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We talk to people about the St. George area a lot—on Instagram, over the phone, at travel shows and many other ways—and the same questions come up in a variety of forms: “Where are the secret spots?” “Where are the really cool hidden places?” “What is a spot most people don’t know about?”
As a disclaimer, nothing in this series is going to be completely secret or new as the areas we are featuring aren’t uncharted territory where no human has been before—sorry if that’s what you were hoping for. What is covered is pretty great though.
The trouble with living so close to Zion National Park is that when people come here for outdoor adventure, they’re mesmerized by the siren of Angels Landing. It’s tough for other adventures to compete when stacked up against that hike, but rest assured, there are some pretty amazing things off the beaten path in the St. George area.
The places that this series will feature are where 98% of visitors will never go or even know about.
Our First Gem, Yant Flat
It’s a gem worth a king’s ransom and it doesn’t require a permit to visit.
If you’re interested in exploring natural wonders in the Southern Utah area, then you’ve undoubtedly heard of The Wave, and for a good reason. It’s a popular spot in these parts, but is extremely difficult to see as it requires a rare permit that many travelers deem impossible to get. Fortunately, that’s an advantage to Yant Flat as this hike is, by far, the next best thing.
Yant Flat is located just north of St. George and takes 45 minutes to reach the trailhead. After an easy mile and a half hike, you’ll reach sloping and rolling rocks of swirling colors. It’s a thrill to climb among them, find unique spots, and see how creatively the rocks have been painted by nature. It’s a playground for adventure-seekers and an awesome photographic opportunity.
If you’re interested in experiencing it in a truly magical light, plan your trip around “the golden hour.” There won’t be many other sunsets you see in your life that beat the one you’ll experience at Yant Flat.
Map & Directions
For a good map of the hike and specific directions visit our trails website and use the interactive map.