Prior to a recent spring break trip to St. George, UT, I was researching some different places we could visit and came across a mention of an out of the way place called Yant Flat, nicknamed the “Candy Cliffs,” full of striped and sweeping sandstone hills. My curiosity was piqued and I set out to discover more about it. This hike turned out to be one of the highlights of our trip and we definitely plan to return again!
The Candy Cliffs are a hidden gem north of the Saint George area. The trailhead is reached by driving about 7 miles along a winding, narrow (not always wide enough for two vehicles), and occasionally precarious dirt road outside of Leeds, UT. As we navigated the road in our minivan, I began to wonder if this was going to be worth the drive.
And it was, my friends. It was.
(Although I will say that I would NOT want to or recommend making the drive in muddy or wet conditions.)
The trailhead is clearly marked, once you get there. I had read that the hike was “moderate,” but considering just the trail heading out to the flats, I would call it fairly easy. Not something you’d take a stroller or wheelchair on, but my 8 and 9 year olds had no problem at all.
It is a very sandy trail, covered in the soft fine red soil that Southern Utah is known for. On the way back to the car, we ended up having to stop for a minute so everyone could empty the collection acquired in our shoes.
The trail continues for about 1 mile through low shrub trees, sage brush, and cactus before opening onto a stunning view of the flats.
One moment you’re surround by desert foliage, and the next you’re staring out over red and white cliffs to the surrounding hills.
Once you reach this point, there’s not really a trail and you just get to explore to your heart’s content. We decided on a prominent rock (christened the “honey pot” by the 9 year old because it reminded him of one of Winnie the Pooh’s honey pots stuck in the ground) as a way to find the trailhead again.
You can venture forward from the trailhead to the edge of the cliffs to kind of see out everywhere, but if you head to the left, you’ll find a breathtaking vista looking out toward Zion National Park, as well as a way to get down onto the cliffs to explore them further.
I will say, my momma’s heart was a little tense letting my little people climb all over these cliffs, but with much warning and nagging on my part, we all survived. As I heard little Mr. Everrett mumbling under his breath, “Be safe, be safe. All our mom says is ‘be safe’ because the only thing she cares about is that we stay alive.”
We spent about an hour climbing and exploring and taking in the views. We could have spent much, much longer, but we had a long drive ahead of us, so we reluctantly headed back to the trail with a promise to return again someday.
If you’d like to visit the Yant Flat Candy Cliffs, the best directions I found on getting there were from Hike St George. Click on that link and it will take you right to the page with more exact location info and how to get there.
Happy Hiking!
