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Utah isn’t in need of superb hikes and rocky landscapes to discover, however one hike that’s positive to wow you is the Pink Reef Path in Pink Cliffs Nationwide Conservation Space, simply outdoors of St George.
This brief and reasonably difficult path is little greater than an hour’s stroll, and really family-friendly, which makes it one of the crucial widespread trails within the space.
What makes this path thrilling is it passes via the Quail Creek, and has you wading via water and into Cottonwood Canyon Wilderness.
As you traverse up the creek, you’re surrounded by imposing canyon partitions and pink rock formations. There are areas the place you want to scramble and climb over boulders, turning this wilderness right into a pure playground.
Should you’re pondering of mountain climbing the Pink Reef Path, however unsure whether or not it’s the best hike for you or what to anticipate, here’s a full information on learn how to hike this path in Utah.
Concerning the Pink Reef Path Hike
- Distance: 3.5km or 2.1 miles (out and again path)
- Elevation Acquire: 67 meters
- Problem: reasonable
- Trailhead location: the trailhead is positioned in Pink Cliffs Campground, from this location.
The Pink Reef Path is a memorable pink rock wonderland. The three.5 km (2.1 mile) hike takes you alongside a Cottonwood stuffed canyon amidst towering cliffs, and brings you traversing via a number of swimming pools inside a slot canyon.
The canyon narrows all through the path till it’s only a few toes huge. In the direction of the tip of the hike, you attain an exquisite little waterfall cascading over the sleek pink rocks.
It’s positioned within the Pink Cliffs Desert Reserve, a sprawling 60,000-acres of jaw-dropping surroundings, bio-diversity, and epic adventures.
It encompasses the Pink Cliff Recreation Space and the close by Snow Canyon State Park.
This space is technically a transition zone between the Mojave Desert, the Nice Basin, and the Colorado Plateau, and so gives a mix of vegetation and animals from every of those areas.
I beloved seeing the cholla timber, a scary favourite of our South West travels.
The Pink Cliff Recreation Space supplies a welcome reduction within the desert with its looming cliffs and riparian habitat, though some trails might be scorching in the summertime.
Though the path is open all yr spherical, the perfect time to hike is from February via October.
get to Pink Reef Trailhead and St George
The Pink Reef Trailhead is positioned simply outdoors Leeds, a small city close to St. George in Utah.
St George is the principle gateway to this path and a superb place to base your self for this hike. It’s 120 miles from Las Vegas, taking slightly below two hours to drive. You’ll primarily be on I-15 N for a lot of the drive.
You may go to on a day journey, nonetheless we suggest spending longer within the St. George area as there are such a lot of superior issues to do there, equivalent to discover Snow Canyon State Park, Sand Hole State Park, and Zion Nationwide Park.
The closest airport to St George is St. George Regional Airport (SGU), which gives flights from a number of main airways, together with American, Delta, Southwest, and United, and connects to most main cities.
The drive from St. George Airport to the Pink Reef Trailhead is about 20.9 miles and may take round 36 minutes, driving alongside Washington Fields Rd for a lot of the journey.
You will discover the trailhead on the map under…
Our Expertise Mountain climbing The Pink Reef Path
We arrived in Utah the afternoon earlier than the hike, and will see the beckoning pink cliffs throughout from our campsite.
The snow capped peak behind it simply added to the deliciousness of the figuring out that we had arrived in the best place, and made the BEST option to spend not less than a month in Utah absorbing the pure vitality and wonder.
I don’t assume you might discover a extra colourful place to go to.
We had the morning to spare and ducked on over to see what the Pink Reef hike was all about and whether or not this was a worthy hike in Utah to do with youngsters.
There have been a few trails I used to be mulling over to do, equivalent to The Silver Reef to dinosaur tracks or the Anasazi Ruins, however it was a final minute choice to take the Pink Reef Path.
Finest. Resolution. Ever.
The trailhead is on the Pink Cliffs Campground, which is signposted and effectively marked. There are restrooms on the campground, however not on the path, so we extremely advise you go earlier than setting off.
Look out for the Pink Cliffs signal at first of the path, and observe the pure floor path till you attain the canyon.
We needed to wade via a small stream via the slot canyon, which was completely freezing. We may solely stroll a number of steps earlier than leaping again out on the steep and easy rock face beside it to permit our numbed toes to search out themselves once more.
The path isn’t very lengthy, however it was an journey!
The waterfall marks the tip of the official path, however that is actually the place the journey and the great thing about this path begins.
To the best of the waterfall are steps carved into the sandstone. A rope dangles down that can assist you climb up and across the falls the place you may then proceed strolling via a slot canyon for so far as you want.
It took Savannah a couple of minutes to work up the braveness to offer it a go, however as soon as she did and accomplished the climb, her pleasure exploded.
She at all times needs to attempt issues that take a look at her limits and are somewhat on the dangerous facet.
So after all, she was leaping up and down saying this was essentially the most enjoyable ever – she simply climbed round a waterfall over easy rocks whereas holding onto a rope.
Exploring the canyon above the waterfall was enjoyable.
So we didn’t get an excessive amount of additional round because the canyon partitions had been too steep and the river too chilly. This stroll continues for nearly 6 miles into the Cottonwood Canyon Wilderness.
The pool beneath the waterfall is a perfect pure swimming gap and it was enjoyable to slip down the pure shoot or to leap into the pool. It was means too chilly to swim once we visited, however I may think about in the summertime it being very refreshing.
Video: Watch us mountain climbing the Pink Reef Path
You’ll be able to watch our adventures on the Pink Reef path right here…
The place to remain in St George, Utah
The Pink Cliffs Recreation Space Campground has 11 campsites inside reddish-orange canyon partitions. The Quail Creek, a seasonal stream, emerges from a canyon and flows via the center of the campground.
The campground is open yr spherical and most campsites have shade shelters (solely Campsite 4 has no shade), in addition to picnic tables, potable water, and grills.
We stayed at KOA St George Hurricane, which we weren’t too impressed with, though it was near Sand Hole State Park.
You’ll be able to camp on the close by Sand Hole State Park, which is what we needed to do however it was booked out.
In any other case, you may keep at a lodge in St. George. Some accommodations that come really helpful are:
- LOGE St George Utah gives free WIFI, parking, a pool with a view and a scorching breakfast. It’s nice for households and so they permit pets.
- The Finest Western Abbey Inn is positioned in the midst of St George giving you quick access to eating places and tales. Free breakfast, pool and scorching tub.
- Wingate by Wyndham can be positioned close to eating places and retailers. It additionally has free shuttle, complimentary bike rental, free breakfast, pool and is pet pleasant.
- Inn on the Cliff is a resort possibility that usually makes the Better of Lists! Beautiful views, particularly from the pool.
Extra American Southwest Journey Ideas
Want extra inspiration in your journey to Utah and the American Southwest? Listed below are another useful guides…
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