Beat the heat in the Summer

 Cedar Breaks is about an hour and half drive from Desert Cliffs.  This park offers you the chance to stand above 10,000 feet on a cliff edge surrounded by lush forests and flower-covered meadows looking into a desert amphitheater 2,500 feet deep, covered with incredible, multi-colored hoodoos.  The weather is BEAUTIFUL in the summer months

Besides the sheer beauty of the area, the constant cool temperatures make Brian Head Resort an ideal hiking destination. When the deserts are hitting 110°, the Resort rarely exceeds 70°. The coolness is a welcome relief, making a shady hike a pleasure to savor.

 This trail offers a gradual winding descent through a variety of scenic delights; lush meadows, bubbling springs, dense forest, and the famous Southern Utah Red Rock Vistas

This pic was taken  June 19th, and yes it was a chilly morning.:)

This hike in Pine Valley winds through a lush area of Aspen trees, pines and past a delightful stream, reaching a plateau section at 9.200 ft.

Corkscrew falls

The Narrows, recently ranked as #5 on National Geographic’s list of America’s Best 100 Adventures.  This trail will have you hiking up streams through dramatic, narrow slot canyons.

Moss Canyon

Snow found in June on our whipple trail

We have so much to enjoy in the Summer! 

Hike out of your comfort zone

Here at Desert Cliffs,  we know that most people love to be fit, and/or want to lose weight, and we are convinced that our signature hikes are THE way to do both.  We started our hiking program because hiking is One of the BEST workouts out there.  Hiking not only gives the body a natural shock that needs to take place in order to lose weight, but then we will continue to hike hours longer so the body can go into a fat burning mode.  Muscle is built while hiking, because you are naturally using all of your muscles for balance, scrambling, and climbing.
We offer hikes for each of guests and their individual needs, and we are able to accomodate anyone no matter what their fitness level is, but we promise to give your body an ALL body workout without entering a gym! 
Today I was reminded how incredibly powerful our program is when I took Stéphane hiking.  We started out on an advanced hike called the Volcano.......and might I add, that our guest Ken who is at a different level,  made us VERY proud when he conquered this mighty hike today!!!  Volcano is a 6 mile intense hike, and overlooks Snow Canyon.  We finished this hike in record time, and then headed 30 miles North for a cooler hike in Pine Valley.  We hiked Mill Flat trail which is 8 miles.  On the way back, I was feeling it, and I was so proud of our program, because I knew that this feeling I was having was what is needed for change, and I knew I could NOT get this feeling from a gym because I would have stopped sooner because I could.....try stopping 3 miles before you get to the end on a hike....not possible, you have to make it back to the van.:)  The last mile Stéphane decided to run, and I wasn't going to let him get a GREAT workout without me, so I ran with him:).  we ran it under 7 minutes!  I LOVE when I am reminded why we are here, why we do this, our hikes are INCREDIBLE, and they contribute greatly to changing MANY lives, so come on out, and .....TAKE A HIKE!!!!

What makes us Stronger?

Each week we are told by our guests that they want to get 'Stronger'. What makes us stronger? Most of our guests here at Desert Cliffs stay at our spa for an average of 1 to 2 weeks, and in that time they are able to become stronger not only physically, but mentally and emotionally.

 PHYSICALLY... While at Desert Cliffs, our guests will push their bodies farther than they thought they could, because when they are hiking, there really is no other option than to finish the hike. We do not have to take our guests to the gym, because the outdoors can give us every thing the gym does plus more. Our interval hikes can be highly sophisticated and structured and designed for each hiker based upon his or her level of fitness. Interval training works both the aerobic and the anaerobic system, and as a result the body is using oxygen to convert stored carbohydrates into energy, and our guests are able to eventually hike at a higher intensity for a longer period of time before fatigue or pain slows them down, therefore becoming physically stronger.

MENTALLY... Our guests hike for a longer duration and a higher intensity than they are usually used to, and this increased activity done outdoors will do wonders on their mental health. During strenuous physical activity the brain releases endorphins, and when these endorphins are released, they cause a sense of well-being. This release, in turn, results in reduced stress and anxiety and an overall improvement in mood. The mind is a powerful thing, and while we are out hiking with our guests, many times they tell us that they think that they have hit their limit, and when we can help them get through a little more, they realize that they have mentally been holding themselves back. Many of our guests come to our spa and go home and sign up for a race, a hike, a rock climbing trip, a bike ride, or an excursion that they never imagined themselves doing because they accomplished more than they thought possible with us, and became mentally stronger.

EMOTIONALLY... We have many different personalities that come to our Spa, and not all personalities mesh, but the one thing that we see on the mountain is that our guests begin to express their frustrations, disappointments, anger, and negative energy in a positive way. While on a hike, our guests are helping each other through some tough spots, whether it is a guest who is afraid of heights, or a guest who is unsure of their footing, the comradery from the group is a feeling of support and acceptance. Hiking is a positive experience, and there is an energy that is felt among everyone, and this improves self confidence, self-esteem, and usually gives us better insight resulting in becoming stronger emotionally.

So, does hitting our breaking point make us stronger?.....YES it does!!

MOTHERS DAY RETREAT

Why Mothers Deserve to come to Desert Cliffs Hiking Spa

Mothers deserve to be served beautiful, delicious, healthy meals.

  Mothers deserve to be able to come with their daughters and strenghten the relationship they have with their children.

  Mothers deserve the peace that being in Nature brings.

  Mothers deserve to challenge themselves physically and mentally.

 Mothers are beautiful, and deserve to hike in the most beautiful areas in the world!

Mother's deserve  to have a good time and fine tune their bodies.

Mother's deserve to feel ready to conquer the world after spending a week at our Hiking Spa.

Mother's deserve to feel empowered when they accomplish things they never imagined they would.

Mothers deserve to just have FUN!!!          

Mothers deserve to reconnect with friends, and meet other friends that will last a lifetime.

Desert Cliffs HIKING Spa

We have been known as Desert cliffs fitness Spa, and Desert Cliffs Hiking
Spa since we opened, but after so many successful 'Extreme Hiking' weeks, we
have decided to focus solely on Hiking.
We have guests each week with different goals in fitness, weight loss, and
health, but the ONE thing they all have in common is their LOVE for our hikes.
We have blown people away by the diversity in our hikes, and we can hike every
day of the week because of all the different locations, and altitudes around us.
Here are a few different areas we go to when the weather is a little too hot, or
a little too chilly.....Zion National Park, Cedar Breaks, Pine Valley Mountain,
Kannaraville, Valley of Fire to name a few. Most of the days we can stay around
our area here and experience beauty beyond what people expect. We now take our
guests out early in the morning and hike all day, eating lunch out on the
mountain. Our hikes are different every single day, some will consist of two
separate hikes, and some will be one long beautiful hike. We cater to every
level because we have excellent guides that understand that each guest is at his
or her own level. Some of our guests will travel an easier path while some will
climb every peak available. And we are always very proud of them when they get
back to the van.
After an exhausting but incredible hike, we will provide a stretch for our
guests, and then many will choose to jump in the hot tub or pool until
dinnertime.
We are so excited for this small change we are doing, it may not be much
different from what we were originally doing, but it sets us apart and allows us
to do exactly what we LOVE to do. So get out of the gym, and hike the weight
off. Take a break from being inside, and join us on the mountain, and 'Take a
Hike!'
Of course we still have access to a beautiful gym that a lot of our guests
choose to still attend the early morning classes, or head over after dinner and
get a workout in, we will not keep you from working out more.:) There is a
beautiful indoor/outdoor pool that many of our guests swear keeps them from
tightening up and becoming too sore to hike the next day.
I can't leave you without some incredible pictures from our hikes......

From our Incredible Hiking Director Cindy........

My humble journey with hiking started many years ago when we first moved to So. Utah. A good friend of my oldest son remembered me when a hiking guide opportunity became available at a little known establishment called The Body Shop Spa. Over time they evolved, as did I; and I landed happily and gratefully at Desert Cliffs. And I must say that from that very first day of strapping on a camelback and cinching on a good pair of Keen hiking sandals there has not been a morning when I havent uttered a prayer of gratitude that I was hiking another day. And my gratitude always included thanks for the great people that would come and stay and "play" with us.(working hard was the point...but we had fun doing it!!!) I soon discovered that there was rarely a hiker that couldnt be persuaded to move and hike just by the beauty or energy that our red rock can inspire. It has been my joy and my great privileged to spend a few hours a day with some of the most lovely people gracing this planet and sharing with them all there is to love here in Southern Utah. Hiking with Desert Cliffs has brought me more dear friendships, health benefits-both mental and physical, and deep pleasure than I can count or could have dreamed of. It may come as a surprise...but Im a women of few words...and heartfelt emotional words are the most difficult of all. I am leaving Desert Cliffs with such a profound feeling of sadness and a broken heart. My "bosses"--John and Leanne are family. We've been through thick and thin together. We share the same dreams and passions. We "get" each other and I love them. And the same can be said for our amazing hiking guides- my partners in crime...Nick and Cheryl and the recently departed Melanie! ....not to mention dear Lynette and Kim at the house!!! Oh how it hurts to part from ones family. There will be a void in my life when I pull out of here and head north. A void that feels unquenchable, resembling the feeling I had on that dang North Rim Trail of the Grand Canyon!! I will try to fill it with hope, and grandbaby #8, and learning new hikes as I brave the cold of the northern regions. I know I'll be returning to St George often...for I have adorable grandchildren living here...and as I have repeatedly told our guests...this desert gets in ones blood, never to leave the heart again. My heart will long for my red rock, the divine blue skies and the guests that return here feeling the same way I do about this place. For you must know that there is absolutely nothing like a good hike with great people under Desert Cliffs tutelage!! How grateful I am for the opportunity I've had working for Desert Cliffs...my dream job. We are a small band of folks who are committed to serving and helping our guests to have the best experiences possible here in the St George area. We've got a good thing going here with amazing cooks, guides and staff!! And I was nothing but blessed to be a part of it!! Thank you all for enriching my life in so many ways!!!

A tough Goodbye

This lady is an Angel.....I hate goodbyes and I am not good at them either. I am still pretending this is not happening, and I am trying let someone go who is and has been our #1 supporter of Desert Cliffs since the beginning. I can not express in words how much of an impact this woman has been on me and my husband since we decided to start Desert Cliffs. She is my 'Rock'. She is easy to talk to, she LOVES everyone, and she has taught me so much about being an honest, true, real person. I value her opinion and her advice in everything. I KNOW our past guests of Desert Cliffs will feel great sadness to not see her smiling, welcoming smile when they come back to visit. She makes a connection with people instantly and has an amazing love that EVERYONE can feel radiate from her, and when our guests leave at the end of their stay, they have a BEST friend for life. She is an amazing lady, and has sooooo much to offer the world, I guess I can be content with the fact that I KNOW wherever she goes, she will again be an angel in someone else's life. LOVE YOU CINDY!! Many people in Logan Utah will soon be so grateful you were sent into their lives! This is a post Cindy recently put on her blog (I am so grateful I can still read her incredible words because of her blog) http://www.cinhiker.blogspot.com :

"It turns out that this photo was taken on my last 'official' hike for Desert
Cliffs.Good 'ol Awesome Chasm.I didnt have a clue at the time that it
was my last. But if I had, I dont think I could have appreciated its beauty
any more than I did at that moment. Everyday that I hiked was a gift and a
blessing and a treasure. Every hikebrought peace, health and an appreciation
of the beauties of this world and the people in it.Every hike built
friendships as our feet carried us through the desert, forits a well proven
fact that hiking and talking are a perfect match. And talkingand sharing
one's life with others is cathartic, cleansing and good forones mental
health not to mention ones waist line. Im so glad that I weedled myself into
this shot. Im gratefulthat Cheryl took it. It will be poinient memory for
me from here on out.Trying to 'recap' my hiking career with Fitness
Ridge and then for Desert Cliffs will be like trying explain the color
blue.Trying to express in words what hiking and meeting the amazing folks I
have been blessed to meet would be as difficult as explaining all the hues of
red in the desert.Trying to express my emotions and gratitude for my hiking
guides and my bosses- who are more like family- for their friendships and
companionship on the trails is nearly an almost impossible task.Having the
best gig on the planet..working for the best people and meeting the best people
was heaven on earth. Here's hoping I can find heaven elsewhere somehow, some
way.Here's hoping I find blessings in some other form.... somewhere.... " posted by http://www.facebook.com/messages/577906759#!/profile.php?id=1521266580Cindy Stephenson