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Southern Utah
Hiking Forum
The Ultimate Southwest Vacation includes Dixie National Forest!
Experience the Spectacular Canyon Country Tour
Stay in Mt. Carmel Jct., the heart of the parks, and visit
the treasures of the Southwest.
Mileage: Mt. Carmel Jct.
Cedar Breaks 45 miles
Dixie Forest 22 miles
Zion National Park 12 miles
Bryce Canyon 60 miles
Grand Staircase 9 miles
Red Canyon 47 miles
Sand Dunes 11 miles
North Rim 85 miles
Toroweap 90 miles
South Canyon 75 miles
Plan your Dixie National
Forest
Vacation with our
Utah Maps
and
Information
In these pages you will find insiders information on Dixie
National Forest. This detailed guide includes road maps, park maps, pictures,
trail beta, backpacking, history, fees, geology, flora, fauna, campgrounds and
things for kids to do.
Making summer memories in the Utah national parks and Utah
national monuments.
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Dixie
National Forest Road
Map
Dixie National Forest
Map
Directions to Dixie National Forest
From Salt lake City: Take I-15 south, exit at
Parowan. Take U-143 south
to Dixie National Forest.
From Las Vegas: Take I-15 north to Cedar City. Take U-14 to Dixie National Forest.
From Mount Carmel Junction: Take US-89 north to U-14 and into Dixie National
Forest.
From Arizona: Take US-89 north thru Mount Carmel Junction to U-14 and turn west
to Dixie National Forest.
U-14 is also called the Markaguant High Plateau Scenic
Byway.
Dixie National Forest's Virgin River Rim Trail is open to those riding bicycles, horses or hikers. This trail is divided into three sections for hikers. This section begins at Navajo Lake and travels to Webster Flat.
GPS Coordinates
WGS84 Datum
Trailhead (Te-ah Campground)
37 32.007 N
112 49.302 W
Trailend (Webster Flat Road)
37 34.848 N
112 53.369 W
Beta: Coordinates and other trail and canyoneering information by Zion Park search and rescue veteran team member Bo Beck and www.zionnational-park.com author Tanya Milligan.
To post trip reports, offer corrections, updates, or for more information please visit the Southern Utah Hiking Forum
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Virgin River Rim Trail
Te-ah Trailhead to Webster Flat Road
This long bike/hike/horse trail is broken
down into three shorter hiking trails.
Cascade Falls Trailhead to Strawberry Ridge
Cascade Falls Trailhead to Te-ah Trailhead
Te-ah Trailhead to Webster Flat Road When the summer months bring temperatures to triple digits to the low deserts of Southern Utah, people look for different ways to beat the heat. If a stroll in a mountain meadow through wildflowers wets the appetite then this 7 mile hike will fit the bill! This is an enjoyable hike either done as an out and back or a one way hike with a shuttle. The path abounds with fir, spruce, aspens and a large array of wildflowers, and who knows, maybe an occasional deer or elk! With an average elevation of over 9000', the air temperatures remain pleasant even on the hottest summer days. Occasional breaks in the trees will enable the hiker to glimpse the expanses of Dixie National Forest and even sections of Zion National Park in the distance
Virgin River Rim Trail at a Glance
Photo Album: Virgin River Rim Photos
Trail Maps: Virgin River Rim Map
Day Hike: Yes.
Distance: 7 Miles
Average Hiking Time: 4 hours
Trail Use: Horses, bicycles, hikers
Equipment: The best map to purchase for this hike is the "Cedar Mountain/ Pine Valley Mountain" National Geographic-Trails Illustrated.
Difficulty: Moderate hiking with little elevation change.
Trailhead: Navajo Lake near Te-Ah Campground.
Trailend: Webster Flat Road.
Trail Access: Dirt roads can be impassable if wet.
Maximum Elevation: 9400'
Minimum Elevation: 9000'
Off the Beaten Path: Yes
Best Season: Early June to Late October.
Virgin River Rim Trail
Trailend: Station one car at the trailend located .4 miles south of Highway 14 on the dirt Webster Flat Road. The Webster Flat Road is located 3.2 miles west of the intersection of Highway 14 and Highway 148. Highway 148 is the road to Cedar Breaks. Turn left (south) onto the Webster Flat Road. At .4 miles off Highway 14, at a left hand bend in the dirt road, notice a small brown sign with a "No OHV's allowed graphic" just off the road on the left. This is the trailend and there is a small area on the left, just past this sign, to station the shuttle vehicle on the side of the road.
Trailhead: Travel back to Highway 14 and turn right. Travel 3.2 miles back to the intersection of Highway 14 and Highway 148. Set the odometer and continue 7.4 miles east on Highway 14 and turning right (south) off of Highway 14 onto the dirt road leading to Navajo Lake. Travel 5.7 miles to the southwest on the dirt road passing campgrounds on both the left and right side of the road. The beautiful mountain lake, Navajo Lake, is on the right the entire time. At the far end of the lake (southwest end) a dirt road turns right to the Navajo Lake Loop Hike and a restroom facility, however continue past this turn to get to the Te-ah Campground, which is on the right. Continue past the entrance of Te-ah on the right side for a short distance and soon the road will curve to the left with another dirt road bearing straight ahead. There is a small parking area on the right at the intersection of these two roads. This is the parking for the trailhead.
Begin the hike by following the dirt road (forest service road) to the west as it descends and winds down the side of the hill. Soon (.3 miles) a sign on the right indicates the Virgin River Rim Trail. Ascending for a short time through the mainly spruce forest the trail soon levels off and begins its westerly direction as it contours the ridgeline towering above on the right. The views are limited but the shade provided by the large coniferous trees are a welcome reprieve from the searing summer sun as the trail zigs and zags as it contours the ridges and drainage's. Generally there is little variation from the 9200' elevation, however there are some mild ups and downs along the way.
At 2.5 miles into the forest stroll and topping a small ridge just south of Gooseberry Point, the trail begins a gradual descent to the north and west into the large bowl on the west flank of Gooseberry Point. Aspens become prominent mixed with some Fir . The gentle mountain breeze rustle their leaves, and the moist ground in the drainage nourishes the low ground vegetation.
Rounding the first large bowl and steering west again after 3 miles, passing a small seep and open aspen grove, the trail briefly goes through a thick coniferous forest. The path crosses a small wooden bridge over another intermittent creek and seep. It would be possible at this bridge and seep to fill water containers, but it should be filtered and or purified. Once again the trail ascends gradually to round the next ridge then contours as the prominent Aspens and low grasses allow more sunlight and an abundance of wildflowers to flourish. Now more than 4 miles into the hike, Webster Flat and the ridge to the west are within eyesight.
Shortly, (4.7 miles) a junction of the trail and a 4WD road leads back into the thick woods. At the junction, a couple of signs indicate the Virgin River Rim Trail. Follow the 4WD road to the right as it ascends and comes to a wire gate. Step over the gate and follow the road for the next .3 miles and at the right hand hairpin turn, the single track trail will once again steer left and leave the road. Now as the trail drops into the basin below, the seepage yields the best assortment of wildflowers in the very fertile and moist ground. Cross several wooden bridges which are suspended over the bog. Shortly the trail begins its final ascent to the open Aspen covered ridge above and the short, level walk to the trailend.
Note: Te-Ah Campground has bathrooms with running water.
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