Teen in good condition after tumble on southern Utah trail

A 16-year-old Las Vegas boy was in good condition Thursday, the day after he tumbled about 30 feet while on a hiking trip with a group from a LaVerkin-based residential program for troubled teens.

The Iron County Sheriff's Office said the boy was injured when he lost his footing on a trail near Kanarraville Falls about 2 p.m. Wednesday.

Due to the rugged, remote terrain of the slot canyon area, it took search and rescue workers several hours to reach and treat the boy, who was reportedly conscious and alert after the fall. He was eventually taken by helicopter to the Dixie Regional Medical Center in St. George.

The Kanarraville Falls trail is located 10 miles southwest of Cedar City. The trail head is located just outside the town of Kanarraville, not far from Zion National Park.

The boy was hiking with a group from Youth Foundation Inc., a ranch school campus with about 120 youths in residence.

Jade Robinson, administrator of the school, said Thursday that the boy suffered a broken ankle and scrapes and bruises, but was expected to be released from the hospital by this weekend.

"He was sliding down a slope and doing well, then he hit a patch of water and slipped and couldn't slow himself," Robinson said. "When he hit the bottom he broke his ankle."

remims@sltrib.com

Twitter: @remims