Best Hikes in St. George During Winter

2. Johnson Canyon Trail

With its gorgeous scenery, the 0.8-mile Johnson Canyon Trail makes a perfect winter outing. The easy path begins just south of the entrance to Snow Canyon State Park. You’ll first cross a rough lava field before ascending Arch Canyon to reach 102-foot Johnson Arch, one of southwestern Utah’s longest spans. The thick arch is named for pioneer settler Maude Johnson, who lived in the canyon with her husband. After catching your breath, head back to the trailhead for a 1.6-mile round-trip hike or meander further up the canyon until it ends below towering red-rock cliffs. The trail is closed for raptor nesting from March 15th to October 31st.

3. Red Reef Trail

The 2-mile Red Reef Trail travels through a mini-Zion Canyon with soaring sandstone cliffs, Native-American rock art panels, narrow slot canyons, and a tumbling waterfall at trail’s end. This easy path, tucked away in the Red Cliffs Recreation Area northeast of St. George, is an ideal mid-winter excursion. Your hike begins at the Red Cliffs Campground and proceeds up a sandy trail in Water Canyon. As the passageway narrows, you’ll may encounter water-filled potholes and reach a set of chopped steps that wind around a small waterfall. (They may be dry during the winter, depending on the weather.) Beyond the waterfall, there are more pools and the grand finale, a delightful waterfall pouring over smooth slabs. From this point, you can retrace your steps for a 4-mile round-trip hike. If you want to ensure a view of the falls, come back in the spring or early summer when water is more abundant. But even without the water, this is a fun trail to explore.

Once you’ve returned, you can follow more trails that surround the campground, including trailheads that lead to Ancestral Puebloan archaeological sites (Anasazi Trail) and dinosaur tracks.

4. Anna's Viewpoint Trail

Gently descending from Danish Ranch Road, the easy, 1.3-mile Anna’s Viewpoint Trail crosses Yant Flat to visit swirling sandstone slabs, checkerboard domes and scenic overlooks. The area is home to rolling mounds of bare bedrock tinted red and orange. As you walk the trail, watch for a herd of wild horses grazing on Yant Flat. When you reach high ground, you’ll encounter unfenced overlooks that offer excellent views of the multi-colored Candy Cliff. From your lofty perch, you’ll be able to gaze across Cottonwood Canyon for distant views of St. George, Sand Hollow Reservoir and Zion’s gleaming white cliffs.

5. Hellhole Canyon Trail

Despite its ominous name, Hellhole Canyon is a hidden gem northwest of St. George. From the trailhead on Taviawk Drive, the 2-mile Hellhole Canyon Trail heads north up sandy Dry Wash to Hellhole Canyon, a deep break in a towering cliff escarpment. When the canyon divides, take the right branch to enjoy intermittent pools of water, the lilting song of canyon wrens and, after rainstorms, a ribbon waterfall dropping down a vertical sandstone wall. After you explore the cul-de-sac canyon, retrace your steps for a 4-mile hike.

Be aware that this moderately difficult trail requires boulder-hopping, rock scrambling and challenges in identifying the route.

6. Lower Sand Cove Trail

The 2.3-mile Lower Sand Cove Trail crosses shallow valleys, red-rock benches, and domes of sandstone to reach The Vortex, or The Bowl, a 25-foot-deep pothole or hollow. While the Lower Sand Cove Trail is only a 30-minute drive from St. George, it lies within the Red Mountain Wilderness Area and feels far removed from civilization. From the trail parking lot, the path dips across a dry wash and then scrambles across slickrock, which was once ancient sand dunes. As you traverse the slickrock, look for cairns or stacks of rocks, which mark the route. You’ll find The Vortex hidden beneath two white rock formations that resemble camel humps. After shooting Instagram-worthy photos of the hollow, retrace your route to return to the parking area.

7. Red Mountain Trail to Snow Canyon Overlook

The Red Mountain Trail leads to one of the most dramatic viewpoints in Utah’s St. George-area. From the trailhead on State Route 18 north of St. George, the path gradually climbs for two miles through a piñon pine and juniper forest. It then turns south and continues for a quarter-mile to reach Snow Canyon Overlook, which offers a 360-degree view. From this high vantage point, you’ll see salmon-colored cliffs falling away to the deep canyon which runs south to distant St. George. You’ll also get glimpses of the sandstone mountains at Zion National Park and the snow-capped Pine Valley Mountains. Bring a headlamp, something warm for the cooler night air and stay until sunset to watch beautiful colors wash over Snow Canyon. When you’re ready to leave, retrace your footsteps for a 4.8-mile round-trip hike.

If you’ve seen the desert glow at sunset, you know how special this place can be. During the winter, it’s just as stunning. The snow-covered peaks and plateaus gleam in the light as blue shadows creep across the burnt-orange land. It’s an unforgettable sight and only one of the reasons to visit Utah’s St. George-area in winter. Once you’ve experienced the peace and quiet and favorable weather, you might come to find that the offseason is the best season in Southwestern Utah. (Read: Winter in Southern Utah Like a Local)