A 45,000-acre BLM conservation area where the Mojave Desert, Great Basin, and Colorado Plateau meet, protecting desert tortoise habitat and slickrock canyons minutes from St. George. The Red Cliffs Recreation Area at its heart offers the Red Reef Trail with pools, small waterfalls, and moki steps carved into the sandstone.
| Category | Point of Interest |
|---|---|
| Nearest town | St. George / Leeds |
| Top activities | Red Reef Trail water pockets and mini-waterfalls, Elephant Arch and Babylon area hikes, Anasazi Valley petroglyphs, Camping at Red Cliffs Campground, Wildlife spotting (desert tortoise) |
| Best time to visit | October through April for comfortable hiking; summer only in early morning due to extreme heat. |
| Entrance fee | $5 per vehicle day use at Red Cliffs Recreation Area; America the Beautiful pass accepted |
| Permits | No permits for day hiking. Some zones are tortoise habitat — dogs restricted on certain trails; check BLM signage. |
Visitor tip: The main access road to Red Cliffs Recreation Area passes under I-15 through two low tunnels — vehicles over 11'6" tall (large RVs) cannot get through.
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