Class 3 2.6 miles 1100 gain 1-2 hr Out + Back Jan 23, 2021
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude

Red Reef GPX Track

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The Red Reef Trail is known moreso for the popular canyon leading to a pothole, and does not lead to the summit of Red Reef, our obective for the day. The route to reach the peak only follows the official trail for a short time, but required us to turn left left at the prominent first drainage, leaving the trail and heading toward some narrows. There were many footprints, so clearly we weren't the first to explore this side-canyon. Some Class 2/3 obstacles led up the pretty canyon and ended in a short slot canyon. Most people likely turn around here, but just to the right of the mouth of the slot is a social trail leading to higher ground (Class 2). Some more wash walking brought us into another narrow section, where a series of ledges leads to a Class 3 move that took us over the canyon's south rim. There was a bolt at the top, but none in our group needed it on the descent.

Once out of the canyon, we followed a social trail as well as we could as we headed up the slope. I recommend keeping to the left as much as possible, despite how tempting Red Reef's ridgeline looks on the right. The terrain is riddled with mini cliffs on the right, and it's much easier to access the top of the slope by keeping left. Don't head straight for the rocky ridgeline initially since the route instead wraps around to the southeast side of the ridge. Once here, a grassy and pleasant route-finding endeavor ensues. We didn't gain much elevation for a good quarter mile as we skirted the southeast side of Red Reef's ridge, keeping along a bench below the cliffy terrain above and below us. A social trail exists, but it's not obvious most of the time. If you're doing anything more than easy Class 2, there's an easier route.

Soon the cliffs on the right turned into a Class 2 slope with lots of loose boulders and we could leave the bench and ascend steeply to the ridgeline. There were some cairns along this slope, but there are many options for ascending. We followed the beautiful ridgeline to the summit, barely Class 2.

PEAKS ON HIKE
Elevation (ft) / Prominence (ft)
Peaks on hike
Elevation
Prominence
1
Red Reef
4240 ft
480 rise

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Red Reef Trailhead.
Red Reef Trailhead.
We turned left off the trail and headed up this side-canyon.
We turned left off the trail and headed up this side-canyon.
Left leads to the mouth of a short slot, right leads up a social trail to higher ground.
Left leads to the mouth of a short slot, right leads up a social trail to higher ground.
Justin in the short slot.
Justin in the short slot.
Looking down at the Class 2 ascent to get past the short slot.
Looking down at the Class 2 ascent to get past the short slot.
Farther up the canyon, a Class 3 section to get over the canyon's rim.
Farther up the canyon, a Class 3 section to get over the canyon's rim.
Red Reef's ridgeline is visible above. It will be tempting to go toward it, but there are lots of big cliffs up high and smaller cliffs down low. Instead, keep left of this photo and ascend the nice slope.
Red Reef's ridgeline is visible above. It will be tempting to go toward it, but there are lots of big cliffs up high and smaller cliffs down low. Instead, keep left of this photo and ascend the nice slope.
View back into the canyon we ascended from as we continue up the slope.
View back into the canyon we ascended from as we continue up the slope.
We hopped over the ridge to Red Reef's southeast side.
We hopped over the ridge to Red Reef's southeast side.
Along the southeast side of Red Reef's ridge.
Along the southeast side of Red Reef's ridge.
View back as we continue along a nice grassy bench.
View back as we continue along a nice grassy bench.
We entered a short narrow section to continue along the bench.
We entered a short narrow section to continue along the bench.
You can see the cliffs on the right starting to become more grassy and less sheer. We headed up once a route became clear.
You can see the cliffs on the right starting to become more grassy and less sheer. We headed up once a route became clear.
Class 2 slope to the summit ridge. Many of the boulders are very loose.
Class 2 slope to the summit ridge. Many of the boulders are very loose.
View back as we ascend the Class 2 slope. The trailhead is visible center left.
View back as we ascend the Class 2 slope. The trailhead is visible center left.
Ridgeline leading to Red Reef's summit.
Ridgeline leading to Red Reef's summit.
Just below the summit, view back along the ridge.
Just below the summit, view back along the ridge.
Red Reef summit.
Red Reef summit.
Red Reef summit, view toward St. George.
Red Reef summit, view toward St. George.
Red Reef summit, view toward the rest of the Red Cliffs National Conservation Area to the west.
Red Reef summit, view toward the rest of the Red Cliffs National Conservation Area to the west.

Hire me or show me some love!

Hire/refer me as a web developer or send me a few bucks if you find my site useful. I’m not sponsored, so all fees are out-of-pocket and my time preparing trip reports is unpaid. I really appreciate it!