The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is responsible for 1 in every 10 acres of land in the U.S.
Red Reef Trail is a moderate to strenuous hiking and climbing trail in the Cottonwood Canyon Wilderness of Utah. Deep sandstone canyons and tall, rugged chimneys categorize the trail's scenery. The first half-mile of the trail is a moderate walk popular with hikers in the spring when snowmelt creates cascading falls over the canyon sides. The following five miles of the one-way trail are difficult and may require climbing ropes. Red Reef Trail can be accessed via the Red Cliffs Recreation Area, a day-use area that provides parking for a fee of $5 per vehicle. There are also some designated campsites in this area, and both the trail and recreation area are overseen by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). This trail is also relatively close to Zion National Park.
Red Reef Trail is an out-and-back trail that may be accessed through either the Red Reef Trailhead at the Red Cliffs Recreation Area or the Cottonwood Canyon Trail in the Cottonwood Canyon Wilderness. This trail is categorized as a class two to three in terms of hiking intensity and requires using hands to manage. Length: 5.7 miles Intensity: Difficult
If you're interested in seeing over 400 fossilized dinosaur footprints, consider walking the famous Dinosaur Footprints Trail right outside Red Cliffs Campground. This short and easy hike follows a level terrain with interpretive signs. Length: 0.2 mile Intensity: Easy
Another trail featuring multiple interpretive signs, the Anasazi Trail, shows visitors the ruins of a Native American civilization. Along this easy-to-walk trail, you will see pottery shards and remnants of native homes. Length: 0.2 mile Intensity: Easy
If you'd like to go fishing and boating near Red Reef Trail, check out Quail Creek Reservoir. This deep reservoir is stocked year-round with rainbow trout, bullhead catfish, largemouth bass, crappie, and bluegill, and it is most accessed through Quail Creek State Park. This park also has designated areas for swimming plus paddle boats, canoe, and kayak rentals.
Prophesy Wall is a common rock climbing spot just a few miles away from Red Reef Trail. This rock formation is made of sandstone and features climbing paths up to 250 feet in length. Climbers often experience more shade while climbing in the morning, and it is advised to avoid climbing the cliff for 24 hours after rainfall since the sandstone can become quite slick when wet.
Plenty of wildlife calls the area surrounding the Red Reef Trail home, including Gambel's quail, canyon wrens, Mojave desert tortoise, and Gila monsters. Other less commonly seen animals of the area include golden eagles, mountain lions, bobcats, kit foxes, black-tailed jackrabbits, desert kangaroo rats, chuckwallas, great basin rattlesnakes, gopher snakes, and western blind snakes. You will also see flora ranging from mature cottonwood trees to willows.
The closest camping option to Red Reef Trail is Red Cliffs Campground, a BLM-managed campground with 11 campsites. Each site has access to a vault toilet and potable water, and each features a picnic table and grill. Some sites are also disability accessible, while others may feature pull-through parking. If you would like to have full hookups while you camp, consider going RV camping at another campground like Quail Creek RV Park. This campground features 43 campsites with water, electrical hookups, and two pull-through sites. All sites are paved, and the campground is open year-round.
If you'd like to camp for free near Red Reef Trail, check out Hurricane Cliffs Recreation Area, which offers dispersed camping options for tents and RVs. While there are no amenities here, including electricity or water hookups, campers may stay for up to 14 days.
If you plan on hiking Red Reef Trail, pack enough drinking water for your hike and consider bringing sunscreen since many parts of the trail are in full sun. Because this is an intense trail, wearing proper shoes is a must, and you may want to bring climbing ropes just in case you decide to use them on the most difficult portions. If you are driving to the trailhead, consider coming early in the morning to find a parking spot since the Red Cliffs Recreation Area lot fills up fast and does not allow extra parking on the side of the road. If you plan to camp at a BLM campground, be sure to pack all the supplies you will need for your stay since there are no camping or grocery stores around. Also, while some campgrounds, like Red Cliffs Campground, offer potable water, they do not provide electrical hookups, so consider bringing battery-operated equipment as needed. Finally, before you head out on your trip, check out our blog for all you need to know about BLM camping.
All visitors to Red Reef Trail or any BLM campground are asked to follow the "Leave No Trace" policy put in place by the BLM. This policy outlines seven principles you can follow to help keep the land you visit clean and safe for wildlife and future human visitors. You can follow these principles by picking up after yourself, watching campfires closely, and respecting any nature you encounter.
To reach Red Reef Trail from Saint George, take I-15 north, then take exit 22 onto UT-228 north. Immediately turn right onto Old Highway 91 and continue for two miles. After that, turn right onto Red Cliffs Campground Road and drive on for 1.5 miles. You will then find parking at Red Cliffs Recreation Area, and you can find the trailhead between campsites two and three at the adjacent Red Cliffs Campground. Ready to visit Red Reef Trail? An RV rental is a great way to experience your destination. Not only will you be close to all the action, but at the end of a long day exploring, you’ll have your RV to return to for the night where you’ll enjoy a full kitchen, bathroom, and nice soft bed. Not sure about renting an RV? Here's a step-by-step guide to renting an RV with RVshare.
