Hiking to the top of Angels Landing is certain to get your blood pumping. But if you’re an adrenaline junkie looking for other thrilling activities to enjoy during your stay at Flanigan’s Resort, you’re in luck.
Just a short drive from our Southern Utah resort is a state park that’s an adrenaline junkie’s paradise. Sand Hollow State Park offers a variety of exciting outdoor activities, including off-roading, boating, and even scuba diving. While it can feel as though you’re worlds away from Zion and Springdale hotels, the park is close enough to enjoy a day trip during your stay.
Looking for a unique way to spend a day during your stay at Flanigan’s Resort? Keep reading to learn how to plan a visit to Sand Hollow State Park.
Where is Sand Hollow State Park?
One of the things that make Sand Hollow State Park a great day trip during a stay in our Southern Utah resort is its location. This Utah state park is located in Hurricane, Utah, around a 45-minute drive from Flanigan’s Resort. This makes the park a great spot to spend a morning before heading back to your Zion National Park Lodge. Or, spend a day off-roading, swimming, or boating when you need a break from hiking in the national park.
Visiting Sand Hollow State Park
Nestled among the scenic red rock canyons on the outskirts of St George, Utah, Sand Hollow State Park covers more than 20,000 acres. The park’s central feature is the large Sand Hollow Reservoir, which covers some 1,3000 acres. Besides the lake, the park features vast expanses of desert where you can enjoy various outdoor activities.
Swimming, Boating, and Fishing
The warm, clear blue waters of the Sand Hollow Reservoir are an oasis in the desert, where visitors can swim, fish, and go boating. Sandy beaches line the shore of the reservoir and are an excellent spot for a picnic or some sunbathing. The waters of the reservoir are often calm, making it a great spot to do some kayaking, canoeing, or paddleboarding. You can rent a kayak or paddleboard from Sand Hollow Rentals, the park’s private rental company located at the South end of the park.
Scuba diving might be the last thing you would think to do during a stay in Springdale hotels. But you can dive beneath the waves at Sand Hollow State Park! The Dive Shack at Sand Hollow, located at the Reservoir from May through October, offers diving classes for visitors. Dixie Divers, the dive shop behind The Dive Shack, is a full-service dive center, which means that it offers classes, gear, rentals, and travel. Their instructors can help you get full certification. They have three active instructors who teach small-group classes.
But what might be even more surprising than being able to go diving in the middle of the desert is what you’ll see. Lurking beneath the surface of the Sand Hollow Reservoir are an old bus, a fake skeleton, and a small airplane, all placed there for divers to enjoy.
Off-Roading
Even more popular than enjoying Sand Hollow Reservoir is the park’s other crowning feature; the off-road area. Adjacent to Sand Hollow is a massive, 62,000-acre off-road area called Little Sahara Recreation Area. Managed by the Bureau of Land Management, this area is dedicated to off-roading.
In the Little Sahara Recreation Area, you’ll find free-moving sand dunes, rocky canyons, juniper-covered hills, and a variety of other landscapes. There are low-lying dunes great for beginners, as well as more challenging trails, including the 700-foot-tall Sand Mountain.
Two, three, and four-hour off-road OHV tours are available directly from Sand Hollow Rentals. There are also a variety of local companies that offer off-road tours of all lengths and for all experience levels in Hurricane and nearby St George.
Of course, you don’t have to go all the way to Sand Hollow to enjoy an off-road adventure. Through Flanigan Resort’s partnership with Zion Jeep Tours, we’re excited to offer off-road adventures around Zion and the Grand Canyon to our guests.
Hiking and Sightseeing
Boating and off-roading might be some of the park’s most popular activities, but they aren’t the only way to explore Sand Hollow. The park boasts a number of hiking trails that wind through desert landscapes, hidden canyons, and past scenic overlooks. They range from leisurely strolls perfect for an afternoon walk to more challenging hikes. Keep your eyes peeled for some of the many animals that call the park home, like bighorn sheep, lizards, and a wide variety of bird species.
Planning Your Next Stay at Our Southern Utah Resort
A day trip to Sand Hollow State Park is a great way to mix up your next stay at our Southern Utah resort. From off-roading to scuba diving to boating, there’s no shortage of ways to spend your time at this unique state park.
Sand Hollow State Park is far from the only day trip you could enjoy during your stay at Flanigan’s Resort. Our Zion National Park lodge is located in the heart of Springdale, which means that you’re a short drive away from a variety of other state and national parks, as well as other outdoor destinations. Check out this list of other great day trips you could enjoy during your stay.