Red Cliffs Recreation Area in southern Utah – Waterfalls and Natural Slides

Red Cliffs Recreation Area

Ready for a hike in the Red Cliffs Recreation Area that leads to waterfalls and natural slides? Read below for details about the hike, where it is located and how to get there.

Red Cliffs Recreation Area Trailhead

red cliffs recreation

The trail head at Red Cliffs Recreation Area is near Leeds Utah, a little camping area where there are plenty of rocks for climbing. Shade is provided by the Cottonwood trees in the area. The trail is very well marked. The Bureau of Land Management has placed several signs that identify plants and natural features along the trail.

Enjoy a short, scenic and fun, hike as this little trail leads from the campground at Red Cliffs Recreation Area in Leeds, Utah into a narrow canyon beside a small stream. As you hike, the canyon narrows until it is just a few feet wide and a beautiful little waterfall blocks the trail. But it is easy to climb around and the trail continues into the canyon. Red Cliffs Recreation Area is a year-round camping area.

The best seasons to hike here are in the spring and fall. Summer afternoons are too hot to enjoy and the stream may completely dry up. Summer mornings are pleasant and the cool stream is great to get wet in during warm weather. Climb up around the waterfall and then follow with a slide down the natural shoot for some great fun!

Be Prepared

Bring plenty of water and snacks to enjoy along the way. Make sure to pack out what you pack in.  Let’s keep these beauties beautiful for years to come.

Trails

There are several short trails in Red Cliffs Recreation Area and near Leeds Utah that start from the overflow parking area, to such areas as an old Mormon homestead, the Orson Adams House, the remains of a 1954 movie set, an ancient Anasazi site and the lower section of the creek, plus several longer routes. One route, the White Reef Trail, follows a line of jagged rocks northwards, then passes three sets of Jurassic dinosaur footprints.

The Silver Reef lookout trail is about 1/2-mile-long and leads to the red rock lookout, which overlooks the Silver Reef Valley. Silver Reef is the only known place in the United States to have commercial deposits of silver ore found in sandstone. Amazing!

The main path is the Red Reef Trail, which starts at the far end of the road, next to the picnic area. This path follows the creek, surrounded by open, sandy ground, towards a line of low cliffs to the west. The cottonwood-lined drainage encloses after about a half a mile, and a little wading does become necessary to continue down the path. Typically, the water is only a few inches deep but some pools can be as deep as 5-6 feet.

First is a deep pool. Walk along the foot holes that are carved into the rocks on one side of the waterfall. Use the rope that is available. Soon you will see, the narrowest section is not far beyond, which leads to another pool and choke stone. Then a deeper flooded channel with a low bench is to one side. Afterwards, the watercourse widens, bushes, trees and boulders line the creek, and a path follows one side of the channel. For about 2 miles, the ravine remains similar. After the two miles, there are a few more brief enclosed stretches, until the rocks become a gray-white rather than red and the drainage splits several times, and eventually becomes shallower.

Waterfalls at Red Cliffs Recreation Area

 

red cliffs recreation area in leeds utah

Red Cliffs Recreation Area in Leeds Utah

The primary waterfall is at the end of the actual trail. If you want to explore more, a small stream covers the entire canyon bottom, which is a few feet wide. The steps carved into the sandstone to the side of the waterfall, make is easy to climb around the fall. You may then proceed up the canyon for miles. The area at the waterfall is a natural swimming hole with a natural slide. Get ready to get wet!

Be careful. The depth of the pool varies so don’t jump into it until you have explored the water depth.

red cliffs recreation leeds utah

Publicly Owned

The land is publicly owned and the BLM or USFS, which is part of Dixie National Forest administers the land. There is one developed region, the Red Cliffs Recreation Area, which is centered on the stream of Quail Creek. Not far downstream this stream exits the red rock layer and forms a reservoir, within Quail Creek State Park, but in the recreation area the stream becomes enclosed, and for a quarter of a mile flows through pools, cascades and chutes, all surrounded by a narrow, smooth sandstone gorge known as Water Canyon. This recreation area falls within Red Cliffs National Conservation Area.

Facilities

There are 10 overnight camping sites here in Leeds, Utah, a picnic area next to the creek with water, picnic tables, and vault toilets.

Directions

Red Cliffs Recreation Area in Leeds Utah is located just off of I-15, 15 miles north of St George, Utah near Quail Creek. To reach the campground take I-15 to the town of Leeds, Utah, 15 miles north of St George, and then follow the frontage road south to Quail Lake. Look for the Red Cliffs Recreation Area sign and follow the paved road under the freeway, up to the campground.

For More Information:

Red Cliffs Recreation Area

St. George Field Office

Phone: (435) 688-3200

Red Cliffs Desert Reserve

Leeds, Utah

red cliffs leeds utah

Leeds, Utah is 139 miles north of Las Vegas and 289 miles south of Salt Lake City.

The people are friendly here and the pleasant days and nights most of the year make Leeds, Utah an enjoyable place to visit and wonderful place to live. Leeds is central to all of Southern Utah’s many national and state parks including Zion, Bryce Canyon, Quail Creek and Snow Canyon.

In recent years, the city’s close proximity to the ghost town of Silver Reef, the Pine Valley Mountains, and Zion National Park have caused more tourism in the area.

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