I Explored a Hidden Gem Garden in the Middle of Utah’s Desert

The desert fascinates me. Living in the mountains for most of my life, I always loved visiting family in Arizona and Southern Utah, where the temperatures were typically high, cacti were everywhere I looked, and there was very little precipitation. I even remember leaving my shoes outside my cousin’s front door, only to discover a small lizard curled up on my insoles when I put them back on.

My parents recently moved to southern Utah, just steps from the Utah and Arizona state lines. On my most recent visit to their home, we decided to take a Sunday afternoon walk and chose to explore the Red Hills Desert Garden, a hidden gem in St. George. This garden had so much to offer and made me fall in love with the desert even more.

The Red Hills Desert Garden is on Red Hills Parkway in St. George. This five-acre garden is in the heart of red rocks and the Southern Utah desert. This is the first desert conservation garden in the Beehive State. During my visit, our party consisted of children aged 5 to 12 and several adults. There was something for everyone to enjoy as we walked around and learned a little more about this remarkable environment.

This unique garden features paved pathways that take you near more than 5,000 plants that thrive in a desert climate. Signs next to the various vegetation feature QR codes you can scan to learn about each specific plant. Throughout the garden, you’ll find everything from succulents to trees (the blooming cacti were my favorite).

Coming from a family of fishermen, my family loved the 1,150-foot stream stocked with all types of native and endangered fish species. You can enjoy the water from above or in a replica slot canyon where you can look at the fish through large windows. There are stairs where you can access this area or a paved pathway for those with mobility issues.

My history and dinosaur-loving son was captivated by the garden area where you can view prehistoric dinosaur tracks. These tracks were found onsite and are estimated to be over 200 million years old. There are also boulders throughout the garden that contain dinosaur tracks, and you can find these unique destinations by following imprints on the sidewalk. It was a fun step back in time.

When we visited on a Sunday afternoon, I was surprised at the quiet atmosphere of the garden. I expected more people to enjoy this unique destination, and we felt like we had it all to ourselves. There are benches spread throughout the garden where you can sit back and enjoy the beauty of the area and the peace and quiet found here. Multiple times on our journey, I thought that this would be a wonderful place to meditate, think, or even write and draw.

Red Hills Desert Garden also hosts various classes throughout the year on topics such as creating a more water-efficient landscape design for your home and growing various vegetables. These classes are offered in the garden or the adjacent offices of the Washington County Water Conservancy District. You can visit the Water Conservancy District website for a list of upcoming events. All events and activities are free to the public.

And while there is much to love and see within this botanical garden, one of my favorite views was at sunset with the red rocks and city below. The Red Hills Desert Garden may be my favorite hidden gem nestled in the heart of Southern Utah’s desert.

Admission to this desert garden is free. The garden is open daily from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. For more information, you can visit the Red Hills Desert Garden website.

What are some of your favorite hidden gems in Southern Utah? What are some of your favorite things to do in St. George? Let me know by filling out this nomination form. I’d love to add some of your suggestions to my next visit.

Feeling inspired? Try planning your own trip to St. George using Only In Your State’s itinerary planner.