The Saint George area is a hiker’s dream, with its red rock landscapes, desert views, and trails for all skill levels. The colors and scenery here, especially around sunrise or sunset, make hiking in Saint George an unforgettable experience. I’m excited to have some of my favorite trails that showcase the best of what this incredible area has to offer.
When hiking in St. George, staying mindful of the weather is crucial. Southern Utah gets incredibly hot in the summer; spring and fall can be quite warm. Always pack accordingly, and no matter what the temperature says, carry plenty of water. The sun can feel intense, especially when it’s beating down on you during a hike. If you’re visiting between May and September, it’s best to hit the trails early in the morning. In May and September, you might be able to get away with an evening hike, but it really depends on the day. During the cooler months, you have more flexibility. Even in January and February, a late afternoon hike is usually warm enough. Just be sure to plan ahead and be prepared for whatever the weather throws your way.
Areas to Hike
Southern Utah is full of incredible places to hike and explore. Here are just a few of my personal favorites:
Snow Canyon State Park
Snow Canyon State Park is just a 20-minute drive from St. George and is home to stunning red and white rock formations, making it a perfect spot for hiking and rock scrambling. The vibrant red rocks, especially when the light hits them just right, offer breathtaking views. Besides hiking, the park has fun sand dunes that are great for kids and adults alike—it’s basically one giant, sandbox! With its striking landscapes, Snow Canyon is also a popular spot for photography. In fact, we took our family photos among the beautiful white rocks.
There are plenty of hikes to choose from in Snow Canyon, and you can find the full list here. One hike I recently did was the Red Sands Trail. As the name suggests, there’s a lot of sand, which wasn’t my favorite, but the views more than made up for it. This 3.2-mile trail is dog-friendly, as long as your pup is on a leash. The trailhead is shared with several other hikes, and it can be a bit tricky to navigate, so be sure to pay attention to the signs. Once you’re on the trail, keep an eye out for the markers—we wandered off the path at one point but quickly found our way back by following the markers.
Snow Canyon offers stunning red rock landscapes and is home to some incredible hikes. If you’re in the St. George area and looking to explore the outdoors, I highly recommend visiting this state park. It’s the perfect spot to experience the beauty of Southern Utah’s desert scenery.
Red Cliffs Desert Reserve
Another fantastic spot with plenty of hiking options is the Red Cliffs Desert Reserve. Covering vast areas of Southern Utah, the reserve is divided into several sections, all offering different experiences. You can explore the different areas on their website. One of my favorite hikes here is the Red Reef Trail. It’s an easy hike overall, but about a mile in, there’s a spot where you need to climb up a rock with the help of a rope to avoid falling into the water.
Before heading to the trailhead, be sure to check if there’s water running in the creek. I’ve done this hike both with and without water, and it’s just not the same when the creek is dry. The city sometimes reroutes the water for agricultural use, so timing is key. I’ve found that early spring is the best time for this hike, but it can vary, so plan ahead for the best experience.
Hikes
Turtle Wall
One of my recent favorite hikes is the Turtle Wall Trail, part of the Chuckwalla trailhead, a moderate 2-mile loop that takes you through stunning red rock landscapes.. I did this hike early one summer morning, and the way the sun lit up the red rocks was absolutely incredible. The trail winds along towering cliffs and unique rock formations, giving you plenty of gorgeous scenery to take in. It’s also a peaceful, quiet hike—perfect for avoiding the summer crowds. The best part? It’s dog-friendly, so you can bring your pup along to enjoy the adventure with you as you explore the beautiful red rock terrain near Santa Clara.
Farmstead Loop
Another hike I’ve done is the Farmstead Loop, which is a pretty easy trail through desert brush. The loop itself is short, but it’s connected to other trails if you’re looking for more distance—we ended up extending the hike this way. It’s a quiet, laid-back trail in Ivins, perfect for a simple walk if you’re not in the mood for anything too challenging but still want to enjoy the desert scenery. We brought our pups along for this one, and they loved exploring the trail with us. It’s definitely a dog-friendly spot, so it’s great for a relaxed outing with your furry friends.
The St. George area is full of amazing hikes, and these are just a few I’ve done recently that are worth sharing.
Stay Safe and Start Exploring!