Search

» » Discover the Desert: Uncover 'striking depths' at the Virgin River Gorge's 'mini Grand Canyon' - St. George News

Discover the Desert: Uncover 'striking depths' at the Virgin River Gorge's 'mini Grand Canyon' - St. George News

susahmadang.blogspot.com

ST. GEORGE — Craving some Virgin River water play this summer? Grab your family or friends and hit this recreation area just 20 miles southwest of St. George.

L-R: Discover the Desert host Sydnee Imlay and her guest Rita Vigor hike the Sullivan Canyon Trail at the Virgin River Canyon Recreation Area in the Virgin River Gorge, Ariz., May 16, 2024 | Photo by Aaron Crane, St. George News

In this episode of “Discover the Desert,” host Sydnee Imlay and her “work mom” Rita Vigor hiked a sandy trail down to the Virgin River’s vegetation-rich beaches at the Virgin River Canyon Recreation Area in Arizona.

The 135-acre recreation area is situated along Interstate 15 and can be accessed via the Cedar Pocket exit near mile marker 18 in the Virgin River Gorge. The site is 20 miles from both St. George and Mesquite, Nevada, and a little more than an hour from Cedar City, according to the Bureau of Land Management.

“It’s so peaceful,” Vigor said. “Like, I honestly thought it would be a little bit louder with the freeway being so close but it’s really not. The views are beautiful and you have like a lot of different backdrops, you know, for those selfies.”

The area offers visitors access to hiking, rock climbing, canyoneering, wildlife viewing, water activities and more. River runners with small whitewater boats may see opportunities to run the Virgin River. However, they should check with the BLM for more information about fish barriers and flow conditions before heading out. 

In this file photo, tamarisk flowers bloom near the Virgin River in St. George, Utah, May 20, 2024 | Photo by Alysha Lundgren, St. George News

The Paiute and Beaver Dam Mountain wildernesses are accessible throughout the Virgin River Corridor, and various trails are available.

Imlay and Vigor took a short stroll down the Sullivan Canyon Trail, which crosses the river and “heads into the heart of the Paiute Wilderness,” according to the BLM. Its pathways lead to the Virgin River, to a viewpoint and a grove of Joshua trees. 

Imlay and Vigor took a breather at the river’s edge in a grove of tamarisk trees.

“Honestly, I can see this being a really great place to just bring a book, sit in the shade and relax or float the river,” Vigor said. “Maybe you listen to a podcast, music — whatever you do. It’s just — it would be a really serene place to visit.”

A desert marigold blooms at the Virgin River Canyon Recreation Area in the Virgin River Gorge, Ariz., May 16, 2024 | Photo by Alysha Lundgren, St. George News

Visitors can also pop across the freeway and follow Cedar Pocket Road to the Cedar Pocket Wash trailhead, which leads visitors to the Cedar Pocket narrows through a grove of Joshua trees.

The gorge is located between the Colorado Plateau’s southwest rim and the northeastern Mojave Desert, and at 2,264 feet in elevation, it typically offers hot summers and mild winters. According to the BLM, it is typically about 5 degrees Fahrenheit warmer than St. George.

Promoting riparian habitat, the river is home to various plants and animals, including several species of sensitive or endangered aquatics, such as wounfin, Virgin river chub and flannelmouth sucker fish.

Desert willow flowers bloom at the Virgin River Canyon Recreation Area in the Virgin River Gorge, Ariz., May 16, 2024 | Photo by Alysha Lundgren, St. George News

Visitors may also catch a glimpse of endangered Southwestern willow flycatchers nesting in willow or tamarisk trees, according to the BLM.

Other birds potentially flitting through the area include ash-throated flycatchers, turkey vultures, Gambel’s quail, greater roadrunners or red-tailed hawks. The area is also home to white-tailed antelope squirrels, Southwestern speckled rattlesnakes, desert hairy scorpions and desert cottontail rabbits, according to various reports on iNaturalist.

Those hoping to stop and smell the wildflowers may spot globemallows, desert marigolds or desert willow flowers.

A ‘mini Grand Canyon’

Visitors can pay via Scan and Pay at the Virgin River Canyon Recreation Area in the Virgin River Gorge, Ariz., May 16, 2024 | Photo by Aaron Crane, St. George News

The Virgin River carved the gorge’s sandstone and limestone canyons with its steep flow, dropping an average of 70 feet per mile — 10 miles steeper than the Colorado River’s as it cuts through the Grand Canyon. According to the BLM, the gorge mimics the Grand Canyon’s “colorful layers and striking depths” — just on a smaller scale.

“It’s like a mini Grand Canyon,” Imlay said.

The two locations share many of the same geologic formations. For instance, the Kaibab Formation, which can be seen on the Grand Canyon’s north and south rims, forms a “resistant cap rock” there, as well as in the Virgin River Gorge, the National Park Service states. The Kaibab Formation was deposited on the supercontinent Pangaea’s west coast in a shallow sea and coastal flats.

Interestingly, this limestone layer is one of the oldest exposed rocks at Zion National Park while forming the youngest layers at the Grand Canyon. Outcrops of the sedimentary stone can also be found along the Hurricane Fault in the I-15 corridor, south of Kolob Canyons, the park service states. 

Visiting the Virgin River Canyon Recreation Area.

Those planning to stay overnight should expect a fee of $8 per site per night, with a limit of 14 nights. Currently, 25 of the area’s “best sites” are only available for reservations via recreation.gov. The other 83 are first come, first served, the bureau states.

L-R: Discover the Desert guest Rita Vigor and host Sydnee Imlay explore the Virgin River Canyon Recreation Area in the Virgin River Gorge, Ariz., May 16, 2024 | Photo by Alysha Lundgren, St. George News

Those heading out for the day will be charged a $2 fee. Cash isn’t currently accepted as payment, as the bureau has switched to Scan and Pay, which can be accessed on-site.

“It’s actually really nice — super convenient,” Imlay said. “I never have cash, so it works great.”

Nearly 15,000 people visit the recreation area annually, and it costs over $200,000 for staff and operations, according to a draft business plan released by the BLM in May.

Because of this, the fees could change for the first time since 1998, according to the business plan, with day-use fees potentially increasing to $6, overnight fees rising to $22 and group overnight camping fees being introduced at $42. The BLM is accepting comments on the plan until June 12 via the agency’s website.

As always, be sure to pack plenty of food and water before venturing into the desert. And there’s no better way to end an adventure than with a scoop of Handel’s delicious homemade ice cream.

Want free ice cream? Leave a comment on social media and tell the Canyon Media crew where we should hike next for your chance to win.

Photo Gallery

Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2024, all rights reserved.

Alysha Lundgren joined the St. George News team in 2022. She began her career as a freelancer, writing resource articles for families of children with disabilities. She's also covered topics such as astronomy, recreation and nature. Originally from Nevada, Alysha fell in love with Utah quickly after moving to Cedar City. In her free time, she enjoys wandering and photographing Utah's gorgeous landscapes or hunkering down in a blanket to play video games or read a good book.

Adblock test (Why?)



"gorged" - Google News
May 31, 2024 at 08:30AM
https://ift.tt/DjC7hH1

Discover the Desert: Uncover 'striking depths' at the Virgin River Gorge's 'mini Grand Canyon' - St. George News
"gorged" - Google News
https://ift.tt/fN0Sz5R
https://ift.tt/Ootp2RK

Bagikan Berita Ini

0 Response to "Discover the Desert: Uncover 'striking depths' at the Virgin River Gorge's 'mini Grand Canyon' - St. George News"

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)
Powered by Blogger.