Saint George, Utah quickly became one of our favorite places to visit every winter. Although we aren’t usually the type of travelers to pay for activities, we have visited each of the state parks near St George and created this guide for you to know which are worth paying for and which ones to skip!
By Bekah Whitney
When visiting a new area I never want to pay for activities. St George is one of those places that has a few exceptions, including the state parks. Read below to see which parks you should cough up the cash and which ones you should skip.
Worth paying for: Yes!
Sand Hollow State Park is a reservoir that has an incredible rock island in the middle of the reservoir that you can paddle to. Many people enjoy riding their OHVs on the beach, cruising around the lake on motorboats, and our personal favorite: paddling on the lake.
Fees: Utah Residents: $15 per car, Non-residents $20 per car
Address: 3351 South Sand Hollow Road, Hurricane, UT 84737
Distance from St George: About 15 miles, 20 minute drive
Kayaking: You can launch your kayak from pretty much anywhere around the reservoir, but we recommend launching near the boat ramp. From the shore you can easily paddle to and around the island and into little coves. You are welcome to pull your boat up on the rocks to walk around the island. The wind can be pretty brutal at Sand Hollow so make sure to give yourself plenty of time to get back to shore.
Worth paying for: Yes!
Snow Canyon was one of those places that we kept putting off because of the cost. We know $15 isn’t a lot to pay, but with so many incredible free hikes near St George, it just seemed like it wasn’t going to be worth the fee. Finally we decided we were going to bite the bullet and boy are we glad we did!
Fees: Utah Residents: $10 per car, Non-residents $15 per car
Address: 1002 N. Snow Canyon Rd, Ivins, UT 84738
Distance from St George: 12 miles, about a 20 minute drive
Hiking: From narrow canyons to petrified dunes, there is a whole day’s worth of incredible hiking in Snow Canyon. Click HERE to read our full guide on hiking Snow Canyon State Park!
Caves: 27,000 years ago, lava flowed through snow canyon state park. It left two entrances to the lava tubes, now caves, that you actually crawl and explore in! Click HERE to read our full guide on hiking Snow Canyon State Park and crawling down into the lava tubes!
Worth paying for: Maybe!
Gunlock reservoir is surrounded by private, public, and paid park areas. If you don’t mind carrying your boat or SUP down a little bit of rocky shore you can park on the public land and skip the fee area.
Note: This isn’t the best idea if the reservoir is low, we learned this the hard way and wish we paid the 2nd time we went and tripped over many rocks due to the low water level.
Fees: Utah Residents: $10 per car, Non-residents $15 per car
Address: Gunlock Road, Gunlock, UT 84733 (That’s correct, no number in the address)
Distance from St George: 20 miles, about a 30 minute drive
Kayaking: Gunlock State Park is a great place to go kayaking. The reservoir is a lovely size and there are some beautiful rock formations you can paddle in and out of. You can also jump out and walk on the rocks, though it isn’t quite as amazing as Sand Hollow for this.
Waterfall: When the water level is high enough to be flowing there are beautiful waterfalls that come out of Gunlock. This is the main attraction for many that are not boating. If you are going for the waterfalls, pay to park, as you will be on the other side of the reservoir if you are trying to get that free parking!
Worth paying for: Nope! Skip it!
Quail Creek reservoir is probably the least beautiful of all the reservoirs in the area. It’s super susceptible to wind and visiting anytime that is not early in the morning is going to lead to lots of struggles paddling.
Fees: Utah Residents: $15 per car, Non-residents $20 per car
Address: 472 N. 5300 W. Hurricane, UT 84737
Distance from St George: 13 miles, about a 20 minute drive
Kayaking: Kayaking around this reservoir is just okay. You don’t get to see the beautiful rock formations that are present in the other reservoirs and the wind can really pick up in an instant.
The reservoirs are completely dog friendly and we have always brought Yukon to join in the fun. Snow Canyon has lots of restrictions on which hikes you can bring your pup and we decided to leave him at home so we could fully explore the park.
Deserts are among the most fragile ecosystems on the planet. Lack of water mixed with the heat makes for little biodiversity. Walking or driving over vegetation can easily kill it leading to erosion. Remember to stay on trails and do not make shortcuts, do not pick up plants, and please do not carve into any rocks.
If you are not familiar with the Mojave Desert Tortoise, get excited! These tortoises are extremely protected because this is the only place they exist in the whole world! There are many restrictions placed on building and land use to protect them. If you see a tortoise here is the official statement on what to do, “If you see a tortoise in the wild, please admire it from a distance and do not pick it up. Some tortoises may void their bladder (or pee) if they are disturbed. That might not sound like much, but tortoises are well adapted to survive in the hot desert and losing this valuable water can lead to dehydration or death. For this very reason it is actually illegal to pick up a wild desert tortoise. There is one important exception. If you see a tortoise crossing the road or in immediate danger, we encourage you to please move the tortoise out of harm’s way. If this occurs, hold the tortoise low to the ground with both hands and move it in the direction it was headed.”
Coughing up the dough to visit the state parks in Utah is definitely worth the money in most cases. The beauty of the area is really highlighted in Snow Canyon State Park and Sand Hollow State Park.
Leave a comment below and let us know if you think the Utah State Parks are worth paying for or not! Remember to share with your friends and family who want to explore Utah.
Hi! I’m Bekah, but you can call me Beks, all my friends do! I travel full-time in a tiny home on wheels that my partner, Sawyer, and I built from a cargo trailer shell in 2019. We started out in beautiful Colorado and have been all over the United States over the years. This space is designed to inspire and guide the nature obsessed nomad, weekend warrior, and future roadlifer. I’m so excited you’re here!
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