Scenic Hiking

MILES AND MILES OF TRAILS

Hiking you say. What can you say about hiking in Southern Utah. Like most people in Southern Utah I am not a natural citizen of Washington County. I actually moved here from California, but I also lived in Chicago, New York, Mississippi, Minnesota, Texas, Pennsylvania, Florida, and have traveled to every state in the union and probably 50 other countries. I have probably hiked every place I have been, just ask my wife. I call hiking a passion of mine, my wife calls it addiction. So who cares you say, well I just want to give you some perspective validity to my words “Southern Utah Is One Of the Best places in the World to Hike”. How could that be you ask. So hang on here we go. Southern Utah has some of the most diverse hiking environment in one area I have ever seen. I can start in my backyard in SunRiver and hike the Ranger Bart Trail all the way to Arizona. Hiking along the Virgin River watching the hawks and eagles above looking for an easy meal. Lizards and the occasional rattle snake always add some adventure. There are also the Indian Pits which are over 1,000 years old. On the Northern part of St George is one of the most beautiful state parks in all of Utah. Snow Canyon. With the petrified dunes, hidden piñon trail, Volcanic Tubes, and the great trail from Tuacahn through Padre Canyon. And the ever popular Chuckwalla Trail where you can almost always spot a tortoise in the spring. And there is always the wonderful red and white rock formations. Sometimes with a few daring climbers. To the east is Fort Pierce Wash area with a special place called the dinosaur tracks. From here you can hike up the wall and eventually through the sand to a seldom seen arch called Nelson’s Arch. Discovered and named in the 90’s by a local hiker named Larry Nelson. I think I knew him well. Even further east is the famous Zion National Park. The park has 100’s of miles of diverse trails from Coal Pits to Cable Mountain. You will hike for miles without seeing another hiker, but enjoy the wonderful views of the Zion Peaks. Of course there are the famous ones like Angels Landing and Observation Point, but much too popular and always crowded. Even further North is the Pine Valley Mountain area, which isn’t actually a mountain. Pine Valley is actually a Laccolith, which was he source of the Volcanic rock formations all around St George. The tallest peak you can see from St George is Signal Peak at over 10,000 ft. In summer this will always be our southern Utah hiking area in the wonderful pines and much cooler temperatures. The area is full of deer, squirrels, Marmots, and chipmunks. And to top of this wonderful area an extended trip will bring you to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. More wonderful views and hiking. It may actually be in Arizona, but we consider this as part of our Southern Utah Hiking. So you can see why I love hiking here, Enjoy

hiking and I will see you on the trail.

Hiking In Southern Utah Enough about the area now give me a specific hike I can do near Hurricane since this is suppose to be about Hurricane. There is only one hike that sticks out unless you want to climb up a cider cone or to the top of Mollies Nipple. These are real challenges because of the loose volcanic rock. Two steps forward and one step back. Always good hikes, but not for the faint of heart. Gould’s Wash via Three Falls Trail is always a favorite short hike through the gorge of Gould Wash. The trail head is at the end of South 60 East and can be reached off 400 south. It is a 2.1 mile lightly traveled out and back hike that passes three falls, but as in much of Southern Utah the falls only have water during a rain. The trail is primarily a mix of some dirt and some scrambling. This trail is one for just wondering through a beautiful gorge and passing through some wonderful canyon walls and enjoying the journey.