The Elephant Arch trail on the outskirts of St. George had been on my list for several months before I found the right opportunity to give it a try. The family and I had a couple of hours to burn and a hankering to get outside. So, off we went into the deep red rocks on the edge of the Mojave Desert.

If you’re looking for scenic vistas and majestic red rocks, this trail checks all the right boxes. It’s a favorite among hikers and horseback riders alike. And what’s not to love? You get to see a big, red rock arch at the end!

The Elephant Arch Trailhead

Start the trek to Elephant Arch via the Mill Creek trail on the north end of Washington City. We accessed the trail from the electrical substation on Washington Parkway across the street from Green Springs Golf Course. We drove our 4X4 Chevrolet Tahoe up the sandy road to the Mill Creek Trail. We parked at the rebuilt Bone Wash trailhead. I’m not saying you can’t reach it without four-wheel drive, but you’ll definitely want to consider it. This advice is especially warranted when it hasn’t rained in a while.

As the name suggests, the Bone Wash follows a sandy wash. You can either walk the power line road above it, or walk down into the wash. Either way, you’ll eventually have to dip down into the wash to hit the trail that leads to the arch.

The Route to Elephant Arch

After about half-a-mile wandering along the Bone Wash trail, you’ll reach the junction with the Elephant Arch trail. This sandy, single-track trail climbs about 70 feet before descending to follow the wash to the base of the arch. Our girls had a great time looking at the rocks, cacti and even moss (yes, moss in the desert!) along the trail.

I’m not gonna lie: while the trail is nice and soft for equestrians, the sand can be annoying for hikers. And as the weather gets drier and hotter, navigating the deep, soft sand can be downright frustrating.After some rain, the sand firms up, making the hike a bit easier.

Red Cliffs’ Stunning Scenery

As you make your way along the trail, you’ll find fascinating red rock formations, culminating in the stunning Elephant Arch. The arch itself is hidden behind the hills near the trail’s end. In fact, I almost missed it until it was right there in front of me!

As far as elevation gains go, this trail is an easy one. Total gain is only about 180-feet. The trail to the arch is about 2.5 miles one way (5 miles total out and back). It took us all of about two hours to hike out to the arch and back. Of course, we stopped for a few minutes to take a few pictures and take in the stunning vistas.

The Pros:

• The arch was fascinating! When you get right up next to it, you realize it’s bigger than it looks from a distance.
• Solitude. That word is hard to come by these days in southern Utah. For whatever reason, we didn’t come in contact with very many hikers. So, that’s a plus.
• Close to town. It’s within 15 minutes of wherever you are (give or take a few minutes).
• Unique rock formations.
• Did I mention the arch?

The Cons:

• The sand. If you have a hard time walking through sand, this one can be a bugger. A lot of the trail is directly in the wash, which makes for some treacherous conditions when it’s hot and dry.