Valentine Peak

Valentine Peak rises above Parowan on the west edge of the Markagunt Plateau, close enough to town that the trailhead sits right next to the cemetery — no 4x4 required to get there. From the summit, the view opens across the city grid, the surrounding mountains, and the sandstone hoodoos scattered through the foothills below.

What to expect

• About 1,900 feet of elevation gain over the climb, with steep sections and some loose, slippery ground near the top
• Several benches and folding chairs placed along the route by locals, a small but distinctive touch for a backcountry-adjacent trail
• Best conditions run February through October; this is Forest Service land, so dogs off leash are common

Because it's a front-country peak on the edge of the Dixie National Forest, Valentine Peak sees steady local traffic year-round, unlike the more remote summits deeper in the plateau's backcountry.