Hiking Southern Utah: White Reef/Leeds Reef Loop Trail in Red Cliffs Desert Reserve
Trail: White Reef/Leeds Reef Loop Trail
Location: Red Cliffs Desert Reserve near Harrisburg, about 10 miles northeast of St. George on Interstate 15
Difficulty: Easy on a well-marked trail with some up-and-down sections
Average hiking time: About two hours
Elevation: The trailhead is approximately 3,000 feet elevation with a 275 feet elevation gain from the trailhead to the highest point of the hike
Family friendly: Yes, it is an easy hike
Getting there: The trailhead is about 10 miles from St. George. Driving north on Interstate 15, take Exit 16 onto State Route 9 toward Hurricane. At the first traffic light, turn left (north) and proceed northeast on Old Highway 91 for four miles. Around four miles, you’ll see a brown sign on the right reading Red Cliffs National Conservation Area/Red Cliffs Recreation Area and arrows pointing to the left. Within a hundred yards or so, take a left turn (northwest) through two narrow freeway tunnels under Interstate 15. Once through the tunnels, turn right at the “T” intersection and park in the large White Reef trailhead parking area delineated by a pole fence about 50 yards from the intersection.
Or, going north on Interstate 15, take Exit 22 to the town of Leeds. At the end of the off ramp, make a sharp right (south) on Old Highway 91. Travel approximately two miles and turn right (northwest) just past the Red Cliffs National Conservation Area/Red Cliffs Recreation Area sign and proceed through a narrow tunnel under Interstate 15. Then follow the directions above.
In the Harrisburg/Leeds area are at least five lengthy ridges called reefs: Red Reef, White Reef, Silver Reef, Buckeye Reef, and Leeds Reef. Oddly enough, White Reef likely got its name from the white sandstone sitting atop most of the ridge.
Most people think of reefs as bars of rock, sand, coral, or similar material lying beneath or just above the surface of a body of water. When geological formations were being named in southwest Utah, someone went wild applying the moniker “reef” to every ridge they saw. Reefs not near water are simply ridges resulting from tectonic (faults and earthquakes) and volcanic uplift and erosion. They may be colorful depending upon the composition of original sediments that were deposited and subsequently uplifted.
The Red Cliffs Desert Reserve was established in 1996 to protect a large and diverse habitat capable of sustaining wildlife populations threatened by development and habitat loss. It comprises 62,000 acres and has more than 130 miles of shared use trails for hiking, horseback riding, and mountain biking. Three ecosystems — the Mojave Desert, the Great Basin Desert, and the Colorado Plateau —merge in southwestern Utah, and the Red Cliffs Desert Reserve reflects the biological diversity of this unique region.
Park at the trailhead and pay the $5 entrance fee. The parking area is large and has a pit toilet. This loop trail, and several other trails in the area, serves hikers, equestrians, and bikers. The trailhead elevation is approximately 3,000 feet with about a 275-foot elevation change from trailhead to highest point.
A stepover at the southwest corner of the parking area provides access to several trails. The beginning section of the loop hike, White Reef Trail, first tracks north and soon turns right and proceeds northeast.
It is easy going as the trail is mostly a two-track dirt road winding through a draw between the two reefs. Although close to Interstate 15, White Reef Trail is quiet since it’s in a low area. Soon, you’ll come across an old rock wall running across the draw — evidence that this area was once utilized by pioneers.
The first section of White Reef Trail features good views to the northwest of White Reef in the foreground, red cliffs behind White Reef, and the Pine Valley Mountains in the background.
About 1.7 miles in, you’ll come to the end of White Reef Trail. To continue the loop, proceed to the right (south) along the quarter-mile Adit Trail that connects to Leeds Reef Trail — the return path.
Leeds Reef Trail runs along the top of the reef/ridge for about a mile. Since we were atop the ridge, traffic noise from Interstate 15 is slightly noticeable. Because the trails parallel each other and Leeds Reef is higher elevation than White Reef Trail, you’ll be afforded the same views, only a bit more panoramic.
After approximately one mile on Leeds Reef, the trail drops into a draw as it approaches the White Reef Trail junction. At 1.4 miles on Leeds Reef Trail, you’ll reach the intersection with White Reef Trail, turn left (south), and return to the trailhead.
I recommend this adventure — a natural setting with fantastic views about 10 miles from St. George.
