Learn More About The Area

If you are looking for a SLIGHTLY cooler place to ride this week, make sure to check out all the fresh trails in the Cliffrose Trail Network. Sitting below the base of Pine Valley Mountain and above St George, Cliffrose (AKA Spring Hollow) has been expanding rapidly since it was started a couple of years ago.

Reaching the trailhead from St George, you pass through the Red Cliffs Desert Reserve on Cottonwood Springs Rd (Turkey Farm Rd) and steeply climb about 2000 feet out of the city. A few miles up the road at the trailhead, the views of the entire St George valley and surrounding mountains are spectacular.

Cliffrose was designed and built primarily with mountain bikers in mind, but hikers and trail runners  also enjoy this area. So far, the network offers about 20 miles of trails varying in difficulty from beginner to advanced Some of the trails are directional, providing a safer and more enjoyable experience for the MTB crowd. Most of the trail network winds through pinyon trees and lava rocks and if you choose to climb to the top of the network, your total elevation gain is about 2000 feet. 

This area is in the process of some major upgrades to include an expanded parking lot, restroom facilities, and trail expansion. Since you are perched above St George, the temps are about 10 degrees cooler and this time of year, an early morning ride or a sunset ride would be a great time to beat the heat.

Since spring sprung and because the weather is pretty much perfect, Hole in the Rock Road needs to go on your adventure list. This 62-mile (one way) dirt road cuts though Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument and accesses some of the most beautiful terrain in Utah. Hole in the Rock Road begins in Escalante Utah and ends above the sandstone cliffs of Lake Powell.

This road has been around since 1879 when Mormon pioneers cut a ‘Hole in the Rock’ to access the Colorado River. Now, the road is mostly used by people looking to hike in world class areas such as Coyote Gulch, Peek-a-Boo and Spooky slot canyons, Devil’s Garden, and about 1 million other, lesser-known areas.

The drive along Hole in the Rock Road is mostly though barren, featureless desert with incredible red rock areas visible in the distance. From the car, you can see vast expanses of open area with no fences and very few people. Those seeking solace to camp or hike can find it in abundance in all but a few of the most popular trailheads next to the road. There are many roads, most of which require a 4x4, intersecting Hole in the Rock Road that access hundreds of different and lesser-known recreation areas.

Whether you want to hike in impossibly narrow and twisty slot canyons, see giant sandstone arches, or hike in lush desert oases, this area offers a bit of everything. Besides the popular hikes, most of this area is still virtually untouched and just waiting for an adventure. Spring and Fall are ideal times to visit so make sure to get a visit in before the heat comes!

Temple Quarry Trail If you are looking to get out into the warm weather AND learn some Utah history this coming week, make sure to check out Temple Quarry Trail. Located above downtown St George, this is an easy 2.5 mile out and back with almost no elevation gain. Temple Quarry Trail begins on Tech Ridge near the Tech Ridge Stairs and runs along the lava bluff that separates downtown St George from the west side of the city. At the beginning of the trail, you are treated with fabulous views of downtown St George, Zion and Pine Valley Mountain. Along the walk, there are a few different landmarks the explain the underlying trail history. In the 1800’s, during construction of the St George Temple, the pioneers needed a foundational material strong enough to withstand the alkali in the soil. The basalt on the west side of Black hill was suitable and stones up to 2500 pounds were carted several miles to the temple site. As you round the south side of the bluff and reach the quarry, your view of downtown fades and you are treated to views of the west side of the city, Ivins, Kayenta, and Red Mountain. At the quarry, there is a massive boulder with the quarry’s name etched in stone along with some picnic tables and a maze of smaller trails. If you are looking to combine adventures, Temple Quarry can be combined with the Tech Ridge Stairs, the STEEP paved walking trails running up and down the ridge, and the paved trail that runs atop the ridge rim.

If you are looking for some classic St George red rocks close to town, look no further than Pioneer Rim Trail in Pioneer Park. Pioneer Rim traverses a unique redrock formation stretching from Dixie Rock on the east side to T Bone Trailhead on the west side. If you hike the entire trail, it is a 3.8 mile out and back with a few hundred feet of elevation gain.

Most people opt to spend their time on the westernmost one-mile segment of the trail that features Dixie Rock, numerous historical markers, slot canyons, arches, and hundreds of different sandstone rocks that can be explored off trail.

Pioneer Rim Trail connects on the east and west side to other trail networks within the Red Desert Reserve. This trail network spans all the way to Leeds from Snow Canyon and north to the Pine Valley area of Dixie National Forest. Most trails within this area including Pioneer Rim Trail, are open to hikers, bikers, and horses.

Even if you aren’t up for a hike, the parking areas spanning Pioneer Park have excellent views of the city and the red rocks. It’s also a great place to watch the sunset and the city lights after dark with an ice cream cone from downtown.

Regardless of how you choose to enjoy this area, make sure to do it soon. With the recent approval of the Northern Corridor, when built, will either parallel or eliminate most of this trail. So enjoy it while it’s a part of the area!