This week’s Sunday Drive features a trek to a fantastic place for a short hike with the kids, the Children’s Forest at the Kiln.
The Children’s Forest at the Kiln features a short nature walk with interpretive signs created by local school children. The signs describe the different plants, trees, and shrubs found along the trail.
At the end of the trail stands the Leeds Creek Kiln, built around 1885 to support the nearby mining community of Silver Reef. The kiln was designed by Italian stone masons and silver miners, according to local legend, and was used to make charcoal from the surrounding pinion pine and juniper trees.
The charcoal would then be transported to Silver Reef to be used in the silver mining process by keeping the smelters at a consistent temperature in order to separate the mined silver from the sandstone.
The combination of a bit of local history and information on the local plant life and a spectacular hike among the pinion pines and juniper trees of the Dixie National Forest make for a great way to spend an afternoon with the kids.
Directions: To get to the Children's Forest at the Kiln parking lot from I-15, take southbound Exit 23 (Leeds/Silver Reef) and then turn right/west onto Silver Reef Road; or from northbound I-15 take Exit 22 and follow State Route 228 (Main St. through Leeds) for 1.7 miles, and turn left/west onto Silver Reef Road. After 0.7 miles the road name changes to Oak Grove Road. It crosses a creek and turns to gravel at 1.5 miles. At mile 2.1 bear right staying on Oak Grove Road, and at mile 4.2 park at the Children's Forest parking lot.
National Forest Service Article on the Children’s Forest: https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/dixie/recreation/hiking/recarea/?recid=71134&actid=50
Silver Reef Historical Society Article: http://www.silverreefutah.org/HISTORIC-CHARCOAL-KILN---WALKING-TRAIL.html
A St. George News article on the Children’s Forest: https://www.stgeorgeutah.com/news/archive/2015/10/13/jla-explore-historic-kiln-and-forest-treasure-at-the-childrens-forest/#.YlJXrG7MKw0
An article from a local hiking blog: https://hikestgeorge.com/hiking-trails/childrens-forest-at-the-kiln/
Washington County Historical Society Article on the Children’s Forest at the Kiln https://wchsutah.org/miscellaneous/childrens-forest.php
