ST. GEORGE — A remote trailhead near Diamond Valley may soon be renovated after a public comment period closes later this month.
With the Pine Valley Mountains as a backdrop to the area, the Lava Ridge Trailhead is located just east of Diamond Valley, an unincorporated community in Washington County about three miles north of St. George on state Route 18. While the trailhead is not inside the boundaries of the Red Cliffs National Conservation Area, it serves trails that lead into the conservation area. The trailhead is on land managed by the Bureau of Land Management.
The trailhead renovations would include an expanded parking space to accommodate 15-20 cars, a new three-rail wooden fence and a steel informational kiosk. The existing fence gate will be removed as part of the renovations.
According to the Red Cliffs website, the Lava Ridge Trailhead is used by hikers for the Alger Hollow trail and by equestrians to access other trails that loop through the National Conservation Area. In addition to improving the area for recreation use, the purpose of renovating the trailhead is to “increase awareness and recognition of the (National Conservation Area) through design elements,” according to an environmental impact study on the trailhead improvements by the BLM.
The public comment period ends May 21. Comments may be mailed, hand-delivered or faxed. The BLM will not consider comments received through telephone calls, email or online. Written comments can be mailed to Teresa Burke at the BLM St. George Field Office, 345 E. Riverside Drive, St. George, UT 84790 or faxed to 435-688-3252.
If there are no valid objections to the improved trailhead, construction will be in September and October 2018.
Email: [email protected]
Twitter: @STGnews | @SpencerRicks
Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2018, all rights reserved.