A 62,000-acre (20 miles wide and 6 miles deep) scenic wildlife reserve established in 1996, and set aside to federally protect the desert tortoise and other rare and sensitive plants and animals from human encroachment in Utah's rapidly growing Washington County.The Reserve merges three ecosystems: the Mojave Desert, the Great Basin, and the Colorado Plateau. The area is biologically rich with a variety of animals and plants that are rarely seen in one place. The Reserve contains the Mojave Desert Tortoise, Gila monster, sidewinder rattlesnake, and chuckwalla… reptiles typically associated with hotter and more southerly deserts, like the Mojave.
The Reserve protects a large, diverse, and functional expanse of habitat capable of sustaining wildlife populations threatened by rapid development and habitat loss across Washington County in the St. George area. Located immediately adjacent to several growing communities, the Reserve also protects the cities’ scenic red rock backdrop.
The Reserve is northerly of Ivins, Santa Clara, St. George and Washington City, south of Leeds, and westerly of Hurricane and LaVerkin. The Reserve is trisected by Highway 18 in the west and I-15 in the east. There are many access points and trails for recreational opportunities within the Reserve.
