Finally Checked Off: Yant Flats
Yant Flats had been whispering my name for what felt like forever. And let me tell you, it did not disappoint. The trail itself was chill, which made it easy to really enjoy the scenery without gasping for air every five minutes. But the real showstoppers were the wild rock formations.
Think wavy layers of yellow, orange, and red sandstone that look like someone dropped a Skittles pack and melted it into the desert floor. I was running up and down those hills like a sugar-crazed kid. Okay, maybe not running, more like joyful frolicking. I even veered off-trail to summit a nearby mountain just for kicks. #WorthIt.
Toquerville Falls: Butt-Puckering and Beautiful
HOT DAYUM! Let’s talk about Toquerville Falls aka the trail that made me question all my life choices 10 minutes in. I had read enough to know it wasn’t exactly a casual Sunday drive. Still, I deflated my tires, whispered a little pep talk to my 4Runner, and hit the gas.
Not even 100 yards in, a guy in a Jeep coming the other way rolled down his window and asked, “You doing alright?” My response? “You betcha!” Inside, though? Slight panic. The first half-mile is straight-up rock garden territory. It’s the kind of trail that makes you clench muscles you didn’t know you had. But once you power through, it opens up and suddenly you’re cruising through open terrain with waterfalls in sight.
Yup, through the waterfall. You can actually drive right through it. Naturally, I busted out my camera and started snapping shots like I was on assignment for Off-Road Vogue. Mid-photo shoot, I noticed a guy watching me. Turns out he had a 4Runner too. We chatted, compared builds, and, of course, took some epic “car bros” photos before parting ways.
Camping by the Falls… and a Midnight Pants Emergency
I found a killer camp spot just 30 yards from the falls. Picture this: dinner under the stars, waterfall soundtrack, a couple drinks in hand. It was basically a National Geographic dream sequence. I stayed up late, soaking it all in.
But dreams don’t last forever, right? Before bed, I’d hung up my pants, soaked from all that joyful frolicking, to dry on my roof rack. Then around 2 AM, boom. Rainstorm. And not a polite drizzle. We’re talking full-on downpour. First thought was my damn pants. By morning, they were still drenched. And it was freezing. My sleep was almost non-existent.
Juniper Draw: Hiking in Sweatpants, No Regrets
With soggy pants out of commission, I threw on sweatpants and hit the road. Next stop: Cathedral Gorge State Park. Specifically, the Juniper Draw trail. It’s short, just around three miles, but the scenery was straight out of a sci-fi flick. Jagged spires, deep red dirt, and weird rock formations that looked like something off a Mars rover cam.
Even in the wrong hiking gear, I was loving it. The peacefulness, the weirdness, the total change of vibe, it all just worked.
The Moon Caves: Not Really Caves, Still Really Cool
I wrapped up the trip with a visit to Cathedral Gorge’s biggest flex: the Moon Caves. Except, plot twist, they’re not actual caves. They’re slot canyons. But not your usual tight walk-throughs. These were like slot canyons on steroids. Twisty, dark, narrow, and honestly kind of wild.
I was crawling, ducking, climbing… basically playing real-life Temple Run, but without the angry monkeys. It was the perfect chaotic cherry on top of an already jam-packed weekend.
Wrapping It Up (With Wet Pants and a Full Heart)
This trip was one for the books. A little off-roading, a little hiking, a lot of nature-induced awe and one very soggy pair of pants. But that’s the thing about road trips, right? It’s never just about the destinations. It’s the weird conversations, surprise rainstorms, and off-trail choices that make the memories stick.
So yeah, St. George gave me scraped knees, sleep deprivation, and unexpected joy. And I’d do it all over again in a heartbeat.
