Move over Moab, there’s a new off-roading playground in Southern Utah that’s attracting all kinds of off-road enthusiasts. The perfect combination of desert life and breathtaking scenery, Sand Hollow State Park is quickly shaping up to be the next off-road Mecca and we at Dixie 4 Wheel Drive can’t get enough of it.
There are so many reasons we love Sand Hollow and consider it an exceptional off-road destination. We regularly organize off-roading events and trail rides at the park to help others discover this beautiful place. There are numerous recreational opportunities available, not just off-roading, so everyone is likely to find something that tickles their fancy from boating, horse-riding, hiking, swimming, fishing and biking.
Where is Sand Hollow State Park OHV Area?
Sand Hollow is a sprawling 20, 000-acre park nestled between the towns of Hurricane and St. George in Southern Utah. It is located approximately 15 miles east of St. George, just 7 miles east of the I-15 Hurricane Exit.
Most of it is Bureau Land Management Land and what magnificent land it is. The red sandstone landscape and the rolling sand dunes are ideal for off-roading. The warm blue waters of the reservoir, on the other hand, are perfect for all kinds of watersports including waterskiing, kayaking and paddle boarding.
Sand Hollow State Park was opened to the public in 2003 and has quickly become one of Utah’s most popular parks in spite of its newness. It’s open all year round, (April –September from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.) and (October – March from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.).
Why is Sand Hollow and Off-road Wonderland?
Sand Hollow draws hundreds of off-road junkies every year for a reason and it’s not hard to see why. Let’s look at some of the reasons that make this such a popular destination for off-roaders.
1. Fun & Challenging Off-Road Trails
One of the things that make us crazy about Sand Hollow is the limitless off-road opportunities and challenges for all kinds of vehicles and capabilities. The park has some of the most amazing trails that Southern Utah has to offer from the mildly challenging to the outright insane!
The Sand Mountain OHV area alone covers 6000 acres guaranteeing mile upon mile of trails from difficult ones rated 7 and above like Razorback, Double Sammy and the Front Range to mild ones with a trail rating of 2-3 such as the Honeymoon Trail and the Tocqueville Falls. You can pick the trail that matches your appetite for adventure as well as your off-roading expertise.
While Moab has lots of slick rocks and ledges for you to test your four-wheel drive on, the sand at Sand Hollow adds and extra challenging element. The area isn’t all one big sandbox, however. The acres of red sand dunes are interspersed with incredible rock formations in the upper areas and bounded by the reservoir at the lower edges. You get to decide whether you want to take your off-roader to shred some dunes or crawl over the rocks. Either way, you’re sure to have a fantastic time.
Some of the obstacles can be very overwhelming and difficult so there’s no shame in taking the bypasses to avoid them. We’ve had to rescue quite a number of flipped over 4WD vehicles and some drivers had no business attempting some of those obstacles. So remember to be careful out there and ensure you have a brightly colored whip when tearing up the dunes. Also, remember to use your lights if driving between sunset and sunrise.
2. Beautiful Scenery & Interesting Rock Formations
The incredible scenery and rock formations are another reason why Sand Hollow is worth a visit. Where else will you get to go off-roading surrounded by such breathtaking views? If you take time to look up from the trail, you’ll catch glimpses of Warner Valley, the Pine Valley Mountains, the Hurricane Cliffs and Zion National Park.
The area is also defined by dramatic cliff faces, canyons, rock mazes, red sandstone and rock mazes all vying for your attention. You can take a break from tackling obstacles and navigating your way on the trail to explore some of the more interesting rock formations such as the Flintstone House, Kissing Turtles, the Hobbit House and many others.
Who wouldn’t want to go off-roading with such fascinating scenery around them?
3. Lots of Recreational Activities For All Vehicles
This park is equally famed for the wide variety of recreational opportunities it offers. If your family would rather not deal with days of off-roading or you yourself want a break from the trails, you can occupy yourself with lots of other activities.
The 1322-acre reservoir lends itself to several water activities including boating, waterskiing or kayaking. Don’t worry if you don’t have the equipment as these can be rented on-site. If you’re looking for something less extreme on the water, you can opt to spend a tranquil afternoon fishing. Catfish, bass and crappie are all abundant in the reservoir and you can even fish right from the shore. Alternatively, you can go swimming in the warm waters.
Once you’re done for the day you can retire to one of the campsites in Sand Hollow. There’s the Westside campground, offering full hook-ups for vehicles and the Sandpit campground which is preferred by off-roaders. The latter has 3 types of campsites at varying prices. Both campgrounds have facilities including restrooms, showers, tables, grills, fire pits and water access. There are also primitive camping areas scattered on the east and southern sides of the reservoir for those who don’t mind roughing it.
4. Other Nearby Recreational Attractions
Sand Hollow is also at close proximity to Zion National Park, Bryce Canyon National Park, Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park, the Cedar Breaks National Monument and the Dixie National Forest.
As you can see, Sand Hollow State Park has plenty to offer off-roaders. You can take advantage of the various recreational opportunities to have the adventure of your life.
