Southern Utah National Parks are well-known around the world for their breathtaking beauty. Whether you’re visiting or planning to relocate here: do yourself a favor and visit these amazing natural wonders at least once.
National Parks
Zion National Park
Zion National Park is a must see adventure while shopping for St. George real estate. Time spent is Zion National Park will be remembered for a lifetime. Zion Park is 229 square miles of paradise featuring cool grottos, and imaginable rock formations, rivers and 4 unique life zones. Wildlife consists of Golden Eagles, California Condors and over 289 species of birds, 75 mammals (including 19 species of bat), and 32 reptiles, not to forget the Zion snail, found only in Zion National Park. The park’s unique geography and variety of life zones allow for unusual plant and animal diversity. Ancient man called this area home 8,000 years ago, fortunately for us not much has changed! Located just outside Zion Park‘s West entrance is the wonderful little town of Springdale Utah. Great food, incredible IMAX theater and lots of festivals, a wonderful farmers market featuring lots of organic food make this a must see on your visit to Saint George and Washington County!
Bryce Canyon National Park
Bryce Canyon National Park is named for one of a series of horseshoe-shaped amphitheaters carved from the eastern edge of the Paunsaugunt Plateau in southern Utah. Erosion has shaped colorful Claron limestone and sandstone into thousands of spires, fins, pinnacles and mazes. Collectively called “hoodoos,” these unique formations are whimsically arranged and tinted with colors too numerous and subtle to name. Each year, this Southern Utah national park is visited by more than 1.5 million visitors from all over the world.
The Grand Canyon
Five million people see the 1 mile deep (1.6 km) Grand Canyon each year. Most of them see it from their car at overlooks along the South Rim (this includes Grand Canyon Village, Hermits Rest, and Desert View). The South Rim is the most accessible part of the park and is open all year. A much smaller number of people see the Canyon from the North Rim, which lies just 10 miles / 16 km (as the condor flies) directly across the Canyon from the South Rim.
Recreation Areas
Glen Canyon National Recreation Area
Lake Powell, in Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, is one of the world’s great places for houseboating! The 186-mile long lake offers sandy beaches, cool blue water, and exceptional red-rock scenery. It is excellent for boating, skiing, kayaking and fishing. Boat or hike to Rainbow Bridge, or explore any of its many canyons or sand dunes. With a shoreline longer than the whole western coast of the continental United States, Lake Powell offers adventure for everyone. The second largest man-made lake in the United States is the playground for Page, Arizona, and nearly three million visitors annually.
Lake Mead National Recreation Area
Not in Utah at all but a body of water within 2 hours of St. George Utah real estate is close enough to mention. Lake Mead is the largest reservoir in the United States. It is located on the Colorado River about 30 mi (48 km) southeast of Las Vegas, Nevada, in the states of Nevada and Arizona. Formed by water impounded by the Hoover Dam, it extends 112 miles (180 km) behind the dam, holding approximately 28,500,000 acre feet (35.2 km3) of water. Lake Mead NRA offers year-round recreational opportunities for boaters, swimmers, fishermen, hikers, photographers and sightseers. It is also home to thousands of desert plants and animals, adapted to survive where rain is scarce and temperatures soar.
State Parks
Sand Hollow
Sand Hollow Resort Championship Golf Course enters the Golf Digest list of Best New Public Courses 2009 at number seven. Sand Hollow Resort is set deep among the red rocks along the Virgin River. Just minutes away from downtown in Hurricane Utah. This is not only golf country, it’s a land of outdoor adventure, a surreal world of great natural beauty, of Zion National Park, the Hurricane sand dunes and Sand Hollow State Park, all of which provide a spectacular back-drop for the new Sand Hollow Resort Championship Golf Course. During the construction phase an ancient Anasazi Indian ruin was unearthed and excavated by a team of archaeologists from the local University. The Father Escalante Trail borders this extraordinary golf course community.
Quail Creek State Park
All (590 acres) of quail Creek is an attractive reservoir situated beneath red rock cliff walls. Quail Creek State Park along its southwestern shore offers a paved boat ramp, picnic area, swimming beach and a modern campground. The reservoir yields rainbow trout, bass and blue gill. At the north end we have enjoyed a quiet canoe trip up Quail Creek. It is a quiet tree line canopy with quiet beach’s and solitude! The camp in year around and with the covered wagon theme picnic tables you can’t go wrong. The fishing is awesome and the people friendly.
Gunlock State Park
In this scenic red rock country, lays the 240-acre Gunlock State Park & Reservoir, a sparkling blue lake where year-round boating, water sports and quality fishing for bass and catfish attract visitors. Gunlock Reservoir dam was constructed in 1970 for irrigation water and flood control. Facilities include boat launching ramp and pit privies.