Red Cliffs Desert Reserve and Red Reef Trail
A protected slice of Mojave Desert beside Interstate 15, with red sandstone walls, a family-friendly wash walk to the Red Reef pools and some of the best tortoise habitat in the Southwest.
Utah
St. George
St. George is the sunny gateway to Utah's red-rock corner: a pioneer-founded desert city where Mojave, Great Basin and Colorado Plateau landscapes overlap, winters stay mild and canyon country begins at the edge of town.
This guide books it properly, starting with the free downtown heritage sites (the sandstone Tabernacle, the temple grounds and the Brigham Young Winter Home), then moving out to Red Cliffs Desert Reserve, the Silver Reef ghost town, the cool pines of Pine Valley and the seasonal waterfall at Gunlock. It adds the guided adventures around Hurricane, from slickrock hikes and petroglyph walks to ATV and electric dirt bike rides, plus a dark-sky stargazing night and the golf that fills the winter calendar. Zion, Snow Canyon and the other national and state park headliners have their own guide, so this one concentrates on the city and its surroundings, matched to eight hotels from a downtown boutique to a red-cliff wellness resort.
Don't miss
Candy Cliffs Guided Hike
A guided scramble across swirled, candy-striped sandstone near Hurricane, with slickrock walking, desert pools and big views that are hard to find on your own.
St. George Tabernacle
A red-sandstone pioneer landmark with a clock tower, finished in the 1870s by settlers who were sent to grow cotton in the desert. Free to visit and the heart of the historic district.
St. George Utah Temple and Visitors Center
The oldest operating temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, set in landscaped grounds downtown, with a free visitors center that tells the pioneer story to anyone who walks in.
Brigham Young Winter Home
A restored 1870s home where the Latter-day Saint leader spent his last winters, with period furnishings, guided tours and gardens, tucked into a quiet downtown block.
Things to do in St. George
Hand-picked: every experience here has strong traveler reviews and a verified booking link.
FreeSt. George Tabernacle
A red-sandstone pioneer landmark with a clock tower, finished in the 1870s by settlers who were sent to grow cotton in the desert. Free to visit and the heart of the historic district.
30-60 minutesDetails →
FreeSt. George Utah Temple and Visitors Center
The oldest operating temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, set in landscaped grounds downtown, with a free visitors center that tells the pioneer story to anyone who walks in.
45-90 minutesDetails →
FreeBrigham Young Winter Home
A restored 1870s home where the Latter-day Saint leader spent his last winters, with period furnishings, guided tours and gardens, tucked into a quiet downtown block.
30-45 minutesDetails →
Jacob Hamblin Home
A sturdy red-sandstone house in Santa Clara built in the 1860s by a frontier missionary and diplomat, now a free historic site with simple tours and a green courtyard.
30 minutesDetails →
Historic Downtown St. George and Ancestor Square
A walkable grid of pioneer buildings, sculpture, galleries, cafes and Town Square, with weekend markets and evening strolls that give the city its small-town heart.
2-4 hoursDetails →
Silver Reef Ghost Town and Museum
A rare silver-in-sandstone boomtown from the 1870s, now a quiet ghost town near Leeds with ruins, a restored Wells Fargo building and a small museum.
Pine Valley Chapel and Recreation Area
A cool mountain escape in Dixie National Forest, with a handmade 1868 chapel, forested trails and campgrounds, about an hour from St. George and a welcome break from desert heat.
Gunlock State Park and Gunlock Falls
A reservoir ringed by red desert hills, popular for paddling and swimming in warm months, with seasonal waterfalls that spill over slickrock in wet years.
Candy Cliffs Guided Hike
A guided scramble across swirled, candy-striped sandstone near Hurricane, with slickrock walking, desert pools and big views that are hard to find on your own.
Secret Petroglyphs Hike
A guided desert walk to ancient rock art panels, with stories about the people who carved them and how to see the images respectfully.
Hurricane Canal and Confluence Park History Walk
A short guided walk through the story of how pioneers hand-dug a canal to water the Hurricane Valley, with views of the Virgin River and a quiet riverside park.
Where to stay
Hotels we would book ourselves, from splurges to good-value bases.
The Advenire, Autograph Collection
Downtown St. George
A boutique downtown hotel in the Autograph Collection, within a short walk of the Tabernacle, Town Square and Main Street dining. The most design-led base in the historic core.
Check rates →Red Mountain Resort
Ivins, near Snow Canyon
A wellness resort in Ivins beside the red cliffs, built around guided hiking, a spa, pools and healthy dining, a quiet alternative to the town hotels.
Check rates →Hilton Garden Inn St. George
St. George
A dependable mid-range chain hotel with a pool, a restaurant and spacious rooms, a good value base for families and mixed groups heading to the parks.
Check rates →
$$Courtyard by Marriott St. George
St. George
A modern mid-range Marriott with a pool, bistro and comfortable rooms, a tidy base for travelers who want reliable service and an easy drive to the parks.
Check rates →Tru by Hilton St. George
St. George
A newer, budget-friendly Hilton brand with simple modern rooms, a pool and a hearty free breakfast, ideal for park-goers who spend most of the day outside.
Check rates →Holiday Inn Express and Suites St. George North - Zion
North St. George
A suite-style IHG hotel on the north side of St. George, a little closer to Zion and the Hurricane side of the valley, with a pool and a free breakfast.
Check rates →Hampton Inn and Suites St. George
St. George
A comfortable, well-reviewed Hampton with suites, a pool and a hot breakfast included, a safe pick for families and first-time visitors.
Check rates →St. George Inn and Suites
St. George
A no-frills budget motel-style option for travelers who want a bed, a shower and a pool at a low price, with more money left over for tours, golf and meals.
Check rates →Tour + stay
Ready-made pairings: a top sight and a hotel that suits it. Add both to your trip and book each when you are ready.
Do
Candy Cliffs Guided HikeStay
Red Mountain ResortIvins, near Snow Canyon
Do
St. George TabernacleStay
The Advenire, Autograph CollectionDowntown St. George
Do
St. George Utah Temple and Visitors CenterStay
Hampton Inn and Suites St. GeorgeSt. George
While you are there
What’s on in St. George
Concerts, shows and games are on sale in the coming months, from stadium nights to small rooms. Our sister site Purveyor lists them with dates, venues and seats.
Also nearby: Saint George
St. George guides
St. George for First-Timers: What to Know Before You Go
How St. George works as a base, what is close and what is a drive away, the heat rules that shape every day and the free and paid experiences worth planning around.
Where to Stay in St. George: Downtown, Ivins or the Main Roads
How to choose a base in St. George, from a walkable downtown boutique to a red-cliff wellness resort and the value chains on the north side.
Three Days in St. George: History, Desert Trails and a Dark-Sky Night
A balanced three-day plan for St. George that mixes free heritage sites, desert walks, guided adventures and an evening under the stars, with heat-smart timing.
Best Time to Visit St. George: Heat, Crowds and the Sweet Spots
A season-by-season guide to St. George weather, crowds, prices and activities, with advice on handling summer heat and winter cold snaps.
Day Trips from St. George: Zion, Snow Canyon and the Rest
How to plan day trips from St. George to Zion, Snow Canyon, Kolob, Hurricane and the mountains, with drive times, timing and ideas for each.
The St. George Pioneer History Trail: Cotton, Silver and Sandstone
A self-guided history route through St. George, Santa Clara, Leeds and Hurricane, connecting the Tabernacle, the Winter Home, Silver Reef and the Hurricane Canal.
