We stayed in Dixie NF in April 2016, during Big Trip #1.

On our tour along Utah’s Route 12, we spent 6 nights boondocking in Dixie National Forest. Red Canyon, with its vermilion cliffs and spires, green pines, and network of hiking and biking trails, was just a couple miles down the road (but even closer, as the crow flies) from our campsite. Here is Bugsy in our Dixie backyard:

looking at these red rocks from the edge of Red Canyon, in the gully beyond our campsite:

On our first day in the area, as an intro, we hiked around the area adjacent to the Visitor Center, making a 2- to 2.5-mile loop of Pink Ledges, Hoodoo, Birdseye, Photo, and the bike trail.

Several days later we were back with the 59in59 guys, on the south side of the highway. We started down Thunder Mountain Trail, but quickly veered off to climb up to some interesting features we spotted above us.

Where’s Bugsy? ↓

Red Canyon is an easy and beautiful option for hiking and mountain biking along Route 12, without the National Park crowds.