This post is about everything you need to know about hiking to the top of Mollies Nipple in Hurricane, Utah. I’ve outlined the must-know details, tips for having a great tip + my experience hiking to the top of the nip. It was so much fun!
Mollies Nipple Trail Summary
Trail Type: Out and back
Distance: 1.7 miles
Time: 2-4 hours total, depending on your physical fitness (it took me just over 2 hours and I hung out at the top for a while)
Difficulty: Hard (due to steep grade, loose gravel and scrambles)
What to bring: Hiking poles, water, sunglasses, comfortable hiking boots, long pants (to protect yourself from scrapes if you slip)
Finding the trailhead: Navigate to W 2500 S Street in Hurricane, Utah. If you’re seconds away from arriving and practically in someone’s backyard, you’re in the right place! When you turn onto W 2500 S, you’ll see an unmarked trailhead on the left-hand side. There’s a latched (unlocked) gate leading to the trail.
Best parts: Being able to say you hiked to the top of a nipple, the 10 out of 10 leg workout and the great views from the top!
Dog-Friendly?: When I hiked this trail, it was, but it appears it’s not anymore. Regardless, I think bringing your dog along would be unnecessarily dangerous for you both.
My thoughts: Would recommend
Tips for a Fun Hike
Check out these tips for hiking Mollies Nipple so you can have a perfect hike to the top!
- Check the weather before you head out. Regardless of temperature, I’d recommend wearing layers because there is no shade on the trail. If it’s a sunny day, you’re going to be exposed the entire hike.
- I would highly recommend AGAINST hiking Mollies Nipple Trail during or right after a rain shower. Much of the trail is loose gravel, which is slippery on even a dry day.
- The top of the butte is flat and pretty large, so bring a blanket and snacks for a picnic at the top!
- This is NOT the trail to bring out your newest pair of hiking boots. Wear the comfiest hiking boots you have, ideally ones with good ankle support
- Bring your hiking poles! If you don’t have any, I’d suggest buying some before tackling this trail. They’ll improve your traction on the slippery descent. If you have time to shop around, try Amazing Adventures Gear Shop in La Verkin. You can buy lightly used gear there for a decent discount!
By planning ahead, you’ll ensure you have the best possible hike. Want to hear about my experience so you have a better idea of what to expect? Keep reading!
Mollies Nipple Trail: To hike or not to hike?
I took a 6-week road trip with my dog to Utah in the spring of 2022. We stayed in La Verkin, neighboring the tourist city of Hurricane, about a half hour from St. George. Even though I remotely worked full-time, my intentions were to hike and explore as much as possible. I’m a big-time lover of hiking. We drove from our home in Michigan, which while beautiful in its own right, but Michigan is very flat. Definitely not a big hiking destination, that’s for sure.
As I drove around the Hurricane area, I often saw this huge, boob-shaped butte just outside of town. After some investigation, I learned it was called Mollies Nipple (way to go, Mollie!) and there was a hiking trail that lead to the top of it. AllTrails gave the trail a “hard” rating. Since I was traveling alone, I dismissed it because I wasn’t super comfortable taking on a challenging trail alone.
Finally, the last few days before my last weekend in Utah rolled around and tackling Mollies Nipple was still bouncing around in my head. I figured I drove all the way out here to hike and explore, so why wouldn’t I give a fun local trail my best shot? As soon as I decided to stop overanalyzing and start living, I drove to the local hiking shop, bought myself some hiking poles and asked for tips from a local. She said it was pretty hard, but doable.
This was going to be the last real hike of my trip. I decided I’d wake up early tomorrow morning a summit a nipple. Once I made myself the promise to try, I got super excited!
I checked the weather and a beautiful day was in the forecast. The only thing I needed to watch out for was wind, which was expected to pick up around 2 PM. If I started hiking at 8 AM, I planned to be back in the car at least a couple of hours before the wind started.
Pro Tip: If you’re new to hiking in Utah, the wind shouldn’t be ignored. As a Midwesterner, I learned that our “windy days” in Michigan don’t begin to compare to the wind in Utah. If the average windy day in Utah came about in Michigan, there would certainly be wind advisories out. It gets BREEZY.
Getting Up the Nip
The next morning, I eagerly packed some snacks and water, shared my live location with my mom and donned my go-to hiking gear. The drive to the butte was an easy one from La Verkin. The route weaved around the neighborhoods, eventually landing on a residential street. The trailhead is literally across the street from someone’s house. There was only one other car parked by the trailhead, which made me a little anxious.
I opened up the gate and began my summit! The first about two-thirds of the trail was very steep and covered in loose gravel. The last-minute purchase of hiking poles was LIFESAVING. I literally don’t know how successful I’d have been without them (especially on the way down).
Pretty much every step is a steep incline. The trail forked often, so it was sometimes difficult to tell the “right way” to go, but I’m convinced now that all the options would have still led me to the top. In a couple of places, I had to scramble, but it was very minimal. The two places were blocked by some large boulders that you have to crawl up, instead of walk.
Before you know it, just as your thighs begin screaming for a reprieve, the trail slightly levels out and you can see the peak. It only takes about 45 minutes of hustling to get there. The trail gets significantly easier in the homestretch! The last bit is getting to the top of the nipple-shaped peak.
Once you get to the top, you’ll enjoy the INCREDIBLE views of town in one direction and untouched desert canyons in another. The top of the butte is surprisingly large. There’s plenty of room to set up a little picnic and bask in the endorphins of a satisfying hike.
When I made it up there, I found a little old-school metal lunchbox with notes and knickknacks from other hikers. After I ate my snacks and took a ton of pictures, I left my own note in the box and started heading back down.
Descending Mollies Nipple
On the way up, I was thinking that just about anyone in decent physical condition could handle the hike. It was hard, but it wasn’t that hard. But on the way down I changed my mind. It was harder getting down than making it up. I fell on my butt at least half a dozen times.
The slippery, loose gravel on the steep decline provides virtually zero traction. Without hiking poles, I’m positive I’d have fallen at least twice as much. At first, it was kind of funny to me. By the end, I was cursing every time my ass slammed into the rocky trail. “GODDAMMIT, THIS IS RIDICULOUS.”
Aside from my throbbing tailbone, my feet were also suffering. My well-broken-in hiking boots weren’t the problem, rather the steep grade constantly had my toes pressing into the front of my boot so hard that my toenails ached.
It only took about 45 minutes to get back down, but Mollie gave me a proper beating, that’s for sure.
Despite being in literal pain, by the time I made it back to the car, I was on cloud nine. Mollies Nipple was definitely the most challenging, even if not the longest, hike I’ve ever done solo. I felt so empowered and strong.
My Takeaways From the Hike
If you’re on the fence about taking a chance and doing something outside your comfort zone alone, really consider giving it a try. It’s all about calculated risk. Take proper safety precautions (like sharing your location, checking the weather and packing appropriate gear). When you’re going out alone, research is essential to your success. Trekking out alone is NOT the time to just hope for the best.
And if you want to hike Mollies Nipple on your own, I’d highly recommend it. It’s a super fun, challenging trail. It’s only 2 miles, so it’s actually really short. Don’t let that fool you though – in those two miles, you gain over 1,200 ft in elevation. Take it slow, absolutely wear your best hiking boots and bring hiking poles and mentally prepare for falling on your butt on the way down.
If you love hiking and want a fun challenge, hike Mollies Nipple. It’ll take you 2-3 hours round trip and will be the best leg workout you’ve had…maybe ever.
Have you hiked Mollies Nipple? Please share your experience! Are you thinking about giving this trail a try? Feel free to ask questions!
Happy hiking,
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