Red Cliffs Conservation Area, Part 4: White Reef and a Canyon Exploration

On our last hike in southwest Utah before heading east we went back to the Red Cliffs and decided to walk along the ridge of the white sandstone reef in front of the central section of the conservation area. We followed the reef for about a mile and half north before deciding to go explore one of the canyons in the red cliffs. As we headed towards the cliffs the enormity of the sandstone canyon walls dwarfed us; the feeling was reinforced once we started climbing over the large boulders that had broken off and tumbled into the wash. We both enjoyed the challenge of route planning as we climbed over the reef and through the canyon as well as the unique erosion patterns in the sandstone, and once again I was impressed with the dramatic uplifting of the reef and the plateau along the Kanarraville Fault.