‘Blooming in the Desert’: In search of petroglyphs, desert beauty at Santa Clara River Reserve

FEATURE — Hiking in the outdoors with the kids can be one of the most rewarding parts of the summer months but it doesn’t have to be complicated. All you need is a fun destination, sunscreen, a few snacks, water and time to grab the kids and go.

In this episode of “Blooming in the Desert,” founding members Caitlin Maurine Skillings and Brittney Lelli Callister take the children for a hike down the Santa Clara River in search of adventure and find a lot of cool stuff to see along the way.

Learn some fun and easy ways to get the kids outside with the moms of “Blooming in the Desert” in the media player above

Encompassing 6,500 acres near the desert communities of Ivins and Santa Clara, the Santa Clara River Reserve has miles of kid-friendly walking trails with tons of awesome things for them to discover including beautiful cactus blooms, ancient rock carvings and even a rope swing at the river to cool off.

Ancestral Puebloans (Anasazi) and southern Paiute Indians have occupied the area for thousands of years and the reserve has become famous worldwide for petroglyphs that line the canyon walls.

Screenshot from ‘Blooming in the Desert’ featuring the Enepitsi “Ghost” Trail in the Santa Clara Desert Reserve, Santa Clara, Utah, date unspecified, St. George News

“They think people have been living here for like 7,000 years or so but they’re not totally sure,” Skilling said.

Starting at the Tukupetsi Trailhead, the Enepitsi “Ghost” Trail is a family friendly stroll that follows along the river. Follow the fork to the left and down the old dirt road and the trail will lead all the way to the river bottom.

Immediately after the cattle guard, don’t forget to keep their eyes trained on the cliffs for pioneer graffiti from early Mormon settlers in the region and thousands of ancient markings that above the black rocks along the trail.

Remember to be respectful, don’t touch, don’t rub or trace, don’t climb and don’t lean on rocks with markings so that future generations will be able to explore and enjoy the experience as well.

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Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2019, all rights reserved.

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