About Red Reef East Trail
Recommended Users: Hikers. Two-track. 0.89 miles in length. Difficulty: Moderate. Red Reef East Trail starts in the campground between campsites #8 and #9. Cross the stepover heading east. Cross a second stepover at the intersection of the Mano Trail. Continue following the wide two-track for just 0.15 miles. Turn sharply to the right and head downhill into a large sandy wash. Cross the wash directly to pick up the trail on the other side. Continue for a couple hundred feet and reach the intersection with the Metate Trail. Continue heading east on the wide, well defined two-track for another 0.4 miles to reach the intersection with the Tipple Trail. Continuing east for another 0.10 miles will bring you to the National Conservation Area (NCA) boundary. Red Reef East Trail is used as a connector trail to the Mano, Metate, and Tipple trails, although it continues as a road beyond the NCA boundary heading east to the Silver Reef area. The trail is and old two-track, possibly a remnant of early mining days used to access claims. The views to the north are of the wild and beautiful Red Reef within the BLM Cottonwood Canyon Wilderness and the USFS Cottonwood Wilderness. Loop: For just under a 1 mile loop, take the Red Reef East Trail to Metate Trail. Turn right on Metate Trail until it intersects with the Anasazi Trail. Turn left on the Anasazi Trail and follow it for just over 0.1 miles to reach the Red Cliffs Archaeological Site. Return to the intersection of the Metate and Anasazi trails. Turn left on the Anasazi Trail and follow it until reaching the intersection of the Mano Trail. Take the Mano Trail north for 0.04 miles. Turn left at the intersection with the Red Reef East Trail and return to your starting point within the campground.
How to Get There
Red Cliffs Recreation Area – From I-15 Exit 22* (northbound only), turn right onto the frontage road at the end of the freeway off-ramp. Travel south approximately 2 miles. Turn right just past the sign for the Red Cliffs Recreation Area. Proceed under the two freeway tunnels, and follow the paved road into the campground. Pay a day use fee and park in one of the day use parking spaces. *From I-15 Exit 23 (southbound only), turn left on Silver Reef Road at the end of the freeway off-ramp. Turn right onto Main Street and travel south for 3.5 miles. Turn right just past the sign for the Red Cliffs Recreation Area. Proceed under the two freeway tunnels, and follow the paved road into the campground. Pay a day use fee and park in one of the day use parking spaces.
Driving directions (Google Maps) →Plan Your Visit to Red Reef East Trail
Heading to Red Reef East Trail? A few things to know before you go:
- Reservations: popular sites fill up fast — check Recreation.gov 6 months in advance
- Fees: day-use and camping fees vary; check current rates on the official park page
- Trash & pack-out: follow Leave No Trace principles
- Wildlife: store food in bear boxes where provided; never feed wildlife
- Weather: the 5-day forecast above is updated every 6 hours; verify just before you go
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a reservation for Red Reef East Trail?
No central reservation system listed for Red Reef East Trail. Check the official page (https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/257100) for the latest entry policy and availability.
How do I get to Red Reef East Trail?
Red Cliffs Recreation Area – From I-15 Exit 22* (northbound only), turn right onto the frontage road at the end of the freeway off-ramp. Travel south approximately 2 miles. Turn right just past the sign for the Red Cliffs Recreation Area. Proceed under the two freeway tunnels, and follow the paved road into the campground. Pay a day use fee and park in one of the day use parking spaces. *From I-15…
How do I contact Red Reef East Trail?
You can reach the park at phone: 435-688-3200 or email: utsgmail@blm.gov.
References & Official Resources
