A St. George community
Living in Desert Canyons
Desert Canyons is a large master-planned community (a community built to one big plan) on the southeast side of St. George.
LocationSE St. George, Southern Parkway by the airport
Homes for sale in Desert Canyons
No active listings today
Tell me what you are looking for, and I will watch for it
Right now every village under the Desert Canyons name is between listings. That includes the S&S Homes single-family villages in Desert Cliffs and Desert Reserve, Salisbury's Desert Providence townhomes, and the Desert Bluff and Desert Vista phases. When one lists, it shows up on the St. George homes for sale page.
I watch the Washington County MLS for every village in this master plan off the Southern Parkway, near the airport. I follow the single-family homes and the townhomes alike. Want a single-family lot in Desert Cliffs or Desert Reserve? Or an attached townhome in Desert Providence, Desert Bluff, or Desert Vista? The site watches the MLS for you and emails you when one lists.
Or shop St. George by budget
Shop one neighborhood
Some neighborhoods inside Desert Canyons have a page of their own, where their own listings lead.
Listing information comes from the Washington County Board of Realtors MLS and is deemed reliable but not guaranteed.
Part 1 of 3
Desert Canyons and the homes
Life in Desert Canyons and Homes & builders
Life in Desert Canyons
What a day by the airport looks like
In shortIt spreads along the Southern Parkway by the regional airport, and it has its own parkway and astronomy-themed street names. It broke ground in 2012 and is still filling in with newer single-family villages and townhome communities.
Desert Canyons is one of the last big master-planned communities inside St. George city limits. It runs along the Southern Parkway, State Route 7, on the southeast side of town, just below the St. George Regional Airport. The developer broke ground in 2012, and newer homes have filled in steadily since. Its main road is its own Desert Canyons Parkway, and the street names have a fun astronomy theme.
The feel here is open and new. You are in high desert on the edge of the city, with big sky and red rock and lava rock all around. The Southern Parkway is close, and it takes you to Interstate 15 one way and the airport the other. Desert Canyons is a master plan, not one subdivision. Different builders work here, so you will find different kinds of homes under the one name: single-family homes in some villages, attached townhomes in others.
Desert Canyons is its own community, separate from Desert Color. Desert Color is the lagoon community farther southeast, toward the Arizona line. The two are neighbors on the same parkway and easy to mix up, but they are different developments with different developers. Desert Color has its own page.
Homes & builders
New construction, a few builders, one master plan
Almost every home in Desert Canyons is fairly new. The homes went up from 2012 on, when the master plan broke ground, and the builders have sold them one phase at a time. Most of the single-family homes are by S&S Homes, in Desert Cliffs and Desert Reserve. The custom-lot homes in Desert Solace are single-family too. The townhomes come from Salisbury Homes and others, in Desert Providence, Desert Bluff, and Desert Vista at Desert Canyons.
Prices run from the lowest-priced townhomes up to larger single-family homes. The neighborhood and the builder drive the price more than the Desert Canyons name does. Builders are still selling new phases here, and those can affect what a resale home is worth. Before you buy a resale, compare it with what the builders have now. Tell me your size and budget, and whether you want a townhome or a detached home. I will steer you to the right neighborhood.
In a master plan like this, the builder and the floor plan tell you more than the community name does.
About the facts in the bar at the top of this page. Sources: city and county records, the Washington County MLS, builder master-plan pages. Prices move, so ask me for current numbers. Citywide data lives on the St. George guide.
Part 2 of 3
Neighborhoods inside Desert Canyons
6 neighborhoods inside Desert Canyons
Neighborhoods
The neighborhoods of Desert Canyons
Desert Canyons is made up of separate neighborhoods built by different builders. Each one has its own kind of home and its own price. Below are the ones a builder or developer actually ties to the master plan, with the single-family villages first and the townhomes after. Last come a few subdivisions near the airport. They sit close by, but I do not count them as part of Desert Canyons just because they share the word "Desert."
| Neighborhood | Setting | Homes | More |
|---|---|---|---|
| Desert Cliffs | Builder: S&S Homes | Single-family | Status: Mostly resale now |
| Desert Reserve | Near the airport | Single-family | Builder: S&S Homes |
| Desert Solace | Lots: About a third of an acre | Custom single-family | Price: Higher end |
| Desert Providence | Builder: Salisbury Homes | Townhomes | Price: More affordable |
| Desert Bluff & Desert Vista | MLS names: End with "at Desert Canyons" | Attached townhomes | Upkeep: Easy to lock up and travel |
Not sure which Desert Canyons neighborhood fits? Tell me if you want a single-family home or a townhome that takes less upkeep, along with your size and budget. I will point you to the right village and tell you what the builders still have selling. You can also browse every St. George listing in the map search.
Single-family
Desert Cliffs
Desert Cliffs is a single-family village built by S&S Homes, who describe it as part of the Desert Canyons master-planned community. The homes are fairly new, but the earlier phases have mostly sold. Most likely, the home you find here now is a resale, one a past owner is selling again.
- Homes
- Single-family
- Builder
- S&S Homes
- Status
- Mostly resale now
Single-family
Desert Reserve
Desert Reserve is the other S&S Homes single-family village in Desert Canyons. The builder markets it as part of the master plan, and it sits near the airport, in the same part of town as Desert Cliffs. Homes for sale here are usually a mix of new and recently built homes.
- Homes
- Single-family
- Builder
- S&S Homes
- Setting
- Near the airport
Single-family, custom lots
Desert Solace
Desert Solace is the odd one out. People mix its name up with the townhomes, but its homes are single-family, not attached. It is its own subdivision off E Rimrunner Drive, with its own official map on record. Each home is custom or semi-custom, which means a builder's plan changed to suit the buyer. Lots run around a third of an acre, and several sit higher up with Pine Valley Mountain views. Recent sales have included large detached homes in the 4,000-square-foot range, so it sells at the higher end of the Desert Canyons area. See the full Desert Solace page.
- Homes
- Custom single-family
- Lots
- About a third of an acre
- Price
- Higher end
Townhomes
Desert Providence
Desert Providence is a newer townhome community by Salisbury Homes, and its listings describe it as set in the Desert Canyons community. The attached homes here are smaller and take less upkeep, so Desert Providence is one of the more affordable ways into Desert Canyons.
- Homes
- Townhomes
- Builder
- Salisbury Homes
- Price
- More affordable
Townhomes
Desert Bluff & Desert Vista
The master plan has two more townhome communities recorded with the Desert Canyons name. They are Desert Bluff at Desert Canyons, by Salisbury Homes, and Desert Vista Townhomes at Desert Canyons. These are the easiest homes in Desert Canyons to lock up and leave when you travel, and the easiest way in on price. Do not confuse them with Desert Solace, covered above. It shares the Desert Canyons area, but it is a custom-lot single-family subdivision, a different kind of home.
- Homes
- Attached townhomes
- MLS names
- End with "at Desert Canyons"
- Upkeep
- Easy to lock up and travel
Nearby, and not grouped here
Same "Desert" name, different places
A handful of subdivisions out here share the "Desert" name. I do not list them as Desert Canyons villages, because no builder or developer source ties them to the master plan. Desert Ridge and Desert Crest sit in the same area by the airport and may well be linked to it. Until the developer says so, I treat that as unconfirmed. Desert Trails, by Ence Homes, is a different case. It and its neighbors White Trails and White Hills sit in another part of town, roughly four miles west, near the White Dome preserve. They are their own communities, not part of Desert Canyons.
One more to keep straight: there is a separate Desert Ridge Estates by Sunwood Homes in the city of Washington, with Pine Valley Mountain views. It is a different town and a different development entirely. Looking at a "Desert Ridge" listing? Check which one it is. I am happy to do that for you.
Selling in Desert Canyons
Want to sell your home in Desert Canyons?
List it with Scott Buehler and get featured on MovingUtah.
Recent Desert Canyons sales have run from townhomes below the city median to larger single-family homes well above it. The master plan is still active, so a resale often competes directly with the builder's next phase.
Call or text (435) 357-4345. I reply within one business day.
Part 3 of 3
Daily life in Desert Canyons
Recreation & lifestyle, Errands & drive times and Schools & education
Recreation & lifestyle
High desert, open space, and the parkway at your door
Sand Hollow State Park
The reservoir and red-sand dunes at Sand Hollow are a short drive east, roughly 15 to 20 minutes. You can go boating, paddleboarding, and off-road riding on Sand Mountain.
Zion National Park
Zion is about 50 minutes east via the freeway and State Route 9, an easy day in the park from Desert Canyons.
Airport on the doorstep
The St. George Regional Airport sits right beside the master plan, about 10 minutes to the terminal, a real convenience for travelers. Check any specific lot for how close it is to the flight path, so you know what to expect.
Southern Parkway access
The Southern Parkway, SR-7, runs right past the community. It is a quick road with light traffic, out to Interstate 15 one way and to Hurricane and Sand Hollow the other.
Golf nearby
Several Southern Utah courses are within an easy drive for a round. They include Sky Mountain in nearby Hurricane and the courses along the river in St. George.
Open desert & trails
The community sits among open high-desert land and lava-rock country. You can reach regional trails and the wider St. George trail network for hiking and biking.
Errands & drive times
Errands, measured in minutes
Times are estimated for normal traffic, measured from Desert Canyons. Living on the open edge of town means a slightly longer drive to the main shopping and downtown. In return, you are closest of all to the airport and to Sand Hollow.
- FlightsSt. George Regional Airport (SGU)~10 min
- Quick grocery runRiver Road / Mall Drive retail~12 to 15 min
- Big-box shoppingRed Cliffs area, St. George~15 to 18 min
- Dinner downtownHistoric Main Street, St. George~18 to 22 min
- FreewayI-15 via the Southern Parkway (SR-7)~10 to 15 min
- HealthcareSt. George Regional Hospital~18 to 22 min
- Day tripSand Hollow State Park~15 to 20 min
- Day tripZion National Park~50 min
Farther out, Las Vegas is roughly two hours down Interstate 15. The full day-trip map lives in the St. George guide.
Schools & education
Schools, by the facts
Desert Canyons is served by the Washington County School District. The community has its own elementary school, Desert Canyons Elementary, on the south side of the city. The southeast side is growing quickly, and the district changes school boundaries to keep up. Do not assume which middle and high school serve an address: check it directly with the district's boundary tool. For outside school data, GreatSchools and Niche both publish numbers you can weigh yourself. Utah Tech University is across town in central St. George.
I cover the bigger education picture, including Utah Tech University, in the St. George guide.
Client reviews
What a past client said
These are real reviews from past clients, shown as they wrote them.
Posted by past clients on Google and Experience.com.
Scott is an amazing loan officer. Our refinance went smoothly and closed within 2 weeks. He was very conscientious with every detail and professional. He was in contact often throughout the process. We will definitely use him in the future for our real estate needs.
What locals know
Notes from the parkway
No listing photo tells you this part. After more than 20 years living in Southern Utah, here is what I would tell a friend looking at Desert Canyons.
It is a master plan, not one subdivision
The name covers S&S single-family villages and Salisbury townhomes. Shop by neighborhood and builder, because two listings can both say Desert Canyons and be very different homes.
Not the same as Desert Color
Desert Canyons is by the airport. Desert Color, the lagoon community, is a separate development farther southeast. The "Desert" prefix is everywhere out here, so check which one a listing is actually in.
Watch the "Desert Ridge" name
There is a Desert Ridge near the airport and a totally separate Desert Ridge Estates over in the city of Washington. They are different towns, so make sure a listing is the one you think it is.
New phases affect resale prices
Builders are still selling here, so buyers compare a resale home with new homes at the builder's base price. That is good for choice, but pricing a resale takes a careful look at what the builders are doing.
Buy or sell here
The buyer side and the seller side
Buying in Desert Canyons
Desert Canyons is on the southeast side of St. George, just south of the St. George Regional Airport. It runs along the Southern Parkway, State Route 7. This large community was built to one master plan and broke ground in 2012. Its main road is its own Desert Canyons Parkway, and its street names have an astronomy theme. It sits near the Desert Color community farther to the southeast, but it is separate from it.
Desert Canyons is the master plan, and several neighborhoods sit inside it. The single-family villages are Desert Cliffs and Desert Reserve, both by S&S Homes. The townhome communities include Desert Providence by Salisbury Homes and the Desert Bluff and Desert Vista townhomes at Desert Canyons. Desert Solace is a separately recorded subdivision in the same area, with custom-lot single-family homes, not townhomes. Other subdivisions near the airport, like Desert Ridge and Desert Crest, sit close by. They are not on this list, because I only group a neighborhood here when the builder or developer actually ties it to the master plan.
Almost every home here is fairly new. The single-family villages, Desert Cliffs and Desert Reserve, come from S&S Homes. Desert Solace has custom and semi-custom single-family homes. Semi-custom means a builder's plan changed to suit the buyer. The attached townhomes come from Salisbury Homes and others, in Desert Providence, Desert Bluff, and Desert Vista at Desert Canyons. Builders sell one phase at a time, so what is for sale changes often.
The community mixes townhomes with larger single-family homes, so the range is wide. Townhomes sell below the St. George median, and the larger single-family homes sell well above it, with plenty in between. The median is the middle price: half of homes sell for more, and half for less. For a citywide number, my 2025 market report puts the St. George median sale price at $589,990. Prices move, so ask me for current numbers.
Ready to look? See what is on the market or tell me what you are after.
Selling in Desert Canyons
What a Desert Canyons home is worth depends on the village, the builder, and the floor plan. New phases still selling nearby can affect it too. That is why automated online estimates miss more here than usual. Start with the home valuation page, and I will compare your home with recent Desert Canyons sales, with no obligation.
When you list with me, your home is featured on MovingUtah where it fits best. It shows first on the St. George listings and on this Desert Canyons page, where buyers are already looking. It can also show in the St. George guide. The get featured page explains how it works. If you are thinking about selling, I would be glad to talk it through with you.
It depends on your village and on what the builders still have selling nearby. A finished resale home competes directly with the builders' new phases. A move-in-ready home with upgrades and landscaping already in can stand out next to a new home at the base price. Tell me your timeline and I will tell you plainly what I see, not a pitch.
Yes, and it is common here, whether you are moving between villages or to a larger home. Most of the work is getting the order and the timing right. I cover the steps in the buy and sell at once guide. I am licensed in both real estate and lending. On any one purchase I take one role. If I am your lender, I can tell you early if a home could be hard to get a loan on.
Thinking about it? Start with your number or see how featuring works.
Keep exploring St. George
How my dual role works. I am licensed in both real estate and mortgage lending. On any single purchase I take one role only, never both at once, and every role is disclosed. You are always free to choose your own agent and your own lender. The full explanation is on How I Work.
Talk to Scott
Want a closer look at Desert Canyons?
Buying? I can pull the current listings and what the builders are still selling. Then I will tell you honestly which neighborhood fits, from an affordable townhome to a larger single-family home. Selling? I will give you an honest number, checked against the new homes nearby. You also get a plan to get your home featured in front of the buyers already on this site. Either way, we start with a conversation.
Why work with me
- I look at the lot, not just the house.Send me a Desert Canyons listing you like. I will tell you what the photos leave out, and the catch if there is one.
- I can show you any home listed here.It does not matter which brokerage listed it. Tell me which ones you like, and I set up the showings.
- A lender's eye on the listing.I am licensed in both real estate and lending. On any one purchase I take one role. If I am your lender, I can tell you early if a home could be hard to get a loan on.
- A reply within one business day.Call or text, and I get back to you within one business day.
Or call me: (435) 357-4345I reply within one business day.
More about St. George
Beyond this neighborhood
Picking the right street is half of the decision. The town it sits in is the other half. These are my St. George guides on The Local, the editorial side of MovingUtah. I wrote them from time on the ground, not from a search results page.
My St. George guides on The Local
The top 12 things to do
The longest list on the site, ranked by a local, from red rock at sunrise to a downtown Friday.
Read the guideYour first year here
Season by season through the heat, the winter everyone moves for, and the seasons in between.
Read the guideThe marathon and the Games
The October marathon, the Huntsman World Senior Games, and a genuine pickleball town.
Read the guideThe 8 best hikes in St. George
The 8 best hikes in and around St. George, Utah, ranked by effort: the river trail, Pioneer Park, Chuckwalla, Snow Canyon, the petroglyph mesa and more.
Read the guideTen guides in all for St. George. Browse the St. George companion, or see every town I cover on The Local.
The town, and tools for your move