Introduction:

What? :

Although it looks like a short distance hike, the full loop hike is considered to be highly challenging route, it should only be attempted by experienced hikers.

According Alltrails this 3.1-mile loop trail with 600 ft elevation gain, what I did is more like 4.9 miles with 800 ft of elevation gain.

The first section of this hike up to the first waterfall, half a mile from the trailhead, is an easy, popular, and enjoyable trail, but the loop section of the hike is challenging and not for everyone.

This hike is not recommended for everyone and better be done in a group.

With all the path finding and obstacles overcoming it took me to finish it 3.5 hours.

Where? :

This hike located in Red Cliffs Recreation Area, 14 miles north on I-15 near the small community of Harrisburg.

The park itself is located west of the highway.

If you are coming from Saint George, I-15 northbound, take exit 22 for UT-228 north toward Leeds, then turn right onto Old Highway 91. Continue for 2 miles, then turn right onto west Red Cliffs Campground Road. Here you will pass in narrow underpass below I-15. Right after the underpass turn left, follow the campground road for 1.5 miles to access day-use parking along the campground loop.

On your way you will pass by the park entrance and pay station.

If you are driving south from Cedar City on I-15, take exit 23 toward UT-228/Leeds, then turn left onto Silver Reef Road. Continue for 480 feet, then turn right onto Main Street. After 1.5 miles, continue southbound on Old Highway 91 for 2 miles. Turn right onto west Red Cliffs Campground Road. Here you will pass in narrow underpass below I-15. Right after the underpass turn left, follow the campground road 1.5 miles to access day-use parking along the campground loop. The Red Reef Trailhead is located between campsites two and three.

Google Map Link

When? :

The park is open year-round.

At winter the road can get snow or be ice.

If you are looking for a water hike, I understand that over the majority of the year it is dry. For waterfall viewing it is best traveled in early to late spring, or after a series of good rainstorms in the area.

Do not hike into the narrow section of the canyon when it is heavy raining and there can be flash flood danger.

Winter is cold and summer are hot, dress appropriately.

Due note 1: This area is under BLM Red Cliffs Recreation Area.

Day Use Fee: $5 per vehicle. Cash or check only.

The America the Beautiful Passes are accepted here and allow free day-use.

Due note 2: You have restroom, water source, and day use picnic tables near the parking lot and the campground area.

Due note 3: Pets are permitted in the park day-use area, they must be kept on a leash.

You can’t have any pet in the Wilderness area so you can’t take them to your hike.

Due note 4: To enter the Red Cliffs Recreation Area, vehicle and trailer height and width are restricted to 11 feet 9 inches to pass through two narrow underpasses beneath the I-15 freeway. Plan your travel according.

Due note 5: Day-use parking in the Red Cliffs Recreation Area is relatively limited and may get fill to maximum capacity on weekends, holidays. My recommendation is to arrive early in the morning to find a designated parking space.

Due note 6: Cell phone reception is extremely limited; download you hike map prior arriving here.

Due note 7: The campground is excellent and based on first come, first serve. $15 overnight camping fee.

Due note 8: The first 0.6 mile of the trail to the base of the waterfall is kids and family friendly.

Due note 9: I saw several people in the first section of the trail but looks like no one kept hiking the challenging loop trail, make sure you know what you are doing and keeping it safe.

Warning!

The full loop route includes difficult sections with steep and rugged terrain where you will need to use your hands to navigate steep chimneys and various cliff obstacles. Based on my personal experience, technical climbing gear is not required. Large group may use ropes for additional safety and help climbing waterfall and cliff sections.

Within the wilderness areas, especially going up Red Riff creek and down the steep creek back to the main canyon the route is not signed and require route finding.

Quail Creek has a high potential for flash flooding, check the weather forecast and flash flood potential before entering a narrow canyon.

Summer months are extremely hot, especially at the exposed section of the loop. Bring enough water with you for half day hike.

Nearby Locations Blogs:

My thoughts:

Although not long, only 3.5 mile long, this was a challenging. It is not about the climbing or the distance or the heat but because the challenging to climb waterfall safely when I’m hiking alone.

After easy start overcoming few waterfalls, I did the far side of the loop where not many are doing, here you need to climb and scramble over few cliff sections. The canyon hike, view from above and the satisfaction of overcoming the climb was rewording.

The Hike:

When you are coming for a day visit park your car at the small parking lot at the entrance to the campground.

From here the trail pass through the day use picnic area below the large cottonwood trees.

Soon the trail passing the campground road and enter Quail Creek.

The trail progress on the left side of the creek, please follow the trail and not go out if it.

The first 0.6 miles of this trail are easy, at some point the trail getting down and continue in the creek bed, here it is getting more like narrow canyon.

This is where the waterfalls and the slick rock are.

Depending on water level you can find here a pool that need to be cross on it left side, you can get help by small footholds carved into the sandstone.

After that you will reach a large pool at the base of a waterfall.

When I visit here there was no to little water running so the creek and the waterfalls were not so impressive.

Most people turn back at this point.

If you want to keep with the hike you need to use the curved in moki steps that are curved up in the right side of the waterfall.

I saw in other blog pictures that you can find a helper rope here but when I visit the rope was missing.

Walking over the moki steps can be frightening, find a good foot hold and there are places you can hold with your hand to help with balance and pulling up.

If you are going up make sure you can climb down, usually it is more challenging to climb obstacles.

At the top of the waterfall, you will keep hiking in the canyon and soon after you will reach the canyon fork, the main canyon keep to your right and there is a clear fork to the left.

This is the canyon we will be heading down when we will finish our loop hike.

At this point our loop section of the hike begin.

I recommend doing the loop counterclockwise going right here, the waterfalls cliff climbing are preferable doing going up.

After turning right, you will keep walking in the canyon, and you will reach a small 7 ft waterfall. I did not saw any moki steps here so the only way to progress is in the small waterfall area.

When there is water in the canyon you will probably see here a deep pool so you can’t progress without getting wet, when I visit here mid-summer it was all dry.

When I was here there was a pile of stones at the base of the waterfall and a helper rope leading halfway down.

I was hiking alone so I had to find the balance myself on the pile of rocks and reach up to the looking like un-secure rope.

Only when I was up, I saw that this dangling rope had to be connected to rocks far from the waterfall was half cut by the rock friction.

Does not look like it was safe but I was on the other side of the waterfall so I can keep hiking.

The trail keep progressing in the canyon and after about 0.4 mile from the trail/creek junction you will reach another clear canyon junction.

Here our loop trail heading left where Quail Creek is turning right, I walk up Quail Creek to explore it but I was short on time, so I did not progress so much.

I came back to the canyon junction and start heading up to the left.

From here onward the trail is becoming more challenging as you progress, the trail at this section rated strenuous, involved with some dry waterfall climbing and required good route-finding skills.

Immediately after taking the left side canyon, you need to pass a small ~9 ft waterfall.

You can climb it from its right side.

After a short hike you will reach another much taller waterfall that can’t be climb, probably more than 20 ft high.

The only way to climb this area is climbing the rocky chimney on the left side of the waterfall. This involved with short but strenuous climb holding the rocks and pushing against the tight space.

Climbing here was the most challenging part of the hike.

At the top of the waterfall, I did saw repelling anchors here for people going down the waterfall.

From here the landscape start to open-up and you will find yourself walking in a dry wash.

There is no mark or clear trail so make sure you are walking in the right direction, stick to the left and stay overall in the center of the wash.

After about 0.8 miles from the canyon junction the wash open-up and you will see a clear turn out of the main wash climbing to the left to a point between two large hills, here you need to climb to the saddle.

From the top of this short hike to the saddle you will clearly see a steep and deep canyon heading down on its other side, this is the direction you need to take.

The look of the canyon is not welcoming, and I was asking myself if there are more waterfall I will need to climb down or if I can find a safe path.

When I’m hiking, especially alone, I always think when I’m passing challenging obstacles if I can retrieve my steps and turn around. You do not want to get caught between 2 waterfalls you can’t overcome.

I do have emergency satellite device, but I do not want to use it.

After short rest and a lot of drinking I started to ascend into the steep canyon.

Here, there was no clear path or trail cairns at all. You need to walk down in the direction of the creek center finding your way from rock section to the other, good that it was all down. This was already 10 am and it was getting very hot.

At about midway I reach a very high waterfall, I did not manage to see it lower section. This for sure was not my way down.

I start to look for a bypass, from the left side it was all straight rock, so I start to retreat, back and up, on the right side of the canyon where it looks more doable.

After some scrambling up, I circle the waterfall and on the other side of the rock I manage to see a potential path getting down. This was a steep but doable way down, here I also saw clear trail sings of people walking here.

The path follow a side narrow bolder slides covered with bushes and small trees.

After a safe descent I kept hiking down this steep canyon, I did pass several dray small waterfalls and boulders, but I do not remember any other major obstacle in my way.

Soon I reach back to the main trail and Quail Creek.

I turned right and reach the top of the first waterfall.

Climbing down the moki steps was more challenging from going up but I manage to overcome it.

Additional 0.6 mile over the easy trail brought me back to my starting point.

Before returning to my car, I walk to the campground and went to see Dinosaur Footprints.

After that I went back to my car.

It was great hiking trail, the first section is easy and fun and the loop section challenging and rewording.

www:

https://www.blm.gov/visit/red-reef-trail

Additional Pictures:

St. George, Utah – Red Cliffs Canyon Loop Hike

What? :

Although it looks like a short distance hike, the full loop hike is considered to be highly challenging route, it should only be attempted by experienced hikers.

According Alltrails this 3.1-mile loop trail with 600 ft elevation gain, what I did is more like 4.9 miles with 800 ft of elevation gain.

The first section of this hike up to the first waterfall, half a mile from the trailhead, is an easy, popular, and enjoyable trail, but the loop section of the hike is challenging and not for everyone.

This hike is not recommended for everyone and better be done in a group.

With all the path finding and obstacles overcoming it took me to finish it 3.5 hours.

Where? :

This hike located in Red Cliffs Recreation Area, 14 miles north on I-15 near the small community of Harrisburg.

The park itself is located west of the highway.

On your way you will pass by the park entrance and pay station.

Google Map Link

When? :

The park is open year-round.

At winter the road can get snow or be ice.

If you are looking for a water hike, I understand that over the majority of the year it is dry. For waterfall viewing it is best traveled in early to late spring, or after a series of good rainstorms in the area.

Do not hike into the narrow section of the canyon when it is heavy raining and there can be flash flood danger.

Winter is cold and summer are hot, dress appropriately.

Due note 1: This area is under BLM Red Cliffs Recreation Area.

Day Use Fee: $5 per vehicle. Cash or check only.

The America the Beautiful Passes are accepted here and allow free day-use.

Due note 2: You have restroom, water source, and day use picnic tables near the parking lot and the campground area.

Due note 3: Pets are permitted in the park day-use area, they must be kept on a leash.

You can’t have any pet in the Wilderness area so you can’t take them to your hike.

Due note 4: To enter the Red Cliffs Recreation Area, vehicle and trailer height and width are restricted to 11 feet 9 inches to pass through two narrow underpasses beneath the I-15 freeway. Plan your travel according.

Due note 5: Day-use parking in the Red Cliffs Recreation Area is relatively limited and may get fill to maximum capacity on weekends, holidays. My recommendation is to arrive early in the morning to find a designated parking space.

Due note 6: Cell phone reception is extremely limited; download you hike map prior arriving here.

Due note 7: The campground is excellent and based on first come, first serve. $15 overnight camping fee.

Due note 8: The first 0.6 mile of the trail to the base of the waterfall is kids and family friendly.

Due note 9: I saw several people in the first section of the trail but looks like no one kept hiking the challenging loop trail, make sure you know what you are doing and keeping it safe.

Warning!

Within the wilderness areas, especially going up Red Riff creek and down the steep creek back to the main canyon the route is not signed and require route finding.

Quail Creek has a high potential for flash flooding, check the weather forecast and flash flood potential before entering a narrow canyon.

Summer months are extremely hot, especially at the exposed section of the loop. Bring enough water with you for half day hike.

My thoughts:

Although not long, only 3.5 mile long, this was a challenging. It is not about the climbing or the distance or the heat but because the challenging to climb waterfall safely when I’m hiking alone.

After easy start overcoming few waterfalls, I did the far side of the loop where not many are doing, here you need to climb and scramble over few cliff sections. The canyon hike, view from above and the satisfaction of overcoming the climb was rewording.

The Hike:

When you are coming for a day visit park your car at the small parking lot at the entrance to the campground.

From here the trail pass through the day use picnic area below the large cottonwood trees.

Soon the trail passing the campground road and enter Quail Creek.

The trail progress on the left side of the creek, please follow the trail and not go out if it.

The first 0.6 miles of this trail are easy, at some point the trail getting down and continue in the creek bed, here it is getting more like narrow canyon.

This is where the waterfalls and the slick rock are.

Depending on water level you can find here a pool that need to be cross on it left side, you can get help by small footholds carved into the sandstone.

After that you will reach a large pool at the base of a waterfall.

When I visit here there was no to little water running so the creek and the waterfalls were not so impressive.

Most people turn back at this point.

If you want to keep with the hike you need to use the curved in moki steps that are curved up in the right side of the waterfall.

I saw in other blog pictures that you can find a helper rope here but when I visit the rope was missing.

Walking over the moki steps can be frightening, find a good foot hold and there are places you can hold with your hand to help with balance and pulling up.

If you are going up make sure you can climb down, usually it is more challenging to climb obstacles.

At the top of the waterfall, you will keep hiking in the canyon and soon after you will reach the canyon fork, the main canyon keep to your right and there is a clear fork to the left.

This is the canyon we will be heading down when we will finish our loop hike.

At this point our loop section of the hike begin.

I recommend doing the loop counterclockwise going right here, the waterfalls cliff climbing are preferable doing going up.

After turning right, you will keep walking in the canyon, and you will reach a small 7 ft waterfall. I did not saw any moki steps here so the only way to progress is in the small waterfall area.

When there is water in the canyon you will probably see here a deep pool so you can’t progress without getting wet, when I visit here mid-summer it was all dry.

When I was here there was a pile of stones at the base of the waterfall and a helper rope leading halfway down.

I was hiking alone so I had to find the balance myself on the pile of rocks and reach up to the looking like un-secure rope.

Only when I was up, I saw that this dangling rope had to be connected to rocks far from the waterfall was half cut by the rock friction.

Does not look like it was safe but I was on the other side of the waterfall so I can keep hiking.

The trail keep progressing in the canyon and after about 0.4 mile from the trail/creek junction you will reach another clear canyon junction.

Here our loop trail heading left where Quail Creek is turning right, I walk up Quail Creek to explore it but I was short on time, so I did not progress so much.

I came back to the canyon junction and start heading up to the left.

From here onward the trail is becoming more challenging as you progress, the trail at this section rated strenuous, involved with some dry waterfall climbing and required good route-finding skills.

Immediately after taking the left side canyon, you need to pass a small ~9 ft waterfall.

You can climb it from its right side.

After a short hike you will reach another much taller waterfall that can’t be climb, probably more than 20 ft high.

The only way to climb this area is climbing the rocky chimney on the left side of the waterfall. This involved with short but strenuous climb holding the rocks and pushing against the tight space.

Climbing here was the most challenging part of the hike.

At the top of the waterfall, I did saw repelling anchors here for people going down the waterfall.

From here the landscape start to open-up and you will find yourself walking in a dry wash.

There is no mark or clear trail so make sure you are walking in the right direction, stick to the left and stay overall in the center of the wash.

After about 0.8 miles from the canyon junction the wash open-up and you will see a clear turn out of the main wash climbing to the left to a point between two large hills, here you need to climb to the saddle.

From the top of this short hike to the saddle you will clearly see a steep and deep canyon heading down on its other side, this is the direction you need to take.

The look of the canyon is not welcoming, and I was asking myself if there are more waterfall I will need to climb down or if I can find a safe path.

When I’m hiking, especially alone, I always think when I’m passing challenging obstacles if I can retrieve my steps and turn around. You do not want to get caught between 2 waterfalls you can’t overcome.

I do have emergency satellite device, but I do not want to use it.

After short rest and a lot of drinking I started to ascend into the steep canyon.