A Day at Sand Hollow: Dunes, Red Sand, and a Warm Reservoir
A warm blue reservoir ringed by red sand, with thousands of acres of dunes next door. How to spend a day at Sand Hollow, on the water or the sand.
About twenty minutes east of St. George, out past Hurricane, Sand Hollow is the local playground for anyone with a boat, a side-by-side, or just a swimsuit. Picture a warm blue reservoir ringed by red sand and slickrock, with a giant dune field right next door. It does not really look like anywhere else.
On the water
The reservoir is big, over 1,300 acres, and it stays warm through the season, which is why you see wakeboarders, paddleboarders, and kids floating around the red-sand beaches all summer. Rent a paddleboard if you do not have a boat; the coves near the beaches are calm and shallow enough for beginners.
On the sand
The other half of Sand Hollow is Sand Mountain, thousands of acres of open dunes that pull the ATV and side-by-side crowd from all over. If you have your own machine, it is a bucket-list place to ride. If you do not, book a guided dune tour from one of the outfitters in town; it is the easiest way to get out on the sand without owning the gear.
Good to know
It is a Utah state park, so there is a per-vehicle day-use fee at the gate. Summer weekends and holidays get busy, and it is genuinely hot out there with no shade on the water or the dunes, so bring more sunscreen and water than feels reasonable. Mornings are calmer on the reservoir; by afternoon the wind and the wakes pick up.
Pair it with a round at the Sand Hollow golf course next door and you have a full, very Southern-Utah day.
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.