The Desert Rat

The Desert Rat Purveyor of quality outdoor gear. CAMP • HIKE • CLIMB in comfort, safety and style!

Come learn about recent developments in the backpacking world, awesome new gear and how you can streamline your kit to m...
09/08/2026

Come learn about recent developments in the backpacking world, awesome new gear and how you can streamline your kit to make your time in the backcountry even more enjoyable!

Jason Livingston brings more than 30 years of experience in the outdoor industry, including 15 years as an MSR representative for the Rocky Mountain region, where he was named Rep of the Year in 2007. An avid backpacker and bikepacker, Jason has extensive firsthand experience exploring the deserts and mountains of Utah and throughout the Western U.S., including the Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, Glacier, the Tetons, Wind River Range, Sawtooths, and San Juan Mountains. As the current Rocky Mountain representative for Liberty Mountain, Jason combines decades of outdoor-industry expertise with extensive backcountry experience, making him a trusted and knowledgeable source for backpacking gear, techniques, and advice.

This is a completely free clinic 😊 Come with questions for Jason!

08/31/2026

Lots of great events to attend in September!

September 11, 2026, 7 pm at The Desert Rat - “So You Want to be a Canyoneer.” - With canyoneering expert Kristin Draper from . Come learn what it takes to get into the addicting sport of canyoneering safely! Free Clinic!

September 17, 2026, 7 pm at The Desert Rat - Modern Backpacking - With industry expert and Liberty Mountain rep Jason Livingston. Jason has over 20 years of experience working in the outdoor industry at companies like MSR and Liberty Mountain, and has spent hundreds of nights in the great outdoors. Come learn about new innovations in the backpacking world and how to improve your set up. Free Clinic!

September 18 - 19, 2026, various locations - The Second St George Climbing Festival - It’s gonna be rad!!! Come learn from great instructors, have a great time, win awesome prizes, and connect with the local climbing community. Tickets available at www.stgclimbfest.com . Use code THERAT for a 10% discount.

September 25, 2026, 7 pm at The Desert Rat - Build your Perfect First Aid Kit - Taught by expert Keith Farrar - longtime law enforcement and first aid instructor. Free Clinic!

08/31/2026

Parts of the Desert Rat Labor Day Sale start today!!! If you’ve been looking for a great deal on shoes, now is the time 👊 Our full sale starts on Friday!

Discounts cannot be combined and are limited to in-store purchases only.

08/14/2026

PAKA Apparel is a Peru-founded outdoor brand that combines the natural performance of alpaca fiber with the centuries-old textile traditions of the Andes. Its products are made in Peru in partnership with local Quechua weavers, helping preserve traditional weaving techniques while providing meaningful work and fair compensation to the communities that make its products. What makes PAKA unique is that the connection to Peru is built directly into the product—from the alpacas and locally sourced materials to the hands of the weavers who help bring each piece to life, including the handwoven Inca ID found on many of its garments.

It may be a little warm still for some of the PAKA sweaters, but if you’re heading up into the mountains you’ll love the cozy feel and classic style 😊

07/03/2026

To celebrate the US’s 250th bday we’re putting everything in store on sale for 25% off July 3-5!!!

Happy 4th everyone!

Limited to in store availability. Cannot be combined with other offers.

06/30/2026

Join us for a fun evening sampling backpacking meals, snacks and beverages! Find out which meals you like best before heading into the backcountry!! We’ll have a raffle and prizes 😁

Come try great food and beverages from:
Peak Refuel
Foundation Outdoors
Mountain House
Good to Go
Roma’s Fabulous Freeze Dried Fruit
Cheesecake-Culture
Dirt Church Provisions
Micro Mini Farms
Skratch Labs

Last week, after nearly 17 years working at The Desert Rat, Dave Cornaby retired. And while we’re stoked for Dave and ex...
05/28/2026

Last week, after nearly 17 years working at The Desert Rat, Dave Cornaby retired. And while we’re stoked for Dave and excited about the increased time he’ll have to get out and play, we’re also really going to miss him and his beloved dog Ky here at the shop.

If you ever had the pleasure of working with Dave as an employee or being helped by him when you came into the shop you know that Dave was excellent at everything he did here. Dave spent a lot of time in the back making sure orders came in smoothly and got out onto the floor on time. He is an expert on all things backpacking and camping, and is extremely skilled at repairing damaged gear as well.

Most importantly, Dave is just an all-around great guy. Soft-spoken, and with no desire to be in the limelight, he’s a great friend with great stories and a default mode of just working hard at everything he does.

We will miss Dave tremendously here at the shop. Everyday that we come in, Jeremy and I are reminded that The Desert Rat wouldn’t be what it is today without all the dedicated hard work that Dave put into it.

We wish Dave the best of luck and enjoyment in retirement! Dave is an extremely good mountain biker (which many people don’t know about him) and we hope he’ll get to spend as much time out riding as he can! We also hope he’ll get to spend lots of wonderful evenings with friends and family at his cabin in the Uintas.

Thanks for everything you and Ky have done for us and the outdoor community Dave!

05/24/2026

If you want a fantastic instant coffee option, coffee is the way to go! Tiny packets that are perfect for backpacking trips or just busy mornings, these are awesome! Insane attention to detail in the brewing and freeze-drying processes makes for amazing, easy to make coffee for you 👊 Each pack comes with ten individual packets, and we have four different flavors for you to choose from!

05/21/2026

The Light Ranger 1200! This makes car camping so much nicer! Adjustable brightness up to 1200 lumens. It will illuminate a 60 foot diameter, and has a telescoping pole that can go from 3-9 feet. It has a 3.75 hour run time on max, and 80 hours on minimum!

05/21/2026

The Desert Rat Memorial Day Sale starts tomorrow!!! (5/22 - 5/25/2026)! Come get amazing deals and talk climbing, camping, hiking and canyoneering with the local experts 👊

Offers cannot be combined and are for in store purchases only.

Address

172 N Bluff Street
Saint George, UT
84770

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 7pm
Tuesday 8am - 7pm
Wednesday 8am - 7pm
Thursday 8am - 7pm
Friday 8am - 7pm
Saturday 8am - 6pm
Sunday 10am - 4pm

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