Hiking, adventure sports, and other outdoor attractions are among the top family activities in St. George, but swimming and water recreation should also be on the list! Southern Utah is filled with thrilling aquatic centers, scenic swimming holes, and the beautiful Virgin River, where you can enjoy seasonal tubing and skimboarding. Keep reading to learn more about the best places to swim in St. George, Utah!
St. George Waterparks & Facilities
Sand Hollow Aquatic Center
The Sand Hollow Aquatic Center features an indoor competition pool and a huge leisure pool with a zero-depth entry area, water toys for kids, a water walk, and a water slide. This facility offers swim lessons, group water aerobics, and paddleboard yoga and is also available to rent for birthday parties!
St. George City Pool
Of course, the St. George City Pool has to make the list of the best places for swimming in St. George, Utah. This outdoor pool ranges from 3 feet to 12 feet, with 2 diving boards, a water basketball hoop, and the thrilling “Hydro-Abyss” ride that’s 330 feet long! You can rent a tube to use in the pool, and they also have a separate, enclosed toddler pool for ages 3 and younger.
Washington Aquatic Center
The Aquatic Center at the Washington City Community Center is by far one of the top waterparks in the area. The large indoor waterpark has a competition pool, but the big splash is the 10,174 square foot leisure pool with a lazy river, a 3-story hydro tube slide, a water playground suitable for all ages, a splash pad, and to top it all off, an enormous 317-gallon dump bucket!
Water Recreation Near St. George
Sand Hollow State Park
Located in nearby Hurricane and less than a half four from St. George is Sand Hollow Reservoir, one of the most popular natural areas for swimming and watersports. You can paddleboard and kayak, in addition to a unique diving experience during the summer! Want to stay just minutes away? We have a wide range of vacation rentals near Sand Hollow State Park with lots of exciting amenities like private pools, hot tubs, resort splash pads, pickleball courts, and more!
Quail Creek Reservoir
Quail Creek, a smaller, rockier beach area and reservoir, is less crowded than Sand Hollow but also beautiful and relaxing! There is a water playground that the kids will love, as well as an RC track close to the beach and opportunities for fishing. And you’ll even find petroglyphs all around the park!
Gunlock Reservoir
Another fantastic place for swimming, boating, and fishing just outside of St. George is Gunlock State Park. The Gunlock Reservoir is unique because of the massive, sprawling falls directly below the reservoir. The rushing water over the jagged red rocks is stunning– a must-see hidden gem at this Southern Utah state park!
Fire Lake Park
Fire Lake Park is located at the Ivins Reservoir, with a walking trail around the reservoir, picnic areas, pavilions, and plenty of beach space to relax and swim. There are 2 boat launches as well as a floating dock, plenty of parking, and restrooms are also available.
Virgin River Tubing
The Virgin River runs from Zion National Park all the way through the city of St. George. Zion Tubing offers incredible tubing tours, and you can take in the scenic views from your relaxing float down the river. Due to fluctuating water levels, tubing is typically available from May to July when conditions are at their most optimal. In addition, skimboarding is another popular activity in the Virgin River, which is recommended between March and November, especially when the water levels are lower. The Virgin River Skimboard Park in St. George is located at 241-299 S Waterfront Drive, close to the brand-new Fossil Falls Park!
Where to Stay
Not only is the Desert Color resort community conveniently located to these awesome places to swim in St. George, but it also features its own private lagoon and beach! The lagoon itself has 2.5 acres of surface area with a half-mile white sand shoreline, making it the largest private body of water in the St. George area. You can stay just a few steps from this gorgeous body of water, with rentals ranging from 1 to 14 bedrooms, modern finishes, and luxurious amenities.
You can experience the best swimming in St. George, Utah at any of these spots, all within close distance to your vacation rental. Begin planning your summer excursion to Southern Utah and browse our lagoon-front rentals in St. George!
