Admission: Yes - $15 per car/Walk-ins $5 per person
Restrooms: Yes
Food: Yes
Other amenities: Boat rentals, ATV/UTV rentals, kayak rentals, paddle board rentals
Imagine crossing a vast terrain of beautiful red rock scenery as far as the eye can see. You're traveling for a seemingly endless amount of time through the western desert. As you are taken in awe by the stunning views that Southern Utah has to offer, you notice that the arid temperatures have gotten to you, and you need a break from the summer heat. And that's when you see it: sapphire blue waters shimmering before you and red sands stretching along the shoreline. The cool water is beckoning for you to take a dip. You've just arrived at Sand Hollow.
We briefly mentioned Sand Hollow State Park in a previous post about getting married in St. George, offering the venue as a unique place for an outdoor wedding ceremony (contact us for more information on getting married near St. George, UT). Aside from the beauty of the reservoir and the adjacent red dune mountain, Sand Hollow attracts visitors for its wide variety of recreational activities and weekend pastimes.
Boating is a favorite activity for many Utahns - and for a good reason. Feeling that breeze in your hair and freshwater mist on your skin as you cruise the water is a fun and relaxing experience. Of course, you can always bring your tube or wake board if you are up for a more thrilling day at the lake! You can launch your vessel on the southwest side of the reservoir and you'll be drifting on the water in no time. If you don't have a boat of your own, you can rent one at the marina! Kayaks, canoes and paddle boards are also permitted on the lake.
While you're out on the water, grab your fishing rod and drop in your line and sinker! Fishing is popular at Sand Hollow and they even occasionally hold bass tournaments at the lake. You can fish from your boat, kayak, or canoe, but if none of these are at your disposal, you can also fish from the shore. There are some great rocks to perch on near the north end to cast your line, or some people fish from atop the damn. And even if you don't catch anything, it's still a day at the lake!
If playing in the water isn't your jam, you might opt to take a ride on Sand Mountain south of the reservoir. Aptly named, this giant hill of red sand is perfect for off-roading and accelerating up steep slopes. Atop the hill are thousands of acres of riding trails making it the perfect playground for anyone with ATVs/UTVs/Dirt Bikes or any other off-road vehicles to enjoy.
For a more casual day at Sand Hollow State Park, pack a beach towel and some tanning lotion and enjoy a sunny day lying in the soft sand and taking a dip in the water to cool off. If you pack a lunch, you can sit at one of the many picnic tables available, or, if you prefer to pick up a tasty burger, check out the Beach at Sand Hollow for a quick bite and some delicious fried food! If you venture to the north end, there are some great spots for jumping off the rocks into the water for a big splash!
If you want the ultimate Sand Hollow experience, pack everything into one fun-filled weekend and camp inside the park. Full hookups are available for trailers and RVs in the Westside Campground. The Sandpit campground in the southeast end of the park has partial hookups for trailers or sites with no-hookups for tents. If you are feeling particularly adventurous, you can camp primitively in designated areas. Once camp is set up, your adventure begins at this desert oasis!
Sand Hollow is one of our favorite wedding venues for destination ceremonies in Southern Utah. Contact us for more information!
