Cedar City to St. George, Utah – 25 October 2025
St. George, Utah — Red Rock Sunsets, Roadrunners, and Desert Wonders
Our first night in St. George was spent at Desert Canyons RV Park, a peaceful retreat surrounded by a network of hiking and biking trails. We wandered out for an evening walk and were rewarded with an incredible sunset — the desert sky ablaze in fiery shades of orange and red.
Tucked into the edge of the Mojave Desert, St. George enjoys about 300 days of sunshine each year, and those brilliant skies are proof. The city was founded in 1861 as a cotton-growing mission, which earned it the nickname “Utah’s Dixie.”
Beep Beep! A Roadrunner Encounter
One morning we had some unexpected visitors at the RV park — a pair of roadrunners! They strutted and darted around the campsite like they owned the place. One even hopped up a small tree to inspect something before sprinting off down the road.
Roadrunners can reach speeds of up to 32 km/h and are remarkable desert hunters, feeding on insects, lizards, and even rattlesnakes. To conserve water, they excrete salt through glands near their eyes instead of urinating — an impressive desert adaptation. On chilly mornings, they turn their backs to the sun and lift their feathers to absorb warmth directly onto their skin. I felt lucky to see these clever birds up close.
Desert Gardens & Red Rock Views
The next morning we set out to explore two of the city’s most scenic spots — the Red Hills Desert Garden and Pioneer Park.
The Desert Garden was a showcase of more than 5,000 native and desert-adapted plants spread across five beautifully landscaped acres — a stunning example of water-wise gardening. A small stream wound through the gardens, stocked with native fish, and we even spotted dinosaur tracks preserved in the rock.
From there, we stepped through a trail gate into the red sandstone cliffs of Pioneer Park. We climbed to a little arch near the top and were rewarded with sweeping views of the city below, glowing in the late-day sun.
Temples of St. George
The following day we toured two of St. George’s most striking landmarks — the white St. George Temple and the Red Cliffs Temple.
The St. George Temple, completed in 1877, is the oldest operating LDS temple in the world. The brand-new Red Cliffs Temple, dedicated in March 2024, offers a modern contrast with its graceful lines and red-rock backdrop. Only members of the LDS faith are permitted inside, but visitors are welcome to photograph the exterior and walk the immaculate grounds.
With roughly two-thirds of St. George’s population belonging to the LDS faith, it’s no surprise these temples are such defining features of the landscape — symbols of how this desert city continues to grow while staying true to its roots.
Exploring Snow Canyon State Park
Despite its name, Snow Canyon rarely sees snow. It’s actually named after early Utah settlers Lorenzo and Erastus Snow. Thousands of years ago, lava from nearby volcanoes poured through the area, creating fields of jagged black rock and an underground network of lava tubes.
We hiked the Lava Flow Trail and climbed down into one of the tubes. It was cool, dark, and just a little eerie — hard to imagine that a river of molten rock once rushed through that space.
A Perfect Desert Escape
Our time in St. George was the perfect balance of natural beauty and small-city comfort. Surrounded by red cliffs and desert landscapes, yet filled with cafés, shops, and friendly energy, it’s a place that combines sophistication with adventure.
We’ll definitely be back — there’s something special about the way St. George captures both the warmth of the desert and the spirit of the Southwest.
