This Utah city is tucked down into the southwestern corner, minutes from Arizona and Nevada, and within a day’s drive of Lake Powell, Zion National Park, and other outdoor recreational options. Saint George is best known for its outdoor areas.
The Red Cliffs National Conservation Area includes trail hookups to the Dixie National Forest and Snow Canyon State Park within a few minutes north of the center of town.
As you can see, St. George has no shortage of outdoor recreation options, and for those that are not fortunate enough to call it home, vacations are rather reasonable considering the outlets available to the public.
What Should You Visit in St. George, Utah?
When you can make time for this picturesque place, enjoy the sights and natural beauty surrounding the city. Visit the Sand Hollow state park, which hosts an emerald green lake with soft, orange shores.
Take a boat out onto these calm waters, and enjoy the fishing and other water sports available on the water. Otherwise, visits to Red Cliffs, Snow Canyon State Park, and Zion National Park will provide plenty of hiking and biking and keep the adventure going.
If you otherwise have been a multiple-time visitor, try making trips over to the Slot canyons, MOAB, Lake Powell, or the Grand Canyon, to name a few options.
Is it a Historic City?
There is going to be a culture that had been in the valley before Brigham Young sent settlers to the Saint George area to take advantage of the sun for growing crops.
Ancestral Puebloans built homes and traveled to this area for the bountiful fishing, gathering, and hunting found there.
As can be imagined, there was a mix of bartering and fighting between the followers of Young and the local indigenous populations, but the Saint George municipality grew to be the largest town founded during the Latter-Day Saints church’s cotton missions of 1861.
Even a hundred years later, the city has become a hub for outdoor enthusiasts as a place of residence or visitation.
Lesser-Known Facts and Spots in St. George
Suppose you are not familiar with the lower southwestern deserts of the United States. In that case, even more specifically, the recreation areas around Zion National Park are a gem called the petroglyph hiking loop.
Nearing the Slot Canyons, this hike will take you into the heart of the mystical regions the ancient natives once roamed and read their stories on the walls.
If you are a dinosaur fan, then there is a place that houses the only Scelidosaurus’ on the American continent. St. George Dinosaur Discovery Site at Johnson Farm is just minutes east of the center of town.
Are There any Museums?
In fact, there are many museums set up in Saint George – Zion National Park area.
There is, of course, the Dinosaur Discovery site mentioned above, but also quite a few different museums in addition, to which there is a list below with a few brief details about the museum:
- St. George Children’s Museum – for families to create, learn, and play together
- Daughters of Utah Pioneers – preserves the history of western American pioneers
- St. George Art Museum – Displays the various artworks of different time periods in Utah
- Western Sky Aviation Warbird Museum – Collects and displays vintage warplanes for the public
How Long Should You Stay There?
For the most part, there will be a period of learning when exploring the St. George area, by which a week’s stay can put a dent in many first-timer activities.
The next stays will be, according to the recreation plan, a fisherman’s weekend at Sand Hollow State Park or a week’s stay for a holiday vacation.
If you want to save money, consider taking a ‘during the week’ vacation and getting to the city where it’s the least crowded. Plus, keep an eye out for any holiday or special events the city has throughout the year that might surprise you.
Final Thoughts on What is St. George Known For
Saint George is a western outdoorsman paradise with ample fishing, hunting, hiking, horseback riding, and rafting.
A writer could go about things to do in this Utah city area. There are activities for families and couples alike, including simpler outdoor recreation such as an easy hike to a waterfall and dinner in the town.
There are recreational activities that cycle with the season. For example, mountain biking and Nordic skiing trails are said to be unreal, with picturesque landscapes and natural beauty as a backdrop.
Then you have the town’s rich history and mix of cultures, which undoubtedly means there is good food to be had.