Oak Grove Trail - East

The Oak Grove Recreation Area sits at the base of the peaks south of the Pine Valley Wilderness above Leeds, Utah. This dog- and family-friendly trail takes you along a relatively flat face of the mountain until it slowly climbs for some great lookouts. There are several freshwater springs and small bridges that cross over them along the trail including Columbine Springs, Spring Creek and Dan Springs. This trail continues on for quite a few miles around a few bends and heads down into the eastern lowlands. The views at sunset are spectacular and overlook a classic desert landscape. There is a picnic table and backcountry campsite about a quarter mile in. Feel free to bring the dogs; this isn't a dangerous trail, and it is often cooler than the hot desert below thanks to the elevation. You might see some waterfalls if you do this hike in the early spring, but most of them are dry for much of the year.

There is a campground, dispersed camping, and several trails in the vicinity, which makes it a great self-contained adventure stop. This trail heads out near the end of the road, just before the campground. To the west is the steep trail to Signal Peak, but heading out east takes you along the face of the mountain in a much more gradual trail. The views are here are awesome: You can see the bowl of mountains to the west and north as well as down to Zion National Park and the towns of Hurricane and Leeds to the east. While it can get crowded on the weekend, this area is a lot less popular than many other attractions in the area, and it offers a nice mix of camping and hiking opportunities.