Red Cliffs Desert Reserve

Red Cliffs Desert Reserve Please come visit our Visitor Center for information!

Today we celebrate turtles and tortoises and the incredible role they play in ecosystems around the world. From shaping ...
05/23/2026

Today we celebrate turtles and tortoises and the incredible role they play in ecosystems around the world. From shaping landscapes to supporting healthy habitats, these ancient survivors remind us that conservation is not just about protecting wildlife. It is about protecting the places we all share.

If you plan to recreate outdoors this weekend, help make every adventure part of conservation:

🥾 Stay on designated trails
🐕 Keep dogs under control and away from wildlife
📍 Respect habitat boundaries and closures
🗑️ Pack out what you pack in
👀 Observe wildlife from a respectful distance

🌵 Join Us in the Community 🌵The Red Cliffs Desert Reserve team will be joining community partners and organizations at t...
05/20/2026

🌵 Join Us in the Community 🌵

The Red Cliffs Desert Reserve team will be joining community partners and organizations at the Rubber Duck Race hosted by the Andrew H. Barnum Museum of Natural History on May 30, and we would love to see you there.

Come connect with local conservation, natural history, and science happening right here in our region. We’d would love the opportunity to meet members of our community, answer questions, and share information about upcoming summer programs, and community science initiatives, plus other ways to get involved with conservation and education opportunities in Southern Utah.

📅 May 30
📍 Fossil Falls Park - 2444 E Dinosaur Crossing Dr, St. George, UT 84790

Check out the post below for event details and FAQ's ⬇️

Keep your dogs and children safe from harmful algae blooms (HABs)! There have been mats spotted along the Virgin River, ...
05/13/2026

Keep your dogs and children safe from harmful algae blooms (HABs)! There have been mats spotted along the Virgin River, Confluence Park, and Red Cliffs Desert Reserve. These cyanotoxins can enter through everyone in the nose, water, eyes, or open wounds. If you see algae mats in the water:

• Do not submerge underwater. When in doubt, stay out!
• Do not touch or eat algae mats
• Do not drink the water. The cyanotoxins cannot be filtered out.
• Keep your dogs and children out of the water and do not let them drink from the river or irrigation ditches

If you or your animals have unexplained illnesses or signs of poisoning, contact the Utah Poison Control Center at (800) 222-1222. Report an algae bloom at (801) 536-4123. Visit habs.utah.gov for more info.

🌍 Happy Earth Day from all of us at the Red Cliffs Desert Reserve!This place we call home only stays beautiful if we tak...
04/22/2026

🌍 Happy Earth Day from all of us at the Red Cliffs Desert Reserve!

This place we call home only stays beautiful if we take care of it together. Earth Day is a reminder that even small actions, like picking up a piece of trash on the trail, make a real difference.

If you’re looking for a way to get involved, join us this Saturday at Garth Rock for a community cleanup. It’s a simple way to give back, meet others who care about this landscape, and be part of something bigger.

The Give Your Land A Hand effort is all about keeping Washington County’s public lands clean and accessible for everyone, now and in the future.

👉 Follow along and stay involved:
Instagram:
Facebook: Give Your Land A Hand
Website: https://giveyourlandahand.com

04/06/2026

This April, your time on the trail can help local wildlife! We’re asking community members to help report raven activity, raven nests, and desert tortoise sightings in and around the Reserve. Your observations help us better understand wildlife activity and support local conservation work.

To make a report, text photos and coordinates to:
(435) 414-1769

Please keep a respectful distance from wildlife and never disturb animals or nests. Always stay on designated trails and do not attempt to follow ravens off trail.

IMPORTANT NOTICE - Beginning on February 9 or 10, we will be working with a contractor to conduct aerial herbicide treat...
02/06/2026

IMPORTANT NOTICE - Beginning on February 9 or 10, we will be working with a contractor to conduct aerial herbicide treatments by drone in the Red Cliffs Desert Reserve. This project is a collaboration between multiple agencies, and will strategically target fuel breaks to reduce invasive grasses, as well as pockets of invasive Sahara mustard. These treatments will help to protect unburned Mojave desert tortoise habitat by mitigating wildfire danger. The exact duration of these treatments is currently unknown, but it may continue through the end of February.

The attached maps show the treatment areas we have identified. There are no formal closures, but we ask that you please avoid trails in these immediate areas, and stay clear of drones conducting treatments.

There will be a follow-up post when the project has been completed. If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to us at [email protected] or (435) 301-7430. Thanks for helping us spread the word!

Join us at the Transportation Expo to learn more about Zone 6’s hiking & biking trails and our new recreation planning ...
02/02/2026

Join us at the Transportation Expo to learn more about Zone 6’s hiking & biking trails and our new recreation planning efforts! You may even spot a tortoise there 😉

Good news! Two job positions at the HCP have just opened up! The Education & Outreach position is full-time with benefit...
01/28/2026

Good news! Two job positions at the HCP have just opened up!

The Education & Outreach position is full-time with benefits. It’s perfect for individuals who enjoy working with various audiences to share our conservation message.

We are also looking for a part-time Field Technician. This job is perfect for someone who enjoys working outside, acting as our “boots on the ground” for the Red Cliffs Desert Reserve and Confluence Park.

Learn more and apply at: https://washcoutahjobs.applicantpro.com/jobs/ (it is linked in our bio).

Welcome back Zone 6! We are once again managing Zone 6 as part of the Red Cliffs Desert Reserve! The addition of Zone 6 ...
01/27/2026

Welcome back Zone 6! We are once again managing Zone 6 as part of the Red Cliffs Desert Reserve! The addition of Zone 6 to the Reserve protects more than 900 Mojave Desert Tortoises, thousands of endangered Dwarf Bearclaw Poppy plants, Moe’s Valley climbing area, and treasured mountain biking trails such as Zen Trail. Looking forward you can expect to see more management and clean up efforts and recreation planning for new trails from us!

Pop quiz! Do you know what brumation is? ⬇️Answer: Brumation is the equivalent of hibernation but for cold-blooded repti...
11/19/2025

Pop quiz! Do you know what brumation is? ⬇️

Answer: Brumation is the equivalent of hibernation but for cold-blooded reptiles & amphibians. Brumation and hibernation are very similar with the exception that a brumating animal is not completely inactive or dormant like a hibernating animal. For example, a brumating tortoise can still occasionally wake up on warmer winter days to drink water or bask in the sun. Mojave Desert Tortoises generally brumate November through March which is why it is a lot less common to see tortoises during those months.

📸: Mike Schijf

Address

111 E Tabernacle Street
Saint George, UT
84770

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 5pm
Tuesday 8am - 5pm
Wednesday 8am - 5pm
Thursday 8am - 5pm
Friday 8am - 5pm

Telephone

+14353017435

Website

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