A Day at Sand Hollow: Dunes, Red Sand, and a Warm Reservoir
A day at Sand Hollow: warm water, red sand dunes and an off-road playground, all in the same state park east of St. George.
Sand Hollow State Park is the busiest outdoor destination in the region, and the reason is that it stacks three different things in one place.
Three parks in one
The reservoir — warm, blue, and ringed by red sand, which is a genuinely unusual combination and the reason the photographs travel.
The dunes — Sand Mountain, a large area of red sand adjoining the water, which is one of Utah's best-known off-road areas. See off-roading at Sand Hollow.
The shoreline and camping, which turn it from an outing into a weekend.
That mix is also the thing to plan around: this is not a quiet park. If you want calm water and fewer people, Quail Creek next door is the better choice.
What to do on the water
Swim from the beach areas — the water is warm well beyond high summer.
Paddle, though mornings are far better than afternoons, because wind builds on open water and this reservoir is exposed.
Boat. This is a powerboat and wake-sports reservoir, which is part of why it is busy and loud on weekends.
Fish, with a Utah license — see fishing around St. George.
Shaping the day
Arrive early. Parking fills on summer weekends and holidays, and the early hours are the calm ones on the water.
Take shade with you. There is very little natural shade anywhere in the park, and an umbrella or a canopy transforms a long day.
Plan for the afternoon wind, which is reliable enough to build around: paddle in the morning, swim in the afternoon.
Stay for sunset if you can. Red sand and water in low light is the best hour of the day here.
Safety on open water
- Nobody is watching the water for you. The margins look gentle and then drop away.
- Wind can push inflatables and paddleboards a long way from shore fast. Watch children constantly.
- The sand gets extremely hot in summer — dangerous for bare feet and for dogs' paws. Test it with your hand.
- Heat, water and sun discipline do not stop at the waterline — the desert rules are the same on a beach.
Practical
- About thirty to forty minutes east of St. George on good roads.
- Day-use fees apply, as at all Utah state parks.
- Camping is available and books ahead for peak weekends — see camping near St. George.
- Spring and autumn are the most pleasant; summer is peak and busiest; winter is quiet, and the park is a fine place to walk even when it is too cold to swim.
Frequently asked questions
How far is Sand Hollow from St. George?
About 20 minutes east, past Hurricane. The park address is 3351 S Sand Hollow Rd, Hurricane.
Can you ride ATVs at Sand Hollow?
Yes. Sand Mountain has thousands of acres of open sand dunes and trails for OHVs. Guided dune tours are available if you do not have your own machine.
Why is the sand at Sand Hollow red?
It is eroded Navajo sandstone, and the color is iron oxide in the grains — the same mineral staining that gives the cliffs around St. George their tone. Sand Mountain is what happens when several hundred feet of that rock breaks down into dunes.
Is Sand Hollow good for swimming?
Yes. The reservoir holds its warmth unusually late in the year, so the season runs longer than the calendar would suggest. You are sharing it with powerboats, and the surface roughens once the afternoon wind gets going.
Should I go to Sand Hollow or Quail Creek?
Sand Hollow for a lively day, a boat, or the dunes. Its neighbor is the one to pick when the appeal is a quiet shoreline and water that is not being churned up by wake boats.
When is Sand Hollow least crowded?
Winter, when almost nobody is there and the park is still a good place to walk. Outside that, early mornings and weekdays in spring and fall beat any summer weekend.
Is there really an aircraft sunk in Sand Hollow?
Yes. A local dive shop put a Cessna 310 and a VW bus on the bottom at around forty feet in 2006, and the marked scuba area south of the boat ramp has been a training site ever since. The reservoir itself is young — it was filled from 2002 — which is part of why the water is as clear as it is.