Mindful Scramblers

Rating: Moderate, 3-4 miles total, with about 600 feet of accumulated climbing. Angled loose rocky slopes require some balance and agility. Minor bushwacking.

This hike is in conjunction with Red Rock Hikers.

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Babylon Reef is a spectacular gem hidden in the heart of Dixie. It's like a much smaller version of Capitol Reef National Park, with a lot of colorful rock layers upfolded and then eroded into a cool looking ridge.

We're going to climb onto one of the flatter benches near one end, travel to the far end near the Virgin River, then we return along the top section, with lots of weird twists and turns and plenty of great views down on the river just beyond the reef.

At about the midpoint we'll descend to the deep valley next to the reef, where we hope to see some running water amid huge cottonwood trees, and finish up back at the start with a stiff but short dirt hill climb.

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The hiking is all cross-country and covers some fairly steep slopes with significant slip-hazards. The terrain is sandy and rocky, with some areas of dirt. Other than slope-slipping, there is no significant height exposure to worry about. Some care and a slow pace should prevent any whoopsies.

The pace will be leisurely, affording plenty of time for absorbing the great scenery.

In short, a ruff tuff adventure.
Some stamina and a little pluck are all you need!

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Prep: 1-2 bottles of water and a snack are sufficient. Proper gear for this hike includes good aggressively-lugged boots, strong leather gloves (in case of a fall), and optionally a hiking pole.

Meetup: Go to the far north end of Leeds' "Main Street" (on Old Hwy. 91), where it connects with Silver Reef Road just east of Interstate-15. From the north, just exit at "Leeds" and you're there. From the south, the exit puts you on the southern end of Leeds, and you must drive up Main Street for over a mile to reach Silver Reef Road.

There's a large dirt lot at the road junction to carpool from. From there we drive two short miles down the dirt road to Sandstone Mountain and the trailhead. This portion of the road is in fair condition, but very low-slung cars are not recommended, due to one patch of small rocks in the road. Any agile 2 wheel drive vehicle will be okay.

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See you there! M+J :-)

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Please Note The Following:

Meetup organizers are not tour guides and are not park rangers. Expect the same risks and take the same precautions you would if you were hiking alone. You are solely responsible for your own safety and well-being.

By signing up for and/or attending this Meetup event, you acknowledge, understand, accept, and agree that hiking and other outdoor activities can be dangerous and can cause serious bodily injury and possibly death. The organizers of this group and current and former members cannot be held responsible or liable in any way for the actions of any participant - including you - at any event.

All attendees participate at an event at their own risk and are solely responsible for any damage to their property, and/or injury to themselves or their guests.

By signing up for and/or attending this Meetup event, you affirm that you understand this disclaimer and that you knowingly and voluntarily agree not to bring any type of claim arising out of or related to this Meetup event against the organizers of this Meetup group.