White Reef/Leeds Reef Loop
An easy, 3.5 mile, loop hike can be taken out of the White Reef trailhead that includes the White Reef and Leeds Reef trails. The trails are almost entirely on old, 2-track, dirt roads with a total up and down elevation change of about 900 feet with the highest point being about 275 feet higher than the trailhead. The White Reef trail winds through a draw between the two reefs and the Leeds Reef trail runs along the top of one reef for about a mile before it drops down into a draw as it approaches the White Reef trail junction. The White Reef trail provides good views of the reefs and nearby scenic red-rock mountains while the Leeds Reef trail has excellent views of all the area’s exceptional terrain. The loop lies entirely within the Red Cliffs NCA managed by the Bureau of Land Management and is open to hikers, bikers and equestrians but is closed to motor vehicles.
-
- Red Cliffs Recreation Area trails map shows the relationship of the White Reef / Leeds Reef loop to other connecting trails
-
- Access to the loop is generally made from the White Reef trailhead located just off the underpass road. Parking exists for vehicles and horse trailers.
-
- Visitors may enjoy stopping at a picnic ramada a short distance after leaving the White Reef trailhead. Please pack out any garbage.
-
- Views from the trail include the large arch over the main campground area.
-
- The White Reef trail is composed almost entirely of a two-track with dirt surface.
-
- Other views along the trail include the spectacular red rock cliffs of the Cottonwood Canyon wilderness area.
-
- A good ways up the trail visitors will see areas set aside for protection of habitat for state and federally listed rare plant species found only in Washington County, Utah.
-
- 1 1/2 miles up the trail visitors may choose to take the Adit trail over to the Leeds Reef trail to complete the 3 1/2 mile loop.
-
- Visitors will find the Leeds Reef trail to also be a dirt, two-track throughout most of its length.
-
- The stepover is found at the north end of the Leeds Reef trail at the public land boundary.
-
- At various points along the loop, visitors will see evidence of historic buildings, structures and fence lines such as this one pictured above.
-
- As visitors near the connection back to the White Reef trail, they will encounter an up or down slope on the Leeds Reef side.
-
- On the elevated portion of the Leeds Reef trail, visitors get great views of the Pine Valley Mountains behind the cliffs of the Red Cliffs Recreation Area.
