Hildale is a rural desert community on the Utah-Arizona border
Hildale is a rural community in the desert of southern Utah. The Utah-Arizona border runs through the area, and the twin town of Colorado City is just over the Arizona border. The area has a charged history related to Mormon fundamentalist groups having a strong hand in government, social and family affairs throughout the community. However, new leadership is changing the town's trajectory. Hildale now offers a growing real estate market surrounded by scenic canyons, hiking trails and outdoor activities in Zion National Park, about 50 miles away. "It has beautiful mountain views that are absolutely stunning," says Heidi Kapscsos, Realtor at eXp Realty, who grew up in Hildale and has sold homes in the area for over 10 years. "There are a lot of vacation rentals that bring people to the area. People stay here because of its proximity to Zion National Park and our other attractions."
Spacious desert-style homes on red-dirt roads with juniper trees
Juniper trees shade Hildale's red-dirt properties below the wide-open desert sky. Many houses rest along gravel roads with fenced-in yards surrounded by canyon views. Architectural styles include spacious New Traditional and ranch-style homes on desert-friendly xeriscape lots. Prices range from $340,000 to $750,000. The average single-family home size is about 3,700 square feet, significantly more than the national average of around 1,900. "Most people want an acre, but it's becoming more popular for developers to build on quarter-acre parcels because there's so much public land and limited inventory," Kapscsos says. "It's more rural, so you can bring horses or side-by-sides," Kapscsos says, referring to the number of off-road vehicles in the area.
Scenic trails and iconic parks with sandstone formations
Water Canyon Trailhead is the beginning of a 3-mile hike through a red-sandstone canyon along a creek. The 1.5-mile El Capitan Trail gains 2,000 feet of elevation and leads to a peak overlooking the valley. Maxwell Park is a grassy space with a baseball diamond and a playground, surrounded by towering red rock formations. About 50 miles away, Zion National Park has world-famous summits, hikes, driving routes and sandstone formations carved by the Virgin River.
Due to Hilldale’s topography and infrastructure, heavy rainfall can cause flash flooding along waterways like Short Creek. Rainfall can also cause landslide debris due to the steep canyon terrain. Wildfires are common due to dry conditions, which are common across southern Utah.
Organic dairy products and natural wines reflect the rural charm
Hildale has several restaurants, wineries and markets. Blue Agave serves burritos, margaritas and homemade salsa on a red-brick patio for outdoor seating. The Water Canyon Winery serves charcuterie boards and natural wines in an outdoor space surrounded by vineyards and canyon views. "People drive to Hildale for the winery. It's my favorite restaurant because everything they have is fresh and delicious," Kapcsos says. Hildale's main supermarket is locally owned Bee's Marketplace, which operates in Colorado City. There are also markets like the Finney Farm Dairy and Country Store, which has a wide variety of frozen yogurt, raw milk and cheese from locally sourced cattle. "My aunt runs the Finney Farm Dairy company," Kapcsos says. "It has all-organic goods, made with the cows on their farm. It's been open for years, and it's expanding to St. George."
Open enrollment and a career center with dual credit
In the St. George area, the Washington County School District has an open-enrollment program that allows students to attend schools outside their designated attendance zone. Water Canyon School serves prekindergarten through sixth grade and receives a C-plus grade from Niche. Water Canyon High School, also rated C-plus, offers concurrent enrollment with Utah Tech University and Dixie Technical College, which includes classes for EMS certifications and construction training.
SR-59 connects to St. George and a regional airport
Utah state Route 59 runs through town and leads to nearby cities such as St. George, about 40 miles west. For further trips, the St. George Regional Airport offers direct flights to Denver, Salt Lake City and Los Angeles. Colorado City has a health clinic, but the nearest emergency room is the Hurricane Emergency Department at Intermountain Health, about 25 miles north.
