St. George in southern Utah lies close to the borders of both Arizona and Nevada. It’s just a 120-mile drive north on I-15 to get to this gateway city into the beautiful state of Utah. The city is set within the stunning red rocks of Utah and is close to Zion National Park and other noteworthy locations.
History of St. George
Founded in 1861 along the Virgin River, St. Geoge sits beneath the watchful eye of Mormon Apostle Erastus Snow. During the 1861 church conference held in Salt Lake City, Brigham Young called three hundred families to immigrate to the “Dixie Mission” to begin growing cotton. Most of the families were completely surprised when Young called their names from the pulpit; however, they were ready to leave within the month. The families Brigham Young selected were the right balance of farmers, builders, blacksmiths, businessmen, and educators to create a successful city.
While many assume St. George was named for the Christian saint, it was named for George A. Smith, an apostle of the Mormon Church.
The first settlers planted cotton as a commodity crop, but their production didn’t succeed at competitive market rates. Eventually, cotton farming was abandoned. However, tourism developed as people began to pour into nearby Zion National Park during the early 20th century.
In 2019, St. George was the fastest-growing metropolitan area in the country. St. George ranks as among the safest and best places to live in the U.S., and ranked among the top 10 best small cities in the United States for business and careers by Forbes magazine.
Getting to St. George
Getting to this southern Utah city is easy; just drive north from Las Vegas on I-15 for 120 miles. Along the way, you’ll pass through the scenic towns of Mesquite, Nevada and Littlefield, Arizona.
Be sure to stop at the Virgin River Canyon Recreation Area as you’re going through the mountains, on the border of Arizona and Utah. The recreation area can be accessed from I-15 from the Cedar Pocket Exit at Mile Post 18. From here, you can use the restrooms, and get a beautiful view of this colorful mountain gorge.
Things to Do in St. George
One of the first things you’ll notice when you arrive in St. George is the red rock formations that spring up throughout the city. These are characteristic of the local geology. In addition, St. George is a family-friendly place, with several museums, cultural sites, and outdoor activities.
St. George Dinosaur Discovery Site
This is a fascinating fossil site and dinosaur museum at 2180 East Riverside Drive, Saint George, Utah. The museum has preserved thousands of dinosaur footprints that were found right here on site.
The footprints were discovered relatively recently and by accident on February 26, 2000. Dr. Sheldon Johnson, a retired optometrist, was excavating on his property when he discovered a large rock with an exposed dinosaur footprint. Realizing the dinosaur tracks should be preserved for scientific and educational purposes, Dr. Johnson and his wife, LaVerna, donated the land and the footprints to the City of St. George for a museum.
Many other fossils are included in the museum, such as dinosaur bones, as well as those of prehistoric fish, shells, and the leaves and seeds of prehistoric plants. Paleontologists have been able to reconstruct the 200 million-year-old ecosystem of southern Utah with surprising clarity due to the exhibits at the museum.
St. George Children’s Museum
The interactive St. George Children’s Museum at 86 South Main Street encourages visitors to touch, play, and explore their way through the twelve exhibit rooms. Both young and old will enjoy the many hands-on exhibits. Kids can change the tires on a model car, milk a model cow, or fly an airplane. The museum is sponsored by local companies that set up kid-sized models of their businesses; Smith’s Grocery Store has an exhibit where children can shop and practice running a cash register. It’s a great hands-on experience for the kids.
Pioneer Park
On Red Hills Parkway, Pioneer Park’s towering red rocks are great fun for people of all ages, especially kids who need the chance to run and climb. Older folks will enjoy the view of the city spread out below in the valley and the majestic mountains on the far side. Whether it’s scrambling the tall red rocks, exploring the slot canyon, or finding the best views to take pictures, this park is sure to please.
Red Hills Desert Garden
Right next to Pioneer Park at 375 E. Red Hills Parkway is the Red Hills Desert Garden. The 5-acre garden has 5,000 water-wise plants from around the world, set against the stunning, native red rocks. There’s also a replica slot canyon, a 1,150-foot stream stocked with endangered native fish, and best of all, 200 million-year-old dinosaur tracks found onsite. It’s lovely here, and if you live in the desert, it’s a good place to go for water-wise landscaping ideas.
Red Cliffs Desert Conservation Area
This is a vast area off of Red Hills Parkway and Highway 18. Red Cliffs encompasses 60,000-acres of pristine desert landscape, jaw-dropping scenery, and it provides tons of outdoor activities, including camping.
The Red Cliffs area includes Snow Canyon State Park, where you’ll find miles of hiking and biking trails, as well as some excellent rock climbing. The rambling Snow Canyon is set against towering red sandstone cliffs with black lava rock flowing down the hillsides. There’s even a towering sand dune in the park that kids love to play on.
Check out the City Creek Trail within the Red Cliffs Conservation Area for a nice, moderate level hike. If you’re looking for a more challenging hike, be sure to check out Red Mountain, Red Reef, or the Millcreek Trails. It’s here you’ll find a true desert wilderness, so bring plenty of water, layers of clothing, and food. Exploring the Red Cliffs National Conservation Area brings you right into the rich colors of this beautiful and uniquely American desert. It’s a great place to escape into the peaceful beauty of nature.
Brigham Young’s Winter Home and Office
St. George is much warmer than most of Utah, and Brigham Young was among the first “snowbirds” to migrate here. As the Mormon pioneer and church leader grew older, his arthritis discouraged him from spending the cold winters in Salt Lake City. So the people of St. George built him a winter home and office here. Brigham spent the winters in St. George from 1873 to 1876.
The house at 67 West 200 North in St. George was designed by Miles Romney, a relative of Senator Mitt Romney. The tour guides will tell you all about Brigham Young’s family life here in St. George, as well as his role in directing the construction of the St. George Utah Temple.
The St. George Temple
The Mormon Temple at 250 East 400 South was first dedicated in November of 1871 by Brigham Young. It’s built of native red sandstone that was quarried north of the city and then plastered white. The St. George Temple was the first temple built in Utah, and is the longest operating temple of the Mormon Church. The 11,000 square foot building sits on six beautifully manicured acres. While much of the temple is off-limits, you can stroll the beautiful grounds and admire the architecture of the Temple from the outside.
The Mountain Meadow Massacre Memorial
St. George’s history is inextricably linked to the Mormon Church, and the Mountain Meadows Massacre Memorial commemorates one of the darkest chapters of Mormon history. The memorial site is along Highway 18.
Beginning on September 7, 1857, a Mormon militia attacked a wagon train traveling from Arkansas to California, culminating in a mass slaughter on September 11, 1857. The militiamen wanted to give the impression that the Southern Paiute were responsible, so they persuaded the Paiute to join in the attack, and the militiamen disguised themselves as Paiute.
When the emigrants began running low on food and water, they tragically allowed members of the militia, who came under a white flag, to enter their camp. The militia assured them they were under protection; however, after walking them away from the camp, the militiamen killed all the adults and children over the age of seven. A total of 120 men, women, and children were senselessly killed. Seventeen children under the age of seven were spared and given away to Mormon families in St. George.
In 1988, the Mountain Meadows Association, which comprises descendants of both the wagon train victims and the Mormon militiamen, dedicated a monument in the meadows, which is now maintained by the Utah State Division of Parks and Recreation.
St. George, a beautiful, modern city, is the southern gateway into the stunning state of Utah. St. George is rich in not only natural beauty but also in history. It’s less than two hours from Las Vegas and is well worth the trip, especially if you have children with you. It’s also worth the trip if you have an interest in Mormon history.
