Red Cliffs Recreation Area
Nature preserves
A BLM canyon below the Pine Valley Mountains near Leeds, with a waterfall on the Red Reef Trail, Ancestral Puebloan structures, dinosaur tracks and an 11-site campground.
The setting
Red Cliffs sits where Quail Creek and Leeds Creek cut through Navajo sandstone below the Pine Valley Mountains. The creeks make it a riparian pocket in otherwise dry country, which is why it holds shade, water and a concentration of both wildlife and archaeology in a small area.
What is here
The Red Reef Trail is the signature walk, ending its first section at a waterfall; many hikers scramble past it to the upper canyon and a swimming hole. The Red Cliffs Archaeological Site preserves standing Ancestral Puebloan structures reached by the Anasazi Trail, and there are dinosaur tracks in the area as well. Beyond that it is miles of hiking, mountain biking and horse trail.
Camping
The campground has 11 sites along Quail Creek, each with a covered picnic shelter, fire ring and water spigot, on paved roads with vault toilets and no showers.
Check your vehicle height first. Access passes through two concrete tunnels with a clearance of 11 feet 9 inches, which rules out many RVs and taller trailers.
Practical
The campground and day-use areas are open year round, day use from sunrise to sunset. It is a short drive from Leeds, close enough to St. George to be an easy half day.
Related on the site: the Red Cliffs National Conservation Area and camping near St. George.
Frequently asked questions
Can I bring an RV to Red Cliffs Campground?
Only a small one. Access runs through two concrete tunnels with 11 feet 9 inches of clearance, which excludes many RVs and taller trailers.
Is there a waterfall at Red Cliffs?
Yes. The first section of the Red Reef Trail ends at a waterfall, with a swimming hole in the canyon above it.