Explore Your Backyard

EXPLORE YOUR

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BY MONIQUE BEELEY

Numbers correspond with map on page 19

Winter is a magical time in Utah. From the

snow-covered mountain playgrounds of northern Utah to the red rock vistas down south, there are endless places to explore and experiences to enjoy in every season here in Utah.

The colder months in the desert red rock destinations in the southern part of the state offer many opportunities to enjoy the sun and find solitude, as these locales are less visited this time of year.

Southern Utah Red Rock Locales

1 WASHINGTON COUNTY The Red Cliffs Desert Reserve in Washington County was established in 1996 and is a 62,000-acre scenic wildlife reserve set aside to protect the rare plants and animals of the area. The Mojave Desert tortoise, Gila monster and chuckwalla are just a few of the reserve’s many inhabitants. The reserve offers over 130 miles of non-motorized trails, but please keep in mind that this is a place designated to protect the species living here. It is very important to stay on designated trails and always keep dogs on a leash. Babylon Arch and the Vortex are a couple of our favorite winter hiking spots in the reserve. RedcliffsdesertReserve.com

Babylon Arch is a 3-mile round-trip hike that begins at the Sand Cove trailhead. Follow the Flicker Trail for .2 miles and then the jeep road for .4 miles and look for the Arch trail sign. From there the trail winds through sandy washes and up over beautiful towering red rock formations.

The Vortex is a moderate 2.3-mile (out-and-back) hike that leads to a very cool 20-foot-deep sandstone bowl. The trail begins at the Lower Sand Cove Trailhead in the Red Mountain Wilderness, located near Gunlock State Park, 20 miles northwest of St. George. The trail winds through many different surfaces, beginning with a rocky descent through black lava rock, then into a sandy stream bed, followed by a climb up and over several fantastic petrified sand dunes. GreaterZion.com 2 SAN JUAN COUNTY Utah’s newest National Monument, Bears Ears National Monument, is located in San Juan County. With its majestic landscape, countless Native American ruins, and other archaeological sites, there is no shortage of things to see. Hike to ceremonial kivas, ancient rock art, and cliff dwellings. Don’t miss the namesake twin peaks that look like the ears of a bear. This area is home to more the 100,000 archaeological sites.

The Butler Wash Road located in the heart of the Bears Ears National Monument connects HWY 95 to HWY 163. Enter from the southern end, 4 miles west of Bluff via HWY 95. This backcountry road is a treasure trove of adventure and features several hikes, archaeological sites, and ruins. The road is unpaved with a mix of gravel, slickrock and dirt. The Wolfman Petroglyph Panel trailhead is about 1 mile from the from the junction with HWY 95. The hike is under a mile round-trip and fairly easy, but there is some exposure just before reaching the petroglyph panel. For those wanting to venture further, there are a few ruins on the opposite side of the wash below the panel. The Cold Springs Cave trailhead (unmarked) is 7 miles from the junction with hwy 95 (.2 miles past Monarch Cave trailhead). This 2-mile roundtrip hike is moderate and leads to a beautiful alcove and cave with ruins and several different petroglyphs.

Know Before you Go…This area is primitive and lacks the some of the amenities and infrastructure that can be found in more established national monuments; there are no bathrooms, water, or trail signs and the cell service is spotty at best. One of the biggest challenges this area faces as a new National Monument is that this land is not prepared and protected from the impacts of mass visitation. Designating it as a national monument does not magically create all the systems, infrastructure, and rangers that are commonly seen as a part of a national park like Zion or Bryce. Unfortunately, these things are going to take several years to build and implement and it is up to us to do our part and always visit with respect and teach the next generation the true value of having these epic public lands available to explore. Utah is 75% public land and ranks 3rd in the Nation for percentage of public lands behind Alaska (95%) and Nevada (87%). Also, worth mentioning here: San Juan County is Utah’s largest county (7,820 sq. miles), but is one of the least populated.

Goosenecks State Park is a located 25 miles west of Bluff along US 163. Here, you will witness first-hand the raw natural power of water, wind and erosion created over time by the San Juan River. Goosenecks, or in technical geologist terms, “entrenched meanders,” are tight loops made over time by the flowing river. As a

crow flies this area spans just 1.5 square miles, but as the river flows it’s a total of 6 miles. Services in the park are limited (primitive camping, vault toilets, and picnic tables), but the views are ample and epic, making this a worthy destination. UtahsCanyonCountry.com

3 IRON COUNTY Cedar Breaks National Monument is a high elevation (10,000’) southern Utah destination that provides the iconic Utah mix of red rock and snow-covered landscapes. This “mini Bryce Canyon” is not one to be missed. Enjoy this massive colosseum of stone spires, columns, and arches alongside alpine meadows, ponderosa pines, and quaking aspens. Winter visitors can enjoy access to many of the majestic overlooks via cross-county skiing, snowshoeing, and snowmobiling. Vehicle access in the winter is limited, as the Cedar Breaks Scenic Byway (Hwy 148) is closed. VisitCedarCity.com

How to visit with respect:

+ Staying on the trail and camping only in designated spots protects buried artifacts.

+ If you find something that might be an artifact, you can measure, draw, and take a picture. Just be sure it’s safe and remember to put it back where you found it!

+ Take pictures or drawings of rock art and historic inscriptions! If you want to make rock art “pop” in your photographs, try using different filters. Rock Art is too fragile to touch!

+ If you find graffiti, it’s time to call the professionals: take pictures if you can and report it.

+ If you see someone else damaging a site, don’t talk to them yourselves, but do make sure to tell a ranger.

Babylon Arch

Goosenecks State Park