Hiking Yant Flat/Candy Cliffs in Southern Utah
I'm so excited to have Megan from the Wild Blue Family here today to share all the fun we had hiking Yant Flat in Southern Utah. Read on for all the details and make sure to add Yant Flat to your Southern Utah bucket list.
Hi, adventure friends! I’m Megan from the Wild Blue Family. We had the pleasure of going on an epic adventure in June with Arika to the fabled Candy Cliffs. Also called Yant Flat, these are located in Southern Utah just a stone’s throw away from Zion National Park. We were lucky to meet Arika through Instagram and plan our outing via email with our first actual meeting being on the trail. The trail certainly is a great way to get to know someone, isn’t it?
We met up a couple of hours before sunset to begin our hike. It’s a little over a mile trek to the cliffs, and from there the exploring opportunities are limitless. You could go on for miles and miles. Shoes with good traction help a lot with navigating your way around the cliffs.
If you’re looking to take your Candy Cliffs experience to the next level, consider exploring at sunrise or sunset. The sunset amplifies the oranges and reds on the cliffs and makes it truly breathtaking. I’m not sure how Arika planned such an epic sunset for our trip, but we’re so grateful! The kids were so inspired they even “tasted” the cliffs to see if they were as sweet as they appeared. The verdict? They taste as sweet as they look. Thank you, Arika, for a magical evening!
LENGTH
2-7 miles round trip
DIFFICULTY
The trail to get to the candy cliffs is easy and family friendly with very little elevation gain. Exploring and navigating the rocks along the cliffs is a little more difficult. There are steep dropoffs in the area so it's important to keep a close eye on children.
LOCATION
Yant Flat is located in the Dixie National Forest near Hurricane and St George, Utah. Getting to Yant Flat is an adventure in and of itself. You follow a windy dirt road for miles and miles, going up and over foothills that quickly turn into mountains. It’s super scenic, and we didn’t see a single car the entire time. To get there use the Yant Flat Parking on google. Click here for map and directions.
TRAIL DETAILS
The mostly flat trail starts with soft sand along the lower forest at the base of Pine Valley Mountain. A mile in it the trail transitions to steep up/down slick rock when you get to the cliffs. There are two main sections to explore at the cliffs. The swirly rocks stretch for miles making it easy to spend as much or as little time as you would like hiking and exploring. Scroll down for tips and additional info.
GOOD TO KNOW
There are no bathrooms or water fill stations at the trailhead.
TIPS AND ADDITIONAL INFO
The ideal time to hike Yant Flat is September thru May.
If planning to hike Yant Flats in the summer months make sure to go very early in the morning or later in the evening and bring plenty of water. There is no shade on this trail.
A four-wheel drive vehicle is not needed for the bumpy dirt road to get to Yant Flat unless is has rained recently.
Pack headlamps if you are going in the evening also bring plenty of snacks, water, and a can-do attitude.
I’d recommend shoes with good traction, and have hands ready for holding as you navigate the cliffs with kids.
MEET THE WILD BLUE FAMILY
Our family is made up of Bryan, Megan, Stella, Kai and Aria. We love to explore wild places and are lucky to call Bozeman, Montana our basecamp. We’ve learned that our family is the strongest when we are exploring the great outdoors, together. Right beyond the edge of our comfort zone is where we prefer to be. After all, living within your comfort zone doesn’t keep your life safe – it keeps it small. We’ve seen firsthand how this has completely transformed our little family. Our goal with this website is to equip and inspire others (you!) to get outside and explore wild places, together. Follow their adventures and their popular INSTAGRAM or their WEBSITE.
