Southern Utah is both the ancestral and current home of Reuben Wadsworth, aka “Ranger Reub.” He has extensively researched, explored, and written about Southern Utah history through his authorship of the St. George News “Days Series,” which is a historical feature series about interesting places within a four-hour drive of St. George. He compiled those articles into a book series entitled “Red Rock Recollections” Volume I and Volume II.

The son of a former Hurricane Canal ditch rider and the descendant of some of the Hurricane Canal builders, he is passionate about the canal’s history and enjoys sharing it with hikers. He regularly presents about the history of the region to audiences around Washington County.

Wadsworth’s day job is teaching middle schoolers U.S. history. He also teaches a U.S. history class every semester at Utah Tech University in St. George.

He is happy to answer any questions hikers have about the area’s scenery and history to help them better plan their trip. 

Hikers will have a more rewarding experience with a local guide like Ranger Reub who knows the area’s history and geography than they would by exploring it on their own.