State Parks are where it's at! We love State Parks because they are lesser known than National Parks and usually less crowded and busy, but just as amazing! The fees are also smaller to get into a State Park, especially if you are a resident of that State.
St. George Utah is one of our favorite locations to visit for so many outdoor adventures and there are SEVEN amazing State Parks less than 2 hours from St. George! Five State Parks are located in Utah and two in Nevada. These make for the perfect day trip if your are visiting St. George.
1. Snow Canyon: Located in Utah just 15-20 minutes from St. George, this State Park is the one most everyone thinks of when they think of St. George. We love hiking the trails at this park and the gorgeous red rock. Our favorite family favorite hikes are: Sand Dunes, Petrified Dunes, Lava Flow/Butterfly Trail, Jenny's Canyon, Pioneer Names, & Johnson Canyon.
Fees: $10 per vehicle for Utah resident, $15 for non-resident.
2. Sand Hollow is just 20 minutes drive from St. George. Sand Hollow has a reservoir perfect for water skiing and other water sports. There are some great sandy beaches and some great sand dunes nearby at Sand Mountain for ATV riding. There is also a section of the reservoir that has these beautiful red rocks that are popular for cliff jumping. This is a great spot to camp, picnic, boat, fish and more.
Fees: $15 per vehicle or $20 on weekends for Utah resident, $20-$25 for non-resident.
Travel hard case Mini First Aid Kit is perfect for hiking or camping. Contains 85 essential first aid pieces.
3. Quail Creek is just 14 miles from St. George and is another great reservoir, but a little less busier than Sand Hollow. You can boat, camp and play in the sand at Quail Creek. They also have Island Swing located here during the summer months that's a fun little island of jumping, swinging, and sliding for $20 per person.
Fees: $15 per vehicle for Utah resident, $20 for non-resident.
4. Gunlock – is about 15 miles away from St. George. You can fish, boat, kayak, camp, swim and more at this reservoir. The falls are an amazing sight when they are running. However, these falls are an overflow to the reservoir and only occur on high water years with an excess of snow pack which only happens every few years. Check their Facebook for any updates on if the falls are running. Here's hoping with all the extra water we've received this year that we will see a run off.
Fees: $10 per vehicle for Utah resident, $15 for non-resident.
5. Coral Pink Sand Dunes – are about an hour and twenty minutes from St. George. This State Park has 1,200 acres of sand dunes. This a popular place for OHVs and camping, but also a fun spot if you bring a sled to sled down the huge hills of sand. They do have a limited amount of sleds or sandboards to rent at the Visitors Center. Fall and Spring are the best time to visit as Summer is very hot.
Fees: $10 per vehicle
Our favorite hiking water packs are the CamelBak. There are sizes for Adults or Kids. They are durable and perfect for keeping hydrated in the heat while hiking.
6. Cathedral Gorge – is located in Nevada, but just an hour and forty minutes from St. George. This State Park is only about 2,000 acres, making it perfect for a day trip because you can see most everything in a day. There's also a campground onsite. My kids loved this park because it doesn't have many trails, but lots of areas to just climb and explore. Our favorite hikes here are: Cathedral Slots, Moon & Canyon Slots, Juniper Draw, Miller Point and Eagle Point.
Fees: $5per vehicle for Nevada resident, $10 for non-resident.
7. Valley of Fire – is also located in Nevada, but about an hour and a half from St. George. This is a gorgeous State Park with fiery red sandstone all around and contains ancient, petrified trees and petroglyphs dating back more than 2,000 years. There are two campgrounds on site. You can check out some beautiful hikes here. Our favorite family friendly hikes are: Elephant Arch, Mouse Tanks & Petroglyph Canyon, Fire Wave, White Dome Loop & Slot Canyon and Thing Arch. There is little shade on any of these trails, so we recommend visiting anytime but the summer.
Fees: $10 per vehicle for Nevada resident, $15 for non-resident.
Check out this page for Things to do in St George>>
Here's a great hotel discount for staying in St George>>
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Posted by Holly
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