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In case you want to find other trails (and you probably will), here is my 4-stars and above AllTrails link for the area described in this document.
❤️❤️❤️ - Love it! Would do it again just because it is such a good trail.
❤️❤️ - Like it. Good Trail and Hike. Would do it again with a friend who has never done it or perhaps at a different time of year.
❤️ - Glad we did it but would not do it again.
This is a beautiful area of the country. It has it all: desert, mountains, colorful rock formations, geology, canyons, forests, wide open areas, waterways, petroglyphs, fossils, and reasonably good beer 😊, all with incredible hiking and backpacking opportunities. Just Google It!
Petroglyphs abound in this area. Please be respectful of our past and don’t disrupt archeological sites and for goodness sake, please DON'T DRAW OVER THE EXISTING PETROGLYPS AND DON'T ADD YOUR OWN! Take only pictures and leave only footsteps.
It gets hot in the summer and very cold in the winter. Water & layers are essential.
In addition to layers, if you are going to places like The Vortex, where you will be hiking over some steep rock, wear boots with good Vibram soles. They adhere to the rock face where tennis shoes don’t.
Rattlesnakes are abundant in Utah. I have had at least one encounter with a rattler in Utah (jumped directly over it at the last moment while it was basking in the trail). So, just in case you happen to get bit, here is a list of do's and do not's from healthline.com.
Note that in Utah rattlesnakes are protected under Utah law, making it illegal to harass or kill one. The only exception to this is if you are threatened and defending yourself; otherwise, it is a class B misdemeanor to kill a rattlesnake.
For more information regarding rattlesnakes, to include what to do if bitten, read here.
Cougars (Mountain Lions): Yep, there are cougars in Utah. I have seen one there “way over on the other side of the valley,” which was just fine.
For more information regarding cougars and what to do if you encounter one, read here.
Bears: Bears in southern Utah are rare, but not unheard of. Black bears are the only type of bear in Utah. Black bears usually avoid contact with people but encounters in Utah’s woods and mountains are not uncommon.
For more information regarding bears and what to do if you encounter one, read here.
Animals of the Area: List of Common Animals in the Red Cliffs Desert Reserve & Utah Lowlands
Plants of the Area: List of Common Plants in the Red Cliffs Desert Reserve & Utah Lowlands
Following is a list of resources I have found most helpful for planning a trip to St. George and the surrounding areas: