Sand Hollow State Park
State parks
A red-sand and warm-water playground east of St. George near Hurricane, Utah, known for its reservoir, boating, and the adjacent Sand Mountain OHV dunes.
The park
Sand Hollow State Park lies about 15 miles east of St. George and some seven miles east of the Interstate 15 Hurricane exit. It is an unusual pairing: a warm-water reservoir set in red rock, immediately beside the sweeping dunes of the Sand Mountain OHV area.
Utah dedicated it in April 2003, which makes it one of the youngest parks in the system and, by most measures, one of the busiest. The whole thing covers roughly 20,000 acres, of which about 1,322 acres is water.
Why the combination matters
Very few places put a boating reservoir and an open dune field within sight of each other, and it is the reason this park anchors an entire local industry. Off-road rental outfits, guide services and annual events all orbit this ground. A single group can run machines on the sand in the morning and be on the water in the afternoon without moving camp.
The sand and the rock
Sand Mountain is a genuine dune system rather than a sandy hillside: a shifting field of red sand banked against Navajo sandstone slickrock, climbing to a high point just over 4,180 feet. That gives two distinct disciplines in one place — dune running, which rewards momentum, and technical rock crawling, which rewards the opposite. The red color comes from iron oxide in the sandstone the sand was eroded from.
On the water
The reservoir is used for boating, swimming and fishing, and the park has camping with standard, partial-hookup and full-hookup sites.
It is also a serious bird site, which almost nobody comes for. A large sheet of open water in a desert acts as a magnet on migration, and the park records upward of 250 species across a year — a number more associated with a wetland reserve than with a place best known for side-by-sides.
Getting there
The approach is off the Hurricane exit and takes about half an hour from St. George — but which entrance you use has a cost attached, covered in the questions below. Decide before you leave.
Worth knowing
Dunes conceal their own shape, so blind crests are the main hazard for riders, and a whip flag is standard practice. The water is warm by regional standards but the park is exposed, and there is almost no natural shade.
Worth reading alongside this: a day at Sand Hollow and off-roading at Sand Hollow.
Frequently asked questions
Is it any good for wildlife?
Better than its reputation suggests. A large body of open water in a desert pulls in migrating birds, and the park logs upward of 250 species over a year — a figure you would expect from a wetland reserve rather than somewhere known for off-road vehicles. Early morning at the water is a different park from the afternoon.
What is the main safety risk for riders?
Blind crests. A dune hides its own far side, so you cannot see what is beyond the top until you are on it — which is why a whip flag is standard equipment here rather than decoration. Ride so you can stop for whatever is over the rise.
Is there shade at the park?
Almost none, anywhere. The site is open reservoir and open sand, and neither offers cover. Bring your own shade if you intend to spend a day, and treat the warm water as a reason people stay out longer than they should rather than as protection from the sun.
When did Sand Hollow open?
Utah dedicated it in April 2003, making it a relatively recent addition to the state park system and already one of the busiest in it. Pairing a warm-water reservoir with an open dune field is a combination very few places anywhere offer.
Do I have to pay to ride Sand Mountain?
Not necessarily, and this is the detail that saves people money. Entry to the Sand Mountain OHV area itself is free coming in from Washington and Hurricane; the state park charge applies when you use the park's facilities or parking. Which way you approach determines what you pay, so decide before you set off rather than at the booth.
How do I get to Sand Hollow?
From I-15, take the Hurricane exit (Exit 16), travel east on Hwy 9 about four miles to Sand Hollow Road, turn right and go south about three miles to the park entrance.
What is the difference between dune riding and rock crawling here?
They are opposite skills on adjacent ground. The dunes reward speed and momentum — losing it means digging out. The slickrock beside them rewards the reverse: creeping, careful line choice and low gearing. Sand Hollow is unusual in offering both within sight of each other, which is why guiding outfits base here.
Address
Hurricane, UTContact
- Website: https://stateparks.utah.gov/parks/sand-hollow/
- Work Phone: 435-680-0715