We love the mild winter climate and incredible outdoor adventures that can be found in St George Utah. However, the high summer temperatures might make you hesitate to plan a trip! I’m here to share 4 epic things to do in St George that will help you escape the heat and make unforgettable memories this summer!
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4 Awesome Things to do in St George to keep cool this summer
Table of Contents
- 1. Cliff jumping at Sand Hollow State Park
- 2. Sunset ATV ride at Sand Hollow State Park
- 3. Virgin River Skimboard Park
- 4. Rent jet skis at Quail Creek State Park
1. Cliff jumping at Sand Hollow State Park
Sand Hollow is one of Utah’s newest state parks and it’s easy to see why it has also quickly become one of the most popular state parks!
The clear aquamarine water surrounded by red sandstone cliffs provides the perfect backdrop for your summer adventures.
Our favorite spot on the water is a hidden cliff-jumping area that can be found just north of the parking lot. You can’t see the cliffs from the parking lot, so only the locals or those ‘in the know’ even know that they exist.
To get to the cliffs, head past the boat launch ramp and park on the far north end of the parking lot. From here, you’ll see a dirt path that leads towards the rocks by the shore. Or you can take a gravel service road that leads up the hill.
Either route will take you to the cliffs. The path leading to the shore is a little shorter, but it is a little trickier to navigate as there is more rock scrambling involved.
The service road is a little longer and uphill, but the path is easier without any rocks to maneuver over.
Either way, you’ll definitely want to wear tennis shoes or good water shoes (Tevas are always our favorite because you can wear them while hiking and in the water). I’ve attempted this in flip-flops before and it’s not a good outcome!
The trail is approximately 0.25 miles to the cliffs so you’ll want to pack light. Also, make sure that you bring everything you need the first time so that you aren’t making the trip back and forth.
Once you reach the cliffs, you’ll find ledges of varying heights from a few feet up to about 30 feet. This makes it a great spot for families whether you have younger kids or teenagers looking for an adrenaline rush!
Set up a towel on the sandstone rocks then enjoy the afternoon sunbathing or taking a dip in the clear and refreshing sparkling emerald water.
And if you are visiting St George with kids, be sure to check out our guide 9 Awesome Things to do in St George with Kids!
Tips for visiting Sand Hollow State Park
- The Beach at Sand Hollow (BASH) is located on the south end of the reservoir. They offer paddle board and kayak rentals starting at $30. They also have a restaurant if you want to grab lunch!
- Inflatable paddle boards are also available for rent from Outdoor Rush. They are easy to transport and they also offer glow-in-the-dark paddle boards for a fun night excursion.
- Sand Hollow is also an awesome place for scuba diving! You can swim down to explore a sunken Cessna airplane, a VW bus, and a Renell Boat. Check out the Dive Shack run by the Dixie Divers for dive classes or equipment rentals for both scuba diving and snorkeling.
- Entrance to Sand Hollow State Park is $15 per vehicle for Utah residents and $20 for non-residents, cash or cards are accepted.
- If you would like to fly a drone, you must purchase a $15 5-day permit.
- ‘Swimmers Itch’ is a common occurrence at many lakes and is often found at Sand Hollow. It is a harmless but irritating rash caused by a microscopic parasite, particularly in the shallow water near the sand. We didn’t experience it while cliff jumping, but I know younger kids playing in the shallow water are more prone. Read more about it here.
What to bring when visiting Sand Hollow State Park
- Beach towels: Turkish towels are the best, they are lightweight, durable, dry quickly, and easy to pack. Definitely worth investing in them for the whole family!
- Sunscreen: Sun Bum is by far our favorite brand, and we are in the sun A LOT!
- Water shoes: The red rocks can get quite hot so you’ll definitely want to wear water shoes while cliff jumping and walking around. Once again, I highly recommend Tevas!
- Goggles or snorkel gear: The water is so clear, that if you have kids they will get a kick out of snorkeling or swimming with goggles to see the fish. I’ve found that the Speedo brand goggles are the ones that my kids prefer.
- Food and drinks: Pack plenty of water and snacks for your day in the sun. And be sure to bring a cute cooler bag to keep everything cold.
- GoPro: We love our GoPro Hero 8 and use it all the time. My boys used it to record some pretty awesome cliff-jumping videos!
- GoPro Dome Lens: For those cool half-in half-out water shots, you’ll need a dome lens. It works great in the clear water here at Sand Hollow.
2. Sunset ATV ride at Sand Hollow State Park
I am making a pretty bold statement, but this sunset ATV ride at Sand Hollow goes down not only as one of our favorite things to do in St George, but as one of my top 10 favorite adventures ever!
After cooling off from the heat of the day at Sand Hollow reservoir, head to the sand dunes as both the sun and the temperatures begin to take a dip.
We booked the West Rim Trail sunset guided tour and it was incredible!
You can even save 10% when you use the code ‘simplywander’! Click here to book now!
This tour has everything, sand dunes, rock crawling, incredible scenery, mind-blowing views, and the biggest adrenaline rush you’ll have all summer!
You can also opt to just rent an ATV and head out to explore the trails on your own. The vehicles are equipped with GPS maps so that you don’t get lost.
I loved doing the guided tour because these guides know the trails and the capabilities of these machines so well, which meant that we could just relax and enjoy the ride!
The boys said it wouldn’t have been nearly as fun if I were driving, and I can’t disagree!
The trail takes you through fascinating rock formations, the Flintsone House is especially cool!
You’ll also go to several incredible lookout points that are particularly stunning during golden hour.
But my favorite part was probably the sand dunes. Your stomach will drop as you fly up and over the golden powder dunes and flip donuts! It is such a rush!
For another adventurous ATV trail, check out the Devil’s Racetrack in San Rafael Swell!
We ended on the banks of Sand Hollow Reservoir as the sun began making its final descent below the horizon before heading back. It truly was an unforgettable experience and one of our favorite things to do in St George!
Another favorite ATV tour that we did in Southern Utah was to Kanab’s Secret Peekaboo Canyon!
A few things to note when booking an ATV Tour:
- We booked our tour through Mad Moose Rentals.
- Use code ‘simplywander’ to get 10% off your booking!
- The tour we did, and the one I would highly recommend, is the 2-hour West Rim Trail tour.
- The 4 hr sunset tour is also available.
- During the summer, I would recommend doing the sunset tour. We did the 7-9 pm tour and it was perfect.
- If you would like to request a guide, I would highly recommend Kortnie. Although, I’m sure all of the guides are great!
- Bring plenty of water.
- Helmets and goggles are provided.
- The vehicles are Bluetooth equipped, so come with a fun playlist!
3. Virgin River Skimboard Park
My kids love skimboarding at the ocean during low tide, but did you know you can skimboard in a land-locked desert state without a beach?? You can do just that at the Virgin River Skimboard Park!
It is also known as ‘The Waterfall’ due to the man-made concrete waterfall. The waterfall was created to alleviate runoff during heavy rainstorms.
Aside from the monsoon season, the conditions at this shallow portion of the river are ideal for skimboarding from early spring until late fall.
Some ramps and obstacles have been installed to challenge the more experienced skimboarders, but it is also a great place for beginners.
Unfortunately, boards are not available to rent on location so you will need to bring your own.
Amazon has the best selection of skimboards with competitive prices.
You can also find boards at several of the local sporting goods stores or Walmart in St George. Facebook Marketplace is also a great option to find second-hand boards at a reasonable price.
Even if you don’t want to skimboard, hanging out at the river is still one of the best things to do in St George in the summer.
The shallow water is great for young kids to splash around. You can also bring buckets and nets to catch frogs or crawdads hiding out in the tall grass along the banks.
The waterfall is a fun area to play in, with cascading water and shallow pools.
The scenery at the river is beautiful, particularly during golden hour when the sun begins to set and paints the sky a hazy pink.
If you visit in July, you may be lucky enough to catch the Virgin River Classic, a professional skimboarding competition that attracts professionals from all over the West Coast.
The park is a little tricky to find as it may not pull up on your maps. However, just enter the address 241-299 S Waterfront Dr. St George, Utah.
This will lead you to a residential neighborhood where you can find parking along Waterfront Dr, just be respectful of the residents. The street is above the river with several dirt paths leading down to the river bank.
There is also parking available at Pine View Park, but you’ll need to walk a little way to reach the river from this location.
*Related post: How to Spend Three Perfect Days in Southern Utah
4. Rent jet skis at Quail Creek State Park
While most of the summer crowds head to Sand Hollow to escape the heat, Quail Creek State Park remains a bit of a local hidden gem.
We rented jet skis on a summer weekday morning and had the lake almost exclusively to ourselves!
We shared the glassy water with only a handful of other visitors and it was such a fun way to spend a summer day.
If you have never rented jet skis before, Quail Creek Reservoir is a great place to start.
Since most of the ski boats prefer to head over to the larger Sand Hollow Reservoir, there is less boat traffic at Quail Creek which makes for a much better experience.
The smaller lake is also easier to navigate, but you can still find hidden coves where you can jump off and swim.
Once again, we opted to rent the jet skis through Mad Moose Rentals. We went with the Sea-Doo Wake Pro and it comfortably fit me and my two boys.
This jet ski also has enough power to tow a wakeboard if you are interested. The wakeboarding equipment is available to rent for an additional $40.
This is definitely a cheaper option than renting a wakeboarding boat and you will have just as much fun! For additional savings, be sure to enter the code ‘simplywander’ at check out to receive 10% off your rental.
The park is well-maintained with picnic tables installed along the beach. Plan to pack a picnic to enjoy after your morning on the water.
The entrance fee to Quail Creek State Park is $15 per vehicle for Utah residents and $20 for non-residents.
And if you’re planning a trip to Zion National Park and want to keep cool, be sure to check out the hidden Lower Pine Creek Falls Trail!
I hope this guide has helped you discover the best things to do in St George as you plan your summer adventures!
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Fantastic the 4 things to do in St. George Utah. I loved and enjoy dong them all. thank you
I’m so glad you enjoyed them!