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Camping: Developed campsites available by reservation; fees required.
Details
Spring
Mid February through Late April
Fall
October through Mid December
Winter
Late December through Late February
Best Seasons
Nearest Hospital
Nearest Convenience Store
Red Cliffs Recreation Area
Utah
Red Cliffs Road, Leeds, UT 84746
Washington County
Elevation: 3481 ft
Directions:
The Recreation Area is accessed from I-15 via two different exits depending on your direction of travel. Note the tunnel restriction — vehicles must be under 12 feet in both height and width to pass through.
Northbound on I-15 — Use Exit 22:Take Exit 22 and turn right onto the frontage road at the end of the off-ramp. Travel south approximately 2 miles. Turn right just past the sign for the Red Cliffs Recreation Area. Proceed under the two freeway tunnels and follow the paved road into the campground.
Southbound on I-15 — Use Exit 23:Take Exit 23 and turn left on Silver Reef Road at the end of the off-ramp. Turn right onto Main Street and travel south for 3.5 miles. Turn right just past the sign for the Red Cliffs Recreation Area. Proceed under the two freeway tunnels and follow the paved road into the campground.
From St. George, UT: Head north on I-15 approximately 14 miles to Exit 22. Follow northbound directions above. (~10 minutes)
From Chandler, AZ: Take I-17 North to I-15 North through Las Vegas. Continue north on I-15 into Utah to Exit 22 near Leeds. (~340 miles, ~4 hours 45 minutes)
Tunnel Warning: Both approaches pass under two freeway tunnels restricted to vehicles less than 12 feet in height and width. Dirt and gravel on the tunnel floor can lower the clearance by several inches — measure carefully before committing. Vehicles with trailers must park at the White Reef Trailhead — take the first right turn after the second tunnel.
Parking Note: Day use parking is extremely limited — only 52 general use spaces. During Spring and Fall, traffic control measures may turn visitors away when full. Arrive early.
Campground
Wildlife
Camping
Hiking
Red Cliffs Recreation Area
Red Cliffs Recreation Area near Leeds, Utah is a BLM gem tucked against dramatic red sandstone cliffs just off I-15 — featuring Early Jurassic dinosaur tracks in the sandstone, Ancestral Puebloan ruins, 14 hiking trails through Quail Creek Canyon, and one of the most visually striking campgrounds in southern Utah.
Most people drive right past Red Cliffs Recreation Area on I-15 without knowing it exists. That's exactly what makes it worth the detour.
Located near Harrisburg within the BLM's Red Cliffs National Conservation Area, the recreation area encompasses a campground, day-use area, multiple historic sites, interpreted archaeological sites, two paleontological sites, drainages for Quail Creek and Leeds Creek, old mining ruins, and 14 trails accessible for hiking, biking, and horseback riding. All of that in a compact, accessible area with a campground right in the middle of it.
Dinosaur Tracks
Preserved in the rocks of the Red Cliffs National Conservation Area is evidence that dinosaurs once roamed this area millions of years ago. Fossil footprints were first discovered in these sandstone cliffs in 1998. When the track site was re-examined in 2012, paleontologists found 17 tracks and identified them as Grallator and Kayentapus. The Silver Reef Trail also leads to the Red Cliffs Dinosaur Track Site, which contains well-preserved Eubrontes, Kanyentapus, and Grallator tracks. Interpretive signs throughout help explain what you're looking at and why it matters.
The Silver Reef Trail
From the trailhead near campsite 7 and the restrooms, this short 0.2-mile single-track trail leads past marked dinosaur tracks to a viewpoint over the historic Silver Reef geologic formation. Sweeping views of surrounding red rock cliffs accompany interpretive panels that explain the site's scientific significance. Silver Reef was mined for its deposits of silver — the only known silver ore deposits in a sandstone formation in the world.
Ancestral Puebloan History
Structures of the Ancestral Puebloans can be viewed at the Red Cliffs Archaeological Site via the Anasazi Trail. The area was inhabited long before miners or pioneers arrived — artifacts and structures here speak to a much deeper human history in this canyon country.
Mormon Pioneer History & More
Visitors can enjoy the restored 1860s-era Adams House off the main entrance road, the remains of the 1950s-era "They Came to Cordura" movie set, and the ruins of the old McMullin homestead and silver mining operations. There's more packed into this small area than most people expect.
Quail Creek & The Red Reef Trail
The Red Reef Trail follows Quail Creek upstream as it enters the Cottonwood Canyon Wilderness. Tens of thousands of visitors hike the first section of this trail each spring when snowmelt creates short cascades of water that pools in slickrock bowls. If you visit in spring, this is the trail to prioritize.
Parking & Crowds
Day use parking is limited to just 52 general spaces. During Spring and Fall, traffic control measures may turn visitors away when the lot is full. Arrive early or visit on a weekday. Vehicles with trailers must park at the White Reef Trailhead — take the first right after the second tunnel.
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