If you find yourself in the Zion NP/Saint George area of Utah and need an outstanding half day adventure, I highly recommend checking out the Yant Flat area. Nestled in the foothills of the Pine Valley Mountains, Yant Flat trail leads to a scenic overlook of Utah’s Candy Cliffs. The Candy Cliffs are a mix between Zion’s Checkerboard Mesa and the famous Wave formation. It’s certainly worth the drive and short hike to the viewpoint.
What are the Candy Cliffs?
As mentioned, the Candy Cliffs area is very much akin to both the Wave and Checkerboard Mesa formations of southern Utah. However, because Yant Flat is not a fee area, and no lottery is required, exploration of the Candy Cliffs region is a matter of simply driving the graded forest road to access the trail. Yant Flat is perched at the base of the Pine Valley Mountains, is elevated, and thus provides a spectacular view of not only the Candy Cliffs, but the entire area east of the town of Leeds.
The Candy Cliffs are a breathtaking arrangement of undulating rocks, spires, and cliffs that are brilliant shades of red, pink and orange depending on the time of day and angle of the sun. The area seems small at first glance, but encompasses many acres and can provide a few hours of splendid exploration if you so choose.
The Yant Flat Hike
To get to Yant Flat, take FR-031 from the town of Leeds. From the parking area/trailhead, hike east on the well-worn path. This trail is also named on some maps as Anna’s View Point Trail. The route is somewhat interesting, providing close up looks at numerous species of cacti and typical sage and juniper forest sights. After roughly 1.5 miles, hikers will arrive at Anna’s Viewpoint area. Spread out before you is the Candy Cliffs area in all its glory. There are no official trails here, so explore in whatever direction your heart desires. A word of caution: some areas of the Candy Cliffs are steeper than they appear; move slowly and turn around if you don’t like the angle you are on. A slip on steep slickrock can quickly wreck an entire day (or even worse, an entire trip!).
When you are finished exploring, head back the way you came. The total mileage can range anywhere from about 3 (out and back to the viewpoint) or many more miles based on how much of the zone you want to explore. The trail can be busy on weekends, especially from April through October, but this place provides more solace than Zion NP to the east.
Overall, this is a great trail for hikers of all ages and abilities. Yant Flat is easily accessible, and part of America’s amazing collection of public lands. Bring sunscreen, a good pair of hiking shoes or boots, and your camera. It’s nearly impossible to take a bad photo in a place this gorgeous.