Pioneer Rim
The Pioneer Rim trail is directly accessed via either of two parking areas in St. George City’s Pioneer Park off the Red Hills Parkway or from the southern entrance to the T-Bone trail or by a connection to the Pioneer Hills trail out of the Pioneer Hills trailhead. The trail’s 1-mile west segment winds through portions of Pioneer Park that are open to travel over slickrock areas with delightful sandstone formations. East to west elevation gain is about 180 feet. Popular with local residents, that area also supports a very active tortoise population during parts of the year. The 1/3-mile east segment leads visitors out to overlooks in northeast St. George for an out-and-back hike. Connected by a short T-Bone trail section to the Pioneer Hills trail, the west segment can be made into an easy, 2.5-mile loop hike. This mostly 2-track trail loop, with a few ups and downs, has a total elevation change of about 540 feet. The loop may be started via the Pioneer Hills trailhead or the Pioneer Park entrance areas. The entire loop lies across lands owned by the city of St. George within the boundaries of the primitive Pioneer Park.
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- Pioneer Hills area map shows linkages with other connecting trails in the Pioneer Park area.
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- Pioneer Park trailhead in picnic area provides access off the T-Bone trail. Two other parking areas are found off the Red Hills Parkway.
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- From the T-Bone trail, visitors can choose either the East or West segments of the trail. The more popular West segment takes visitors through beautiful rock formations.
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- Looking down on the paved T-Bone trail from the start of the West segment of Pioneer Rim trail. This segment takes visitors on red slick rock for most of its half mile length.
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- The west segment of the trail winds through beautiful red rock formations.
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- Visitors are allowed to hike across the red slick rock to explore the little canyons and other features appropriate for most families (strollers not recommended).
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- The west segment includes numerous, interesting rock formations including this beautiful little arch.
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- During the active tortoise season (March-October), visitors may encounter desert tortoises on the slick rock and are advised to enjoy the animals from a respectful distance.
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- The west end of the trail segment leads visitors to the north where the trail connects with the Pioneer Hills trail.
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- From the paved T-Bone trail, visitors may elect to head east on the eastern most segment of Pioneer Rim.
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- The east segment takes visitors to overlook portions of north-east St. George City and the Industrial Park area.
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- The east segment ends at the private land boundary and visitors must return to the trailhead on the same route.
