Lakes in Southern Utah

Southern Utah Lakes

Southern Utah fishing, boating and other outdoor water related recreation is second to none. Our communities are dotted with fishing ponds, streams, rivers and crystal clear lakes. You are never more than a few minutes away from Southern Utah lakes and rivers. Nothing like a cool dip on a hot summer afternoon. Enjoy a hike up the Virgin River or learn to SCUBA dive in the clear waters of Sand Hollow. Discover your own oasis in the desert, crystal clear water and sandy beaches abound.

Baker Reservoir

Baker Reservoir is a small lake on the Santa Clara River four miles north of Veyo on SR-18. It is a 63 acre lake with an average depth of about 20 feet. Many people come to the reservoir to camp at one of its ten campsites and to fish. The reservoir is stocked with rainbow trout and contains brown trout, green sunfish, crayfish, redside shiner, and mountain sucker. It has picnic areas and vault toilets. There is a fee for visiting the reservoir and no boat ramp.

Enterprise Reservoir

There are actually two reservoirs in the Bull Valley Mountains ten miles southwest of the town of Enterprise. The main one is Upper Enterprise Reservoir and is about 250 acres with an average depth of about 50 feet while Lower Enterprise Reservoir is 79 acres. Many come here to the reservoir to camp, fish, hike, and boat. The Honeycomb Campground is situated between both lakes and has 21 campsites and flush toilets. There is a boat ramp on Upper Enterprise Reservoir and several fishing areas around both reservoirs. Fishermen will find rainbow trout and smallmouth bass here. Fees are charged.

Gunlock Reservoir

Gunlock Reservoir was created in the late 1960s in order to help control flood and irrigation water from the Santa Clara River and is part of Gunlock State Park. It is two miles long and half a mile wide with the deepest point of 115 feet. Activities like swimming, power boating, and fishing are enjoyed by many people here. The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources constantly stocks the reservoir with largemouth bass, black crappie, threadfin shad, and channel catfish. Camping is also allowed, but there are not many amenities. It is located just south of the town of Gunlock.

Kolob Reservoir

At an elevation of 8,118 feet, Kolob Reservoir is very scenic with the surrounding mountains and aspen forest. Since it is at such a high location, it does get snow and ice during the winter, but this adds to the beauty of the area. During the summer many people come to enjoy boating, picnicking, and fishing while the water is too cold for most swimmers and water-skiers. Fishermen will find brook trout, cutthroat trout, and rainbow trout in the lake. Snowmobiling and cross country skiing are also popular during the winter. Some of the road leading to it is unpaved, and this makes getting to it difficult during the winter. It is about 20 miles north of the town of Virgin.

Pine Valley Reservoir

Pine Valley Reservoir is a beautiful place for fishermen to fish brook trout and rainbow trout. The reservoir is right up the road from the community of Pine Valley, near the Pine Valley Recreation Complex, which has over 150 campsites with picnic and restroom facilities. This area is greener than most other parts of southwestern Utah with pine and pinion trees, and many come to enjoy camping and hiking here.

Sand Hollow Reservoir

The Sand Hollow and Sand Mountain area has long been a recreational haven attracting people who ride 4-wheelers and mountain bikes. However, since April 2003 when the state park officially opened, people have come to boat and swim in the newly created reservoir. People also come to fish its sizable populations of bass and bluegill. It now is an oasis in the beautiful red desert landscape surrounding it. It is located about 15 miles east of St. George.

Quail Creek Reservoir

With such a short life, Quail Creek Reservoir already has a troubled past. About four years after the dam was completed, it broke on New Year’s Day in 1989 and flooded homes in Bloomington down the Virgin River from the reservoir. Repairs to the dam were not completed until 1991.
This 40,000 acre reservoir, in Quail Creek State Park, is fed by Quail Creek and the Virgin River. The state park has 23 camping sites with modern amenities including flush toilets, drinking water, and nice picnic areas with pavilions. People come here to swim, boat, and fish. The lake is stocked with rainbow trout, bluegill, channel catfish, crayfish, and largemouth bass. In fact, many people consider the largemouth bass hatchery here is the best in Utah. It is located 14 miles north of St. George off of Interstate 15.

Otter Creek Reservoir

I am including this lake even though it is in a neighboring county because it is close and my buddy catches more red meat beautiful Rainbow trout in a season than most people catch in a lifetime! This lake will become your favorite if you like trout fishing