What to See and Do
Hiking and Biking
Cedar Canyon Trail
Walk along a river to a man-made waterfall on the Cedar Canyon Trail. It's good for trail running and road biking too. Wheelchairs and strollers are allowed on the path although some people might need assistance with steeper parts of the trail.
Length: 2.7 miles
Intensity: Easy
Rainbow Canyon to Petroglyph Cave Trail
The Rainbow Canyon Trail to Petroglyph Cave Trail takes you to a cave where you can view petroglyphs on the other end. There's a small climb to reach the cave; then, you must walk through it to the other side and look up at the cave exit to find the petroglyphs.
Length: 1.4 miles
Intensity: Moderate
Yant Flats Trail
This out-and-back trail guides you along the southern slopes of the Pine Valley Mountains. Underlying volcanic rocks have pushed up sandstone layers, creating a marbled effect. You can admire the beauty of this geological formation during your hike. Horseback riding and camping are allowed in the area. October through April is the best time to visit.
Length: 3.4 miles
Intensity: Moderate
Arches Trail
A popular trail in Dixie National Forest, the Arches Trail features beautiful rocky scenery with some wildflowers. April through October is the best time to take this hike.
Length: 0.6 miles
Intensity: Easy
Fishing and Boating
With 90 fishable lakes and over 500 miles of fishing streams, Dixie National Forest is a popular place for anglers. You can catch rainbow trout, cutthroat trout, brook trout, and brown trout. There are areas for both non-motorized and motorized boating in the forest, including Panguitch Lake and the Enterprise Reservoir.
Climbing
Bowling Alley is a rock climbing area that's accessible from the Red Hollow Trail. The slabby sandstone cliff faces east and offers climbs of 5.8 to 5.10.
Wildlife Viewing
Utah prairie dogs, turkeys, cottontail rabbits, cougars, and bobcats are some of the wildlife that you might see in Dixie National Forest. Wildlife viewing areas include the Cascade Falls Trail, Enterprise Reservoir, and Pine Valley Reservoir. Birds that you may spot are golden eagles and blue grouse.
Picnicking
The East Ponderosa Picnic Area offers group picnic areas with a picturesque view of the Pine Valley Mountains. Drinking water and vault toilets are available. For a picnic in the aspen-spruce forest, head to the Barker Recreation Area. It has tables, grills and fire rings, bear-proof storage boxes, and vault toilets.
Horseback Riding
More than 100 miles of trails are suitable for horseback riding in Dixie National Forest. You can ride through meadows, forests, canyons, and mesa tops.
OHV Riding
There are a lot of OHV riding opportunities in Dixie National Forest, including trail and road riding. OHV trails include the Lake Spring Hollow ATV Trail #32062, Mammoth Subdivision ATV Trail #32061, and the Boulder Swale ATV Trail #34022. For OHV road riding, try the Markagunt OHV System or the Bull Valley Mountain ATV Trail #31003.
