Gunlock State Park
State parks
A quiet red-rock reservoir park in Gunlock, Utah, northwest of St. George, popular for boating, fishing, and swimming in warm summer waters.
The park
Gunlock State Park surrounds Gunlock Reservoir in red-rock country north-west of St. George, on the Santa Clara River. It is a quieter, less developed park than the region's larger reservoirs, and warm through the summer.
Where the name comes from
From William Hamblin, known as 'Gunlock Bill' — a noted marksman and gunsmith, and a brother of the missionary Jacob Hamblin, whose own restored home stands in Santa Clara. The settlement took his nickname, and the reservoir and park later took the settlement's.
Gunlock Falls
The falls below the reservoir are the park's best-known feature and its most misunderstood. They are not a permanent waterfall. They appear when there is enough water in the system to spill over the slickrock below the dam, which in practice means a wet spring — and in those years they draw very large crowds to a place that is otherwise empty. In a dry year they do not run at all. Anyone driving out specifically to see them should check conditions first rather than assume.
What people do here
Boating, fishing and swimming on the reservoir, and picnicking on the beach. The setting is the appeal: bare red sandstone directly against open water, with very little built around it.
Worth knowing
Boat-ramp availability shifts with the season. Facilities are limited compared with Sand Hollow or Quail Creek, which is precisely why people who prefer quiet come here instead. The Santa Clara River drainage upstream is also worth knowing about for its own sake — it runs down from the Pine Valley Mountains through some of the least-visited country in the county.
See also Gunlock Falls and water recreation around St. George.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a day-use fee?
Yes — a per-vehicle day-use fee, lower for Utah residents and resident seniors, which includes use of the watercraft launches. Utah State Parks annual day-use passes are accepted, and there is a self-pay option when the fee booth is unstaffed.
Is Gunlock Falls always flowing?
No. Gunlock Falls is a seasonal feature that depends on water flowing over the rocks below the reservoir, typically in spring; it does not flow year-round.
When is the park open?
The park is open daily year-round, and boat-ramp hours are shorter in the winter months than in summer. Times are set seasonally by Utah State Parks, so confirm before an early launch.
Address
1450 S. Gunlock Rd.Gunlock, UT 84733
Contact
- Website: https://stateparks.utah.gov/parks/gunlock/
- Work Phone: 435-218-6544