All 4 Adventure: Mill Flat

Updated: The directions were updated and corrected on Oct. 4.

This is a difficult hike in many ways and will even be difficult for me to explain, but I love doing this hike and want to share this back country Pine Valley wilderness adventure.  

This is an on-foot or on-horse hike and is very much seasonal. It is best to do this hike in dry-weather and warm-weather conditions. It is impassible during the winter and early spring months.  

This hike is approximately 10 miles round trip in higher altitude. It is a moderately steep, rocky incline to a grassy spring fed meadow on top of Pine Valley mountain. It follows a trout-filled, small, spring-fed stream almost all the way to the top. It is pine- and aspen-covered trail with occasional wild berry and wild rose bushes along the way.

Directions:

Head north on Bluff Street out of St. George, several miles until you can turn right at the junction in Central East toward Pine Valley. I believe this is about 25 miles from St. George.  If you miss your right-hand turn, you will end up in Enterprise. After you have turned east, travel several more miles toward the town of Pine Valley. Just before you get to Pine Valley, you will see a right-hand bend (this is less than a half mile from the Pine Valley Cemetery). It has a sign that says "Grass Valley."

You will want to take this left-hand turn right before the right-hand bend onto the dirt road. Follow this road for a few miles, passing a few intersections. You will start to see a ranch off to the right in a box canyon with trees and a few houses, ponds etc. Continue north on the same main road you have been traveling on toward this ranch area. There will be a right-hand turn, taking you almost directly to that ranch that you can see. You will find a parking lot and a gate for walking, and horse access with a sign that says "Mill Flat and White Rocks Trail Head."  Take this trail. You will get to an intersection that says "Mill Flat right" or "White Rocks left." 

I prefer MIll Flat because it has running water and tall trees all the way up this trail. This is the Mill Flat trail. You will just stick with it for 5 miles up hill to a grassy meadow on the top. This is the Mill Flat on top of Pine Valley. You can pick up a map for the Pine Valley Reserve at the Dixie National Forest office in St. George.  

This hike is very strenuous; take lots of water, snacks and emergency supplies. It is wise to take a light jacket as the weather can change once you reach the higher altitudes of Pine Valley. I have experienced 80 degrees at the bottom and 40 degrees and hail at the top so it is best to be prepared when hiking on this mountain. Always make sure someone knows where you are and have fun with it.

For more info on this hike and other hikes e-mail me at [email protected].

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