St. George
It’s only a two-hour drive from Las Vegas to St. George. It is a beautiful, clean and modern city. We decided to stay at Ramada in St. George as a starting point for trips to nearby parks.
Make sure to check state/national park websites to confirm the trails you want to hike are safe and open.
Day 1
St. George Dinosaur Discovery Site at Johnson Farm
This is an interesting, small museum for those fascinated with geology, dinosaurs and the Jurassic World. It is worth a stop here and can be completed in 1 1/2 hours. The site was literally built right over Dinosaur tracks.
The first time I visited there was a guide. The guides help point out things you may not have noticed. There are some intriguing exhibits, beautiful murals and well-organized pathways.
Day 2
Pine Valley Recreation Area
Pine Valley is located in Pine Valley, Utah. The valley is on a higher elevation so it’s provides a nice escape from the heat of the southern Utah desert.
The scenery is spectacular. Very pristine with abundance of nature and wildlife. Activities includes fishing, camping sites, hiking and more.
You will see beautiful forest of ponderosa pine, oak, juniper, Mountain mahogany and sagebrush surrounds the landscape.
Hiking and horse trails vary in length from 2 to 35 miles. Some trails allow mountain biking. Shoreline fishing for rainbow trout is a popular activity on the lake.
We had a picnic here. Be sure you bring bug spray as well as water and snacks and other essentials. There is a self-pay service at the entrance. You will need to fill out the info and include your fee of $10 cash into the envelope provided. The lake and the area are so pristine and the restrooms are clean. WIFI service is spotty. We enjoyed this great place and is perfect for nature lovers.
Day 3
Sand Hollow State Park
Sand Hollow is a fun and exciting place to visit. There are trails, camping and water activities.
Sand Hollow State Park has sand dunes with designated OHV areas to ride on. You will see motorcycles, four-wheelers and Dune buggies.
On the Lake area, Sand Hollow provides opportunities for all kinds of water sports. There is a beach side, cliff side and even an island where you can swim to and go cliff jumping. To me, the water is cold though but it is great to dip your toes in it. There are places at the lake or nearby as well where you can rent paddle boards, wake boards, floats, and so much more.
There are camping group sites, RV hook-ups and tent sites. A great time to spend here but don’t visit on a windy day.
Snow Canyon State Park
This park is an amazingly beautiful 7,400-acre scenic park with lava flows and panoramic soaring colorful sandstone cliffs.
I suggest bringing at least two liters of water, a hat, sunglasses, good walking shoes, lunch, snacks and apply sunscreen. Don’t forget to bring a flashlight for the lava tubes.
Hikes I recommend:
Jenny’s Canyon – One-half mile. Easy, level with few slopes and steps.
Sand Dunes – One-half mile. Easy. Deep sand with some slopes and the trail leads to a large expanse of red sand that is great for all age.
Petrified Dunes Trail – 1-mile (1.6 km). Moderate with ome steep slopes, uneven surfaces. This trail crosses massive sandstone outcrops where you may explore sand dunes frozen in time.
Butterfly Trail – 2 miles (3.2 km). Moderate with some steep slopes, steps and uneven surfaces. Winding along the west side of Petrified Dunes, this trail leads to West Canyon Overlook and lava tubes.
White Rocks Trail/Lava Flow Overlook – 4 miles (6.4 km). Moderate with some rocky slopes, uneven surfaces. Passing through lava flows, juniper stands and breathtaking views of West Canyon.
The campgrounds are well maintained with really clean bathrooms with warm water, soap and dryer.
We also made a photo stop at Pioneer Park and Red Hills Desert Garden.
Do you have other questions about visiting St. George or the surrounding areas? Let me know in the comments!
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