Red Rock Hiking

4.9•3949 ratings

About us

✰✰✰ Bring 'em back alive! ✰✰✰

That's the Motto of RRH, and it means the hikes here can be long, can be challenging, but first they are as safe as is reasonable for a region with so much high relief. It's all about being a big strong kid again, and having a nice low-pressure ramble in the Big Blue Room, to the edge of endurance in some cases!

Our hikes typically are 3-8 miles, with hopefully no more than 2000 feet of climb and usually much less. Very often these hikes are entirely cross-country, so they seem longer than they are.

I and the other hike leaders try to make the hike descriptions as direct and accurate as possible, but it is up to the individual to know their limits, and choose hikes that are within their hiking level. This means you. Yes, you. If the hiking's too hard for your level, then train and level up until you can do it! Lots of people do, and the benefits are huge.

Check out the "Pages" for hike ratings explained and other goodies for hiking.

MISSION STATEMENT
Message from John:
My personal goal for every hike is "Bring 'em back alive!"
After that, it's to have a nice moderately paced hike that often goes on all day and can be quite rough sometimes, oy. Of course, "rough" and "spectacular" are often found together...
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As volunteer hike leaders, we are here to make sure everyone is guided on the particular trail and is accounted for in general. We all come onto the trail together, and we all leave together. Hiking with us is like hiking with friends. When we’re on trail, we work as a team, and never leave anyone behind. If we notice people are getting too far ahead or behind, we make sure we stop regularly, regroup, and continue on trail together. In the end, we are a hiking group, and while it is ultimately up to the individual to keep oneself safe, it is up the group to stay together.
DUES/FEES
There are no dues for membership, period.
However, it does cost $200 per year to maintain a Meetup site (no advertising!) so tips toward that end are appreciated. :)

Upcoming events

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The Tuacahn Split and Pictograph Canyon
Sat, Apr 25 · 8:30 AM MDT
Snow Canyon State Park, 1002 Snow Canyon Drive, Ivins, UT, US
Rating: 3 miles, moderate to strenuous, about 1000 feet of climbing and descending. Some light bushwacking and rock climbing. About 5-7 hours.

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This hike is in conjunction with Mindful Scramblers.

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This hike is packed solid with amazing terrain, incredible views, and it has some excellent pictographs! So if you have legs of steel and feel comfortable while hanging off boulders and so forth, this is the hike for you!

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Though route begins in the Tuacahn parking lot in climbs directly up a rather steep canyon for quite a few hundred feet of vertical rise. There's a few difficult spots, but hikers with a little skill, a little stamina and a little strength usually do pretty good.

One or two spots are moderately scary, but we have a good hand line to make those spots safer and less scary. But if you have a strong fear of heights, you may want to skip this hike.

Near the top of the climb, we will pass through the famous Tuacahn Split", an extremely narrow passage between two tall rock faces about 20 feet in length. There's no falling hazard, but getting through might require a little scraping. Oversize people have the option of climbing over the top. It's not as fun, but it gets the job done.

Comes a zigzag traverse across the top of the mountain. It's great. Much too soon we reach the descent route that leads down to the bottom of Pictograph Canyon.

Traveling down the canyon is pretty magical on an easy gravel bottom past lots of moss and other greenery, and yes, there are pictograms hidden in a cave. These are highly unusual and are preserved well by the cave overhang. Again, it's great.

Near the end of the canyon, some gigantic boulders have filled the canyon, requiring us to negotiate over these boulders. It's somewhat difficult, but with assistance, everybody can make it.

At the end, we'll be faced with a vertical 300 foot waterfall that the canyoneers like to go down with ropes. Quite dramatic, but luckily there is a steep climbing route nearby that we can use to reach the bottom safely.

Once down, it's an easy 1 mile stroll down West Canyon Rd. to the Sand Dunes Picnic Area.

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The overall route is rather strenuous, and some basic climbing skill is needed, and several places are a little more advanced, so experience on terrain like that is helpful, along with reasonable 'pucker resistance'.

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In short, a good solid full body workout with scenery galore!

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This hike will require a car shuttle between Tuacahn School and Snow Canyon's Sand Dunes Trailhead. The shuttle driving time is 15 minutes. Note that Snow Canyon is a fee area.
- $15 per vehicle (up to 8 people)
- $10 per vehicle (up to 8 people) for seniors 65+ (with UT driver’s license)
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Notice! This hike has quite a lot of difficult climbing and descending with a few spots that get somewhat steep. Experienced hikers with good skills should have no problem, but beginners could be challenged. Strong teenagers should be OK if they can go the distance.

Additionally, there are one or two bouldery spots that require significant arm/leg strength to negotiate. We will have a hand line available for these spots if necessary.

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Prep: The usual, gloves, 1 big bottle of water, and food. It could be crisp at first so layers are called for, and a hat too. A hiking pole is nice but could get in the way during the rock climb segments.

Meetup: We meet in the Sand Dunes Picnic Area, 1.2 miles up Snow Canyon Drive from the southern entrance gate.
From there, we will settle to Tuacahn where are the hike begins.
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See you there! M+J :)

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Notice:
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.
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