There’s a wonderful lake nearby where you can swim, jump off the rocks, and go boating. The area for motorboats is marked off by buoys, so the only thing that bothered us were the waves they created :)
To navigate the lake in motorized or non-motorized watercraft, you must undergo an inspection. This is done online using a barcode issued at the office at the entrance. Although they could have posted a link on the website as well. The application process for obtaining a permit takes quite a while, so be sure to take care of this in advance. We were also required to wear life jackets when swimming on the paddle boards. Nonsense! Fortunately, you can rent life jackets for free at the same office. By the way, we also bought firewood there at the office. I’d like to take this opportunity to thank the very helpful and friendly staff working there.
Overall, the campground is very comfortable and peaceful, but it’s located in the open desert, so it’s windy and hot in the summer. And the shower wasn’t great.
We stayed four nights in the Westside Campground. Very clean, well laid out park. We had site 32, a spacious pull thru, however, being on the left side of a one-way street meant that our door opened to the street which was kind of a bummer. Luckily the street was not very busy.
There is a lot of very black, very hot asphalt, which isn’t great for dog paws, but it is balanced by the thoughtful desert landscaping and beautiful cool water of Sand Hollow Reservoir.
We loved our walks down to the shoreline, and we drove the truck over to the beach across the reservoir. Our dog loved it!
We are so appreciated that they let the Kona ice truck come through. Lol.
The campground is located close enough to Hurricane for all our grocery and laundry needs. (There is not a laundry room on site.)
The park Rangers and attendance at the visitor center are all absolute treasures! Thank you for all the smiles.
Sand Hollow State Park is one of southern Utah’s best outdoor destinations, especially if you’re visiting Zion National Park or the St. George area. The contrast between the red sandstone landscape and the bright blue reservoir is stunning, making it a favorite for both adventure seekers and families.
What you’ll love
Beautiful red sand beaches with clear, warm water.
Excellent for boating, wakeboarding, jet skiing, paddleboarding, and kayaking.
One of the top OHV destinations in the U.S., with direct access to Sand Mountain’s sand dunes and slickrock trails.
Well-maintained campgrounds with RV hookups, showers, cabins, and tent camping.
Stunning sunrise and sunset photography.
You should know
Summer temperatures often exceed 100°F (38°C), so arrive early and bring plenty of water.
Shade is limited, especially on the beaches.
Weekends and holidays can be very crowded with boats and OHVs.
Entry fees are relatively high for non-residents, and some visitors feel they don’t match the experience if you’re only stopping briefly.
Best for
* Families with older children
* Off-road enthusiasts
* Boaters and anglers
* Camping weekends
* Visitors combining a trip with Zion National Park (about 30 minutes away)
* Visit Monday–Thursday if possible to avoid crowds.
* Bring a shade canopy and water shoes.
* Reserve campsites well in advance during spring and fall, as they fill quickly.
Bottom line: If you enjoy water sports, off-roading, or camping in dramatic desert scenery, Sand Hollow State Park is absolutely worth visiting. It’s one of the best state parks in Utah and makes an excellent base camp for exploring Zion and the surrounding area.
During my visit i had the chance to spend a day in Matt’s off road weekend activity. He will do ot once a year, over 10,000 people attend.
Also took a trip with my friends of sand hallow jeep rental. Took a training 4x4 course.
Also did some off roading on a side by side.
5 stars for this stunning park, lots to do.
While on a road trip with my brother, we stopped here twice... once on the way to our destination and again on the way back.
This place has so many areas to explore, swim, boat, relax, or just have a good ol' time. We went swimming as well as jumped off some of the smaller rocks... but, I would only do that if you are healthy or able to do so.
I also recommend bringing sunscreen, pool noodles or some kind of flotation device, a bag where you can keep items dry while swimming ( I say this because we hiked to a spot kinda far so we brought sports drinks, our keys, sunscreen, and some essentials as we swam back and tied the bag to our noodles), a hat, sunglasses, and electrolyte drinks and snacks.
After we paid to get in, we went inside the visitors center to check thinngs out and get information about the water and where best to swim and explore. The employees were very nice and extremely helpful as it was our first time going there (we live in Minnesota).
They did have lake itch at the time so they said not to touch any or swim through algae as it could give us lake itch. We still got a very mild lake itch... but, they have good showers there and we also brought body wash along... and as soon as we washed off there was no itching sensation anymore.
This place is great for a relaxing swim. The scenery is powerful and majestic. While hiking we came along some cute lizards and we also many birds and fish.
If we are near there again we will definitely go back (as we went twice on our trip).
I highly recommend going there and swimming, hiking, exploring, boating, or to spend time with family in a peaceful and serene environment.
Please, I'll you go there and eat... clean up after yourselves... it was annoying abd frustrating to see beer cans and bottles, wrappers and other trash people left! It is selfish if you litter so please be respectful of this state park... you are not the main character so just don't throw or leave your trash in this beautiful place!
A must not miss place when you’re visiting Hurricane or when you’re visiting Zion. I would say it was the highlight of our roadtrip. They have a beautiful beach area. Picnic tables that is very close to the water . We also did jet-ski. It was an amazing experience.
They have all rentals that you can check.
They have the clear blue water on the other side of the lake where you can swim.
So much fun . Definitely coming back to try more of the things they can offer like the Atvs .
Wonderful experience 🫶🏻
