The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is responsible for 1 in every 10 acres of land in the U.S.
Rim Rock Trail is one of four Rim Trails that are overseen by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) in southwestern Utah. The BLM is a federal agency that oversees the management and preservation of public lands. Hikers, bikers, and horseback riders commonly use this trail, and the trail features scenic rock gardens full of eroded rock sculptures. Views of Boomer Hill, Santa Clara Peak, Cove Wash, and the White Hills can be seen in the distance from this trail. Rim Rock Trail is located fairly close to Grand Canyon National Park.
This trail is known for circling the rim of a mesa and is a loop trail. It features naturally sculpted rock formations as well as sand-filled potholes. Length: 1.2 miles Intensity: Moderate
The Rim Reaper Trail is popular with mountain bikers and climbs a steep elevation up the side of a tall mesa. The scenery of the trail is a black brush desert. Length: 0.5 miles Intensity: Difficult
Rim Ramble Trail connects Rim Reaper and Rim Rock trails and starts on Cove Wash East Trail. This trail skirts the edge of the same mesa as these trails but does not gain the same amount of elevation. Length: 0.8 miles Intensity: Moderate
Fishing and boating are popular activities in Sand Hollow Reservoir, located just a few miles east of Rim Rock Trail. This reservoir can be accessed via Sand Hollow State Park, and fish ranging from largemouth bass to bluegill, black crappie, spotted bass, and green sunfish have often been caught in these waters. Motorized and non-motorized boating is also permitted here, and jetskiing is popular in the reservoir too.
Sand Hollow State Park is also home to a wide all-terrain vehicle (ATV) desert exploration area. Annually, this park hosts an ATV takeover event that invites hundreds of riders to ride in the desert all at once. Jeep crawling is another popular activity here year-round.
Many climbing hills are located just outside the city of Saint George, including Monkey Boy Boulder, Jabberwok Boulder, Teepee Boulder, and Fin Arete Boulder. These hills are all a part of Moe's Valley, a climbing area with boulders ranging in size and difficulty. All boulders in this area are made of sandstone and are prohibited from being climbed for 24 hours after rainfall since they can become quite slick when wet.
The Rim Rock Trail is a great trail for wildlife viewing since the trail travels through an area free from cattle farming and ATV use. You will see a lot of rare desert plants along the trail and animals like Mojave desert tortoise, Gila monsters, foxes, bobcats, mountain lions, chuckwallas, snakes, and jackrabbits. The commonly seen birds of the area include falcons, eagles, quails, wrens, hawks, owls, goldfinches, chukars, roadrunners, doves, and sparrows.
You can go RV camping near Rim Rock Trail with full hookups at a campground like Quail Creek RV Park, which has 43 full-service campsites and at least two sites with pull-through parking. Another nearby campground you may consider is McArthur's Temple View RV Resort, an RV park with over 260 full-service campsites. This location also features a pool, hot tub, clubhouse, laundry facility, and a golfing area. You can also check out Southern Utah Luxury RV Resort, which has over 80 full-service sites and a playground, pickleball courts, and basketball courts.
One great free camping option nearby Rim Rock Trail is at Hurricane Cliffs Recreational Area, a BLM-managed site. Camping here is permitted in a dispersed manner for up to 14 days at a time though there are no hookups at this site. The temperatures are quite cold here at night, so it is advised that campers bring plenty of warm layers and blankets to use. The scenery at Hurricane Cliffs Recreational Area includes vast, flat desert floors and distant mesas.
When you plan on hiking Rim Rock Trail, be sure to pack accordingly with enough drinking water for each person in your hiking group. You may also want to wear light clothing, specifically in the summer, and sunscreen to protect yourself from the full-sun portions of the trail. Avoid hiking the trail during or after rain as this often makes the trail too slick to walk. If you plan to stay at a BLM campground, be sure to bring water for drinking and washing plus any battery, solar, or gas-powered camping equipment you may have. You are also permitted to bring a generator but avoid running it after dark out of respect for other campers. Before you head out on your trip, check out our blog for all you need to know about BLM camping.
Anyone who visits Rim Rock Trail or a BLM campground is asked to follow the BLM's "Leave No Trace" guidelines, which include simple tasks like picking up after yourself, disposing of pet waste properly, and containing any campfires you may start. Hikers of the Rim Rock Trail must also stick to the trail to avoid damaging the surrounding vegetation.
To reach Rim Rock Trail from Saint George, travel north on Bluff Street. You will then turn left on Sunset Boulevard and left on Gates Lane. From there, you will cross a river and travel 0.4 miles before turning left onto a dirt road. After that, continue for 0.7 miles, then turn right where there is a sign for a reserve. Repeat by continuing for 0.7 miles and turning right again. Drive 1.3 miles, then turn right again. From there, continue 1.5 more miles until you reach the marked trailhead for the Rim Trails. Address: Bureau of Land Management 353 East Riverside Dr. St. George, Utah Ready to visit Rim Rock 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.
