wire Pass
    Paria Canyon slot
    Paria Canyon slot
    @conjunction of Wire Pass and Paria River

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    @conjunction of Wire Pass and Paria River
    Virgin River Trail

    Virgin River Trail

    4.6
    (12 reviews)
    2.3 mi

    Sometimes we aren't in the mood for a true "hike" where you have to navigate trails, climb an…read moreincline or commit to a strenuous activity. There are times when we prefer a leisurely stroll, likely at the end of a dog leash, and the Virgin River Trail is just perfect for that! There's ample parking and restrooms at the park, then you can hop on the trail in a variety of directions. The path is paved and very clearly marked, so you know where to go. There are even signs along the way directing to different trails as well as information about the length. I especially like the bridges over the Virgin River-they make for a nice photo. Not a lot of shade, so if you're walking in the summer months, prepare for that.

    I had an idyllic escape to St. George, UT during my spring break staycation back in March. After…read morearriving in St. George, I beelined to Confluence Park to bike the Virgin River Trail, which parallels the Virgin River for nearly 12 miles. The trail is well-maintained, extremely scenic, passes through diverse Southwestern landscapes, and is relatively flat (with the exception of the detour I took through picturesque Cottonwood Canyon on the Hell Hole Trail). Biking the Virgin River North Trail out and back from Confluence Park is roughly 18.2 miles. I did an extra seven miles on the Hell Hole & Virgin River South Trails to get me closer to 25 miles total. During my bike ride, I encountered photographers, runners, hikers, other bicyclists, and families/groups of people out on leisurely strolls. I would rate the Virgin River Trail as easy and suitable for all fitness levels. I found Cottonwood Canyon and the steep Hell Hole Trail hard/difficult as a novice biker, but well worth the effort! After my bike ride and lunch in St. George, the adventure continued with a scenic drive back home through the Virgin River Gorge (AZ), Moapa Valley (NV), and Lake Mead National Recreation Area (NV).

    Photos
    Cottonwood Canyon/Hell Hole Trail
    Cottonwood Canyon/Hell Hole Trail
    Cottonwood Canyon/Hell Hole Trail
    Cottonwood Canyon/Hell Hole Trail
    Virgin River North Trail

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    Virgin River North Trail

    Red Cliffs Desert Reserve - hiking - Updated June 2026

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