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Trip Stats
Location: Red Cliffs Desert Reserve - Cottonwood Canyon Wilderness - near St. George, Utah. Distance/elevation gain: 9.4 miles/1,946' cumulative gain. Trailhead = 3,111', Peak = 4,380' Date Hiked: April 9, 2025 Maps/Apps: Harrisburg Junction 7.5 min quad - Washington County, Utah, Topo Maps US, Stavislost website. Type/Terrain: Out and back that includes a loop/developed trail, unmarked trail, scrambling over sandstone, slickrock, and some bushwacking. Coordinates: Trailhead = 37.149620, -113.490610 Peak 4416 = 37.196917, -113.467944 Prominence: 456' Geology: Navajo Sandstone (Jurassic - ~180 Ma). At that time, this area was a vast sea (erg) of sand dunes. Hematite-coated quartz sand gives it the various hues of red and orange. Historical significance: Red Cliffs Desert Reserve was created to protect the desert tortoise habitat. Silver was mined from sandstone, a very rare occurrence, in nearby Silver Reef, near Leeds. Quote: "What draws us into the desert is the search for something intimate in the remote." - Edward Abbey
A good portion of this fun red-rock ramble is in the Cottonwood Canyon Wilderness within the Red Cliffs National Conservation Area, away from the main mountain biking/hiking trails, so you will probably have this peak to yourself.
It combines hands-on climbing up slickrock and route-finding through canyons and washes to a high point near St. George, Utah, with a great view of the Pine Valley Mountains and the slickrock formations of popular Yant Flat to the north. This was one of our Grand Canyon rim to rim in one day training hikes. Robin, Fred and I were looking for "time on feet" and a significant elevation gain. This hike/scramble begins at the Grapevine trailhead in Washington just off I-15, exit 13 north, where there is a huge building with restrooms. Head east and then north on the Grapevine Trail for 1.85 miles to an intersection with Sand Hill Trail. Pass this intersection and then shortly take a left at the next intersection, at mile 1.9, getting off the main Grapevine Trail and heading north toward Pine Valley Mountains. This nice single track trail is not as well traveled but usually easy to follow. It reaches a major wash and entrance into Cottonwood Canyon Wilderness. With no trail past here, you navigate through hills and small cliffs of slickrock and minor washes, avoiding prickly pear and hedgehog cactus spines, aiming for the pointed peak ahead. The easiest way to gain Peak 4416's southwest ridge is to ascend on the right side of its toe, just as soon as you reach it. The ascent involves class 2+ scrambling, and once on the ridge, it's a fun, easy walk to the summit. We found our old entry from 11-16-24 in the peak register. The next entry after ours was dated 12-27-24, so this summit sits without many visitors, looking at basalt flows and an immense ancient sandstone sea capped by petrified sand dunes. Below the summit to the northeast is Cottonwood Canyon and Creek, a major waterway draining the Pine Valley Mountains. |
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Petroglyphs/Pictographs Southern Utah Hikes California Desert Hikes Nevada Hikes Arizona Hikes Idaho Hikes 
Sue and Fred
Exploration documentaries – "explorumentaries" list trip stats and highlights of each hike or bike ride, and add interesting history or geology. Years ago, I wrote these for friends and family to let them know what my husband, Fred and I were up to on weekends, and also to showcase the incredible land of the west. |
"Fred's Bump"
We wanted some more elevation gain on this hike, so we decided to climb the "bump" southwest of Peak 4416 (see photo below). A bit of route-finding once we got off of 4416's ridge through a beautiful little canyon and cross country brought us to the bump's base. After making a short climb to the top, we maneuvered down, going around some steep dry waterfalls, then walking south of a steep columnar-walled basalt flow to get onto the Grapevine Trail/Brackens Loop Trail, and then back to Grapevine Trailhead.
We wanted some more elevation gain on this hike, so we decided to climb the "bump" southwest of Peak 4416 (see photo below). A bit of route-finding once we got off of 4416's ridge through a beautiful little canyon and cross country brought us to the bump's base. After making a short climb to the top, we maneuvered down, going around some steep dry waterfalls, then walking south of a steep columnar-walled basalt flow to get onto the Grapevine Trail/Brackens Loop Trail, and then back to Grapevine Trailhead.
Starting out on Grapevine Trail, a double track dirt road. Peak 4416 is in middle of photo above on the small red ridge above.
On unmarked trail heading towards Peak 4416 in middle of photo.
Getting closer to our summit (cone-shaped on right horizon). Climb the right side of the toe at the bottom of the ridge ahead.
Beginning the climb up 4416's southwest ridge (peak on right horizon).
Fred walking up the steep toe to get to the ridge.
Robin on Peak 4416's southwest ridge, looking southwest and west toward St. George and Arizona.
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On the ridge to Peak 4416 - fun, easy scrambling!
Cool Stuff on the Trail: Peak register with our old entry from 2024, lichen-caused eroded sandstone (?), trail marker.
From Peak 4416's ridge: looking southwest at a sea of Jurassic-age sandstone and basalt flow (upper right).
Down from Peak 4416: hiking cross-country to the "bump" on right horizon.
Fred and Sue hiking "Fred's bump".
Descending from "Fred's bump."
A fun wall to descend that leads to steep dry waterfall.
Finding our way back to Grapevine Trail through wash ahead, which curves around to the right to pass under basalt cliffs.
We found the Grapevine Trail: walking southward under columnar basalt.
Grapevine/Brackens Loop Trail as it passes next to Jurassic-age (~180 Ma) petrified sand dunes.
Map of our route in purple and elevation profile. North points to top at 0 degrees.
Our route (purple) from turn-off of Grapevine Trail to Cottonwood Canyon Wilderness north to peak and then ascending "Fred's bump" on the way back, meeting up with the Brackens/Grapevine Loop Trail. North points up.