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Virgin River Rim Trail

This section covers Te-ah Trailhead to Webster Flat Road

The long Virgin River Rim Trail (bike/hike/horse trail) is broken down into three shorter hiking trails.

1. Cascade Falls Trailhead to Strawberry Ridge

2. Cascade Falls Trailhead to Te-ah Trailhead

3. Te-ah Trailhead to Webster Flat Road

When the summer months bring temperatures to triple digits to the low deserts of Southern Utah, people look for different ways to beat the heat. If a stroll in a mountain meadow through wildflowers wets the appetite then this 7 mile hike will fit the bill! This is an enjoyable hike either done as an out and back or a one way hike with a shuttle. The path abounds with fir, spruce, aspens and a large array of wildflowers, and who knows, maybe an occasional deer or elk! With an average elevation of over 9000', the air temperatures remain pleasant even on the hottest summer days. Occasional breaks in the trees will enable the hiker to glimpse the expanses of Dixie National Forest and even sections of Zion National Park in the distance

Virgin River Rim Trail at a Glance
Photo Album: Virgin River Rim Photos
Trail Maps: Virgin River Rim Map
Day Hike: Yes.
Distance: 7 Miles
Average Hiking Time: 4 hours
Trail Use: Horses, bicycles, hikers
Equipment: The best map to purchase for this hike is the "Cedar Mountain/ Pine Valley Mountain" National Geographic-Trails Illustrated.
Difficulty: Moderate hiking with little elevation change.
Trailhead: Navajo Lake near Te-Ah Campground.
Trailend: Webster Flat Road.
Trail Access: Dirt roads can be impassable if wet.
Maximum Elevation: 9400'
Minimum Elevation: 9000'
Off the Beaten Path: Yes
Best Season:  Early June to Late October.

Trailend: Station one car at the trailend located .4 miles south of Highway 14 on the dirt Webster Flat Road. The Webster Flat Road is located 3.2 miles west of the intersection of Highway 14 and U-148. U-148 is the road to Cedar Breaks. Turn left (south) onto the Webster Flat Road. At .4 miles off U-14, at a left hand bend in the dirt road, notice a small brown sign with a "No OHV's allowed graphic" just off the road on the left. This is the trailend and there is a small area on the left, just past this sign, to station the shuttle vehicle on the side of the road.

Trailhead: Travel back to U-14 and turn right. Travel 3.2 miles back to the intersection of U- 14 and U-148. Set the odometer and continue 7.4 miles east on U-14 and turning right (south) off of Highway 14 onto the dirt road leading to Navajo Lake. Travel 5.7 miles to the southwest on the dirt road passing campgrounds on both the left and right side of the road. The beautiful mountain lake, Navajo Lake, is on the right the entire time. At the far end of the lake (southwest end) a dirt road turns right to the Navajo Lake Loop Hike and a restroom facility, however continue past this turn to get to the Te-ah Campground, which is on the right. Continue past the entrance of Te-ah on the right side for a short distance and soon the road will curve to the left with another dirt road bearing straight ahead. There is a small parking area on the right at the intersection of these two roads. This is the parking for the trailhead.

Utah's Dixie National Forest: Cedar Mountain Cedar Breaks National Monument is surrounded by Utah's Dixie National Forest. From Mt. Carmel Junction, drive north on US-89 to the junction with U-14. SR-14 is known as Cedar Mountain which is the scenic byway to travel to Cedar Breaks. Once on Cedar Mountain, travel through the beautiful forest, and then turn at the signed highway to Cedar Breaks - U-148. It's 22 miles from Mt. Carmel Junction to boundary of Dixie National Forest and 45 miles to Cedar Breaks. Utah's Dixie National Forest: Red Canyon Red Canyon is a unique part of Dixie National Forest that is not only traveled through on the way to Bryce Canyon, but it has eroded hoodoos like Bryce Canyon and Cedar Breaks. It is found along U-12 Cedar Breaks Road Map - Cedar Mountain Map			A flower along the Virgin River Rim
	Lodging and services are available on the gorgeous east side of Zion National Park, where guests are close to Zion National Park (12 miles), Bryce Canyon National Park (60 miles), Cedar Breaks National Monument (45 miles), Coral Pink Sand Dunes (12 miles), and the North Rim of the Grand Canyon (85 miles). It's where city traffic is absent and the skies are bright and clean.

Begin the hike by following the dirt road (forest service road) to the west as it descends and winds down the side of the hill. Soon (.3 miles) a sign on the right indicates the Virgin River Rim Trail. Ascending for a short time through the mainly spruce forest the trail soon levels off and begins its westerly direction as it contours the ridgeline towering above on the right. The views are limited but the shade provided by the large coniferous trees are a welcome reprieve from the searing summer sun as the trail zigs and zags as it contours the ridges and drainage's. Generally there is little variation from the 9200' elevation, however there are some mild ups and downs along the way.

At 2.5 miles into the forest stroll and topping a small ridge just south of Gooseberry Point, the trail begins a gradual descent to the north and west into the large bowl on the west flank of Gooseberry Point. Aspens become prominent mixed with some Fir . The gentle mountain breeze rustle their leaves, and the moist ground in the drainage nourishes the low ground vegetation.

Rounding the first large bowl and steering west again after 3 miles, passing a small seep and open aspen grove, the trail briefly goes through a thick coniferous forest. The path crosses a small wooden bridge over another intermittent creek and seep. It would be possible at this bridge and seep to fill water containers, but it should be filtered and or purified. Once again the trail ascends gradually to round the next ridge then contours as the prominent Aspens and low grasses allow more sunlight and an abundance of wildflowers to flourish. Now more than 4 miles into the hike, Webster Flat and the ridge to the west are within eyesight.

Shortly, (4.7 miles) a junction of the trail and a 4WD road leads back into the thick woods. At the junction, a couple of signs indicate the Virgin River Rim Trail. Follow the 4WD road to the right as it ascends and comes to a wire gate. Step over the gate and follow the road for the next .3 miles and at the right hand hairpin turn, the single track trail will once again steer left and leave the road. Now as the trail drops into the basin below, the seepage yields the best assortment of wildflowers in the very fertile and moist ground. Cross several wooden bridges which are suspended over the bog. Shortly the trail begins its final ascent to the open Aspen covered ridge above and the short, level walk to the trailend.

Note: Te-Ah Campground has bathrooms with running water.

GPS Coordinates WGS84 Datum

Trailhead (Te-ah Campground)
37 32.007 N
112 49.302 W

Trailend (Webster Flat Road)
37 34.848 N
112 53.369 W

GPS coordinates are only references and may or may not be accurate. Do not rely on GPS coordinates as the sole method of navigation. Always have an accurate, detailed map at hand and have the proper map reading and navigation skills before setting out on any hike. Many of the hikes listed in this guide travel into canyons where a GPS has limited capabilities. Always check your position with a detailed map before dropping into a canyon.

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