Located in Washington County

Leeds, Utah

This area has the longest growing season in all of Utah

Elevation:

3,481′

Population:

871 (2022)

Name & History

This area was settled in 1967 and the community was named in honor of Leeds, England. Simultaneous to the growth of Leeds came the boom of the adjacent mining town Silver Reef which for nearly a decade was the largest town in the area. As the mining played out Silver Reef became a ghost town, but Leeds had established itself by constructing an irrigation canal that fed the fields and orchards of the town. At an elevation of 3,481' and with a semi-arid climate, but a long growing season, Leeds had a reputation for growing fruit and sorghum. Main Street in Leeds is still home to many buildings that date back to the 1800s, with approximately 15 historic houses still standing.

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CCC Camp

During the Great Depression, like many places around the country, Leeds was a base for an office of the Civilian Conservation Corp. Often referred to as the "Pick and Shovel Soldiers" workers in the CCC were mostly men ages 18-25 who worked under the direction of the U.S. Forest Service to complete projects in the area. The Leeds CCC camp still has four rock structures that are standing and are part of a historic site at the southern end of the town. Most CCC camp buildings were constructed of wood while several buildings in Leeds were created from rocks recovered from the nearby Silver Reef mining town and, as a result, this is the only CCC camp in Utah that still has standing structures.

Visitor Resources

Leeds has a small grocery store, one restaurant, and several vacation rental options, however the closest fuel, additional restaurants, or major shops are in nearby La Verkin, Hurricane, or St. George.

Photo gallery

Views & Terrain

Leeds is situated alongside Interstate 15 just north of Hurricane, Utah and much of the town structures lie between red and white rock uplifts and cliffs on the west and mounded hills on the east. Pine Valley Mountain towers above the area at over 10,000' feet on the west and Leeds has views to vast plateaus and monoliths in the east toward Zion National Park, perfect for hiking in Utah.

Nearby Attractions:

Silver Reef Ghost Town

Just next door to Leeds, this was a mining boomtown during the mid 1870's to 1880's. Indeed, during this period Silver Reef was larger than St. George or any of the communities of the region. This is said to be the only place in America where Silver was found within sandstone rock. Silver Reef was home to miners, shopkeepers, saloon owners, and all of the needed support services. While this area is now expanding as a community for homes, there are many old structures, and mining remnants that still remain, along with a small museum and an outbuilding, that are open to the public, and provide displays and art depicting life in this historic mining town. (www.silverreefutah.org)

Red Cliffs Recreation Area

South of Leeds, just a couple of miles, is a unique campground and hiking area that is situated among dramatic sandstone cliffs and canyons. At Red Cliffs Recreation Area you'll find old historic homes, old movie sets, Native American rock art, and even dinosaur prints. Access to this area is from the frontage road at Harrisburg, directly south of Leeds, and through a short tunnel that passes under Interstate 15. This area, managed by the BLM has a day use fee and a camping fee for those staying overnight and provides stunning hiking opportunities in Utah. Learn more here.

Toquerville Falls

Swing north from Leeds up Interstate 15 to the next exit and turn south a few miles down Highway 17 to Toquerville, Utah. The first major road going left (east) is Spring Dr. and this leads east into a wide canyon where Toquerville Falls is found. Be advised that this is a very rough dirt and rock (sharp) road, and should be traveled by vehicles with good clearance and off-road multi-ply tires. This is a beautiful oasis where the waters of La Verkin Creek cascade in two levels over coarse rock formations in an otherwise dry and somewhat inhospitable environment.

Babylon Arch

This hiking trail in Utah leads through rough red rock formations toward the Virgin River and one of the highlights of this trek is a view of a small arch at the base of sandstone cliffs. To get here, go north of Leeds, turn right (south) on 900 N. Road, and follow this dirt road approximately 4 miles to the trailhead. Be advised that this road can be rutted and should only be traveled in dry weather by vehicles with good clearance.

Other Nearby Attractions:

- Sand Hollow State Park and Quail Creek State Park, two of Utah’s state parks

- Hiking Trails

- Mountain Biking Trails

- Gooseberry Mesa

- Smith Mesa

- Silver Reef Ghost Town

- Grafton Ghost Town

- Zion National Park

Activities

Area outfitters provide many options such as...

- ATV/UTV Rentals and guided experiences

- Road cycle rentals and mountain biking in Utah

- Watercraft (jet-skis, kayaks, paddleboard rentals) on nearby Sand Hollow and Quail Creek State Parks

Nearby Attractions

lodging

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dining

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Shopping

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Transportation

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Seasons

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Nearby

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