St George, Utah is a prime location for anyone who loves hiking. Unfortunately, we quickly learned that a lot of the hikes near St George are paid entry or pay to park. If you are anything like us, you will try the free activities before the paid ones every time. Keep reading to learn our 5 favorite free hikes near St George.
By Bekah Whitney
When you start looking for hikes near St George you’ll find there is almost an endless list! We have done a LOT of hiking in and around St George and these are our absolute favorites in order that are free to park and visit! If you are interested in hikes in the State Parks near St George click here to learn which ones are worth paying for!
The Vortex hike is one of those hikes that I want to go back to over and over. It has incredible views, super cool rock features and it’s not very crowded.
Length: 2.3 miles Round Trip, Out & Back, Rated Moderate
Distance from St George: 25 miles
Elevation Gain: 524 ft
Trailhead GPS Coordinates: 37.28022, -113.73916
Or Type in: The Vortex Trailhead
Getting there: Google maps will try to take you through Snow Canyon State Park, which is a tiny bit faster, but you will have to pay to get through. Instead get on Highway 8 to head towards Santa Clara. Jump on Old Hwy 91 and drive for about 8 miles, then take a right onto Gunlock Reservoir Dr. Pass the reservoir completely and then look for your right onto Lower Sand Cove road, across from the Gunlock Rodeo arena. Follow this dirt road for about 3 miles until you see a driveway on your right that leads to a small parking area.
The hike: The trail can be a little difficult to find as there aren’t really markers. From the parking lot you will hike down into the little canyon, then take a right to follow the creek bed, and then a left to hike up. Once at what seems like “the top ” you will come across a large “bed” of cairns that people have built up. Looking out over the cliff there will be a slightly higher formation on your right. Head up that formation to find the Vortex!
“The sandstone in which the Vortex occurs formed similar to the sandstone comprising Elephant Arch (see below). However, water was the erosional force that created the Vortex shape in the rock. Several million years ago, a large river covered the area of which its source was meltwaters from past glaciation. A gigantic whirlpool formed in the river above the sandstone in which the formation occurs today and was likely stationary for a very long period of time. The erosional force of the swirling water worked its way down into the sandstone, washing away the sand grains that once occupied the volume of the vortex shape we see today. A loose paleo-boulder may have helped the swirling water erode away at the sandstone as the vortex was forming, but there is no present day evidence (like the boulder itself) to support such a postulation.” – Dan Whitney, Hydrogeologist
Elephant arch is one of those hikes that isn’t very exciting until you reach the end, then it’s worth it! This beautiful arch really does look like an elephant and you will know it as soon as you see it. This is also not a crowded one. In fact, when I went, Yukon and I were the only ones hiking there!
Length: 3.8 miles Round Trip, Out & Back, Rated Moderate
Distance from St George: 10 miles
Elevation Gain: 341 ft
Trailhead GPS Coordinates: 37.17526, -113.49943
Or Type in: Elephant Arch Trailhead
Getting there: To find this trailhead it is best to follow the maps on your phone as the dirt roads are not well marked. Jump on I-15 North for about 4 miles. Take Exit 13 for Washington Parkway and take a left. From Washington Parkway you will take a right onto a dirt road. Follow your map and it will bring you to a gate that you can park near and that is where your hike will start!
The hike: Like many of the hikes near St George the trails are not very well marked. I suggest having the map preloaded in All Trails so that you can make sure you are on the right path. From the parking lot you will walk along a sandy road until going down into a small canyon. Here you will follow the creek bed for a while. You will start to ascend over a hill and then descend back down. Once in the rocky area look around for the arch. I had a little trouble finding it at first, but once I saw it I knew!
The arch: Elephant arch is very accurately named. Made from beautiful red rock it is quite fun to climb around it to see it at all the angles. The first time I did this hike, I got to the end and thought to myself “now what?”. The arch is higher up on the rocks so just look up and around and you are sure to find it!
How was the arch formed? “The sandstone that makes up Elephant Arch was formed from sediments that were deposited in a large, shallow Cretaceous-age intercontinental sea. The respective sand grains were cemented together by mineral rich solutions of groundwater, some cemented better than others depending on the mineral makeup of the water. Once exposed, the sandstone was subjected to weathering via wind and water erosional processes. The magnitude of weathering that the sandstone endured was based on the degree of cementation that occurred between the individual sand grains. The formation of elephant arch is a classic example of differential cementation, such that the sandstone that comprised the “eye socket” location was more loosely cemented and more easily eroded than the surrounding sandstone that makes up the rest of the head, and the trunk of the structure was much harder (better cemented) than the sandstone that once surrounded it. Thanks to past differential sand grain cementation and everyday weathering processes, the scenic wonder of Elephant Arch is ours to enjoy.” – Dan Whitney, Hydrogeologist
Pioneer Park is usually pretty crowded as it is easy to access and close to town, but with 52 acres in total, This amazing park is a great place to climb on top of rocks to view the city, find small arches, and even experience narrows.
Length: Many different hikes
Distance from St George: NA, in city limits
Elevation Gain: Depends on what you choose to do!
Parking GPS Coordinates: 37.11480, -113.57784
Or Type in: Pioneer Park
Getting there: Pioneer Park is conveniently located off of a main avenue in St. George, Red Hills Parkway. You can easily navigate there from anywhere in town! It can be difficult to take a left during peak hours so you may want to take a route that you can take a right turn into the parking lot. There are multiple parking lots along the Pioneer Park loop and one large dirt lot, so even if it’s a busy day, you should be able to find a spot!
Features: There are a variety of hikes and rock formations in Pioneer Park. Unless you are trying to see something specific, such as the narrows, I suggest just parking and seeing what catches your eye. This is my favorite way to explore the park and I always have a wonderful time.
This trail brings you to the bottom of a water canyon and then up. It was seriously one of the more enjoyable hikes near St George, but is down at #4 due to its distance from St George and how difficult it was. For example this hike featured some areas where you will have to hang on to the rock to climb to the next part. Our hound dog, who has lanky legs and loves to run, did great, but a smaller or older dog might not be able to do the jumps it will have to hurdle.
Length: 7.2 miles Round Trip (Can easily be made shorter), Out & Back, Rated Difficult
Distance from St George: About 45 miles, 60 minute drive.
Elevation Gain: 2,106 ft
Trailhead GPS Coordinates: 37.03957, -112.95533
Or Type in: Water Canyon Trailhead
Getting there: The drive is quite long, but if you are looking for free and dog friendly hikes near St George similar to Zion this is as good as it gets! First, get onto I-15 Northbound for about 7 miles until you reach exit 16 toward Hurricane. Follow highway 9 for about 10 miles. Get off of 9 and onto 59 for 22 miles. Take a left onto Utah Ave for a short mile, and then a right onto Water Canyon Rd for 1.8 miles. The trailhead parking will be on your left next to a large pond.
The hike: This hike, like many hikes near St George, is not well marked and a little confusing at times. Make sure to download a map as you will most likely not have cell phone service. This trail is actually known for people getting lost, to pound this point in even further. This hike has so many spectacular features including the canyon, the layers, the domes, and the views, that you really can turn around and go back at any point. Since this hike is in a canyon, it’s much colder than some of the other hikes near St George that are more out in the open. If you are visiting in the winter, you might need some warmer clothes, and it’s a great option for warmer days.
This trail made our top 5 because the overlook at the end is unbeatable and known as one of the most amazing views of the actual canyon itself. The hike, unfortunately, is pretty mediocre but very well marked!
Length: 4.9 miles Round Trip, Out & Back , Rated Moderate
Distance from St George:
Elevation Gain: 524 ft
Trailhead GPS Coordinates: 37.28241, -113.65626
Or Type in: Red Mountain Trail
Getting there: Google maps will try to take you through Snow Canyon State Park, which is faster, but you will have to pay to get through. Instead get on Highway 8 to head towards Santa Clara. Jump on Old Hwy 91 and drive for about 8 miles, then take a right onto Gunlock Reservoir Dr. for about 12 miles. Take a right onto W Gunlock Drive, continue for about 3 miles until you hit the town of Venyo. Here you will take a right onto UT-8 for 5 miles. Red Mountain Trail will be on your right. There is plenty of parking as this is a big horseback riding spot.
The hike: For a while, there is not much to see and on each side of you is fencing to protect the area. The fencing does eventually stop and you will start to come upon some rock formations. At the end of the trail you will find the overlook of Snow Canyon and many places to climb to view it from. It’s beautiful and well worth it!
As far as these free hikes near St George are concerned, they are all pet friendly. That being said, it is sunny and very hot in St George, even in the winter. You will need to make sure to bring lots of water for your pup as the creeks are usually dry. Check the forecast and if it’s especially hot make sure to get out in the earlier hours of the day so they don’t burn their feet on the rock or get overheated. In the desert, the hottest part of the day is 3-5 in the summer so don’t expect the evening to cool down until the sun has gone down.
Deserts are among the most fragile ecosystems on the planet. Lack of water mixed with the heat makes for little biodiversity. Walking or driving over vegetation can easily kill it leading to erosion. Remember to stay on trails and do not make shortcuts, do not pick up plants, and please do not carve into any rocks.
The dry desert is the perfect place for flash floods to occur. These deadly walls of water start as innocent rain, but quickly become dangerous. If there is rain in the forecast near St George, it is always best to choose a hike not in a canyon or pick a different activity altogether.
Hi! I’m Bekah, but you can call me Beks, all my friends do! I travel full-time in a tiny home on wheels that my partner, Sawyer, and I built from a cargo trailer shell in 2019. We started out in beautiful Colorado and have been all over the United States over the years. This space is designed to inspire and guide the nature obsessed nomad, weekend warrior, and future roadlifer. I’m so excited you’re here!
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St George is an absolute gem. The city is changing quickly as it grows, but due to the protection of the surrounding habitat, the outdoor activities will mostly stay the same. With so many paid activities we hope this guide helped you find some enjoyable free hikes!
Leave a comment below and let us know your thoughts on hikes near St George Utah and if you have one we didn’t mention! Remember to share with your friends and family who love hiking and want to explore Utah.
Make sure to check out our other St George Utah guides:
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