New co-authored book offers local guide to trails in and around St. George

ST. GEORGE — As John Muir once said: “Of all the paths you take in life, make sure a few of them are dirt.”

Jeremy Gorzalski and Bo Beck, authors of “Favorite Hikes in and Around St. George,” St. George, Utah, June 2022 | Photo by Adele Park, St. George News

In scenic St. George, you don’t have to travel far to find a path that offers stunning scenery, petroglyphs, arches, fossils and countless breathtaking vistas.

To help people locate the best trailheads, Bo Beck and Jeremy Gorzalski have released a new book called “Favorite Hikes in and Around St. George.” This full-color publication offers maps and pertinent information such as the length and time it takes to hike a specific trail, potential hazards and elevation.

“Favorite Hikes In and Around St. George” is formatted like a book Bo Beck wrote with Tanya Milligan called “Favorite Hikes in and Around Zion National Park.” As an avid hiker and former member of the search and rescue team for Zion National Park, Beck has extensive knowledge of the terrain in Southern Utah.

Beck said there is a demand for local hiking books because this area is a mecca for outdoor adventures.

“It gives people an option of a hike to do,” he said. “If they want a short one, a friendly one, one that depicts archeology or possibly even paleontology.”

The front of the book lists 16 hikes along with a guide that indicates whether a trail is child friendly, features arches or bridges or is intended for technical climbers. A seasonal section of the book describes the average temperatures and the type of conditions and foliage hikers can expect to see. Tips on how to avoid potential hazards such as rattlesnakes, flash floods and extreme heat are also offered.

Jeremy Gorzalski has been an avid explorer of Southern Utah ever since relocating to the area in 2008. He said part of the reason they wrote the book was to educate the public about the proper etiquette of recreating outdoors.

“Everyone has noticed the impact that the increased use has had on the trails in the area,” Gorzalski said. “You see a lot of misuse – garbage left, toilet paper left, graffiti on the walls.”

As part of a “leave no trace” policy, “Favorite Hikes in and Around St. George” outlines ways people can be good stewards of public lands. This includes packing in all trash, staying on marked trails, and not treading on fragile cryptobiotic soil that is found in many places in Southern Utah. Gorzalski said one thing people should avoid doing is making their own cairns or piles of rocks marking trails.

Rock formation at Owen’s Loop Trail, St. George, Utah, June 2022 | Photo by Adele Park, St. George News

“Building unnecessary cairns is just going to get people lost,” Gorzalski said. “Additionally, moving rocks disturbs environments for insects, rodents and reptiles that live in those spots.”

While moving a single rock likely won’t make a huge impact, Gorzalski said it will if everyone does it, especially since this area is susceptible to erosion from rainstorms.

“Favorite Hikes in and Around St. George” is available for sale at the Desert Rat store in St. George as well as on Amazon.

Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2022, all rights reserved.

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