Featuring a 600-acre (240 ha) reservoir park offers camping, boating, swimming, and fishing.
Senior Day-use fee: $10.00 (Seniors 62 and older) per vehicle with up to 8 people.
Out-of-state visitor fee: $20.00 per vehicle with up to 8 people.
How to Get There
From St George: Get on I-15 N. Continue on I-15 N to Hurricane. Follow 5300 W/SR-318 to destination
Overview
Quail Creek State Park is a Utah state park built around Quail Creek Reservoir, a 600-acre lake near Hurricane in Washington County. The reservoir was completed in 1985 to supply irrigation and culinary water to the St. George area, with most of its water diverted from the Virgin River through a buried pipeline, and the state park opened in 1986. The original south dam failed in the early hours of New Year's Day 1989 and was replaced with a roller-compacted concrete dam. The lake is up to 120 feet deep and is known for some of the warmest water in Utah, with red rock cliffs along the shore. Visitors come to boat, swim, paddleboard and fish for rainbow trout, largemouth bass, bluegill, bullhead catfish and crappie, and many cool off here after a day at Zion.
Access
Quail Creek State Park lies about 9 miles west of Hurricane and roughly 13 miles northeast of St. George, at an elevation of about 3,300 feet. From St. George, take Interstate 15 north to the Hurricane exit, then follow SR-318 and 5300 West to the park entrance. All roads are paved, and the park has parking, a boat launch and beach access. Nearly all visitors arrive by car, and the park is an easy side trip from I-15 between St. George and Zion National Park.
Seasons
Quail Creek is open year-round, and its mild winters and warm water make it a rare Utah lake that can be enjoyed in every season. Summer is the busiest time, with hot, dry days that suit swimming, boating and paddleboarding, and the beach and campground fill on weekends. Spring and fall bring comfortable temperatures for camping, fishing and walking, and winter is quiet, with cool days that are good for fishing. Water levels vary through the year, and algae advisories occasionally apply to the reservoir, so check the Utah State Parks website for current conditions before swimming or fishing.
Things to Do
Enjoy One of Southern Utah's Premier Water Recreation Destinations
Quail Creek State Park is a beautiful reservoir park located near St. George in southwestern Utah. Known for its warm, clear water and stunning desert scenery, the park is a popular destination for boating, fishing, swimming, paddleboarding, and outdoor recreation throughout the year.
Go Boating and Water Sports
Quail Creek Reservoir offers excellent conditions for boating, jet skiing, kayaking, canoeing, wakeboarding, and paddleboarding. The reservoir's calm waters and picturesque red rock backdrop make it a favorite destination for both casual visitors and outdoor enthusiasts.
Swim in Warm, Clear Water
The reservoir is one of the warmest bodies of water in Utah and provides ideal conditions for swimming during much of the year. Designated swimming areas and easy shoreline access make the park especially popular with families.
Experience Scenic Desert Views
The park offers spectacular views of red sandstone cliffs, volcanic formations, Pine Valley Mountain, and the surrounding desert landscape. Visitors can enjoy photography, sightseeing, wildlife viewing, and unforgettable sunsets throughout the recreation area.
Explore Nearby Outdoor Attractions
Quail Creek State Park is conveniently located near Sand Hollow State Park, Snow Canyon State Park, Zion National Park, and the city of St. George. Many visitors use the park as a base for exploring the diverse landscapes and recreational opportunities of southwestern Utah.
Top Trails
Quail Creek Reservoir Trail
Length: Approximately 5.5 miles loop
Elevation Gain: Minimal
Difficulty: Easy
This scenic trail circles much of the reservoir and provides beautiful views of the water, surrounding desert terrain, and nearby mountain ranges. It is ideal for walking, running, birdwatching, and casual biking.
South Shore Trail
Length: Approximately 2 miles round trip
Elevation Gain: Minimal
Difficulty: Easy
Following portions of the reservoir shoreline, this trail offers easy access to scenic viewpoints, fishing locations, and wildlife viewing areas while showcasing the contrast between the blue water and red rock landscape.
Quail Creek Overlook Trail
Length: Approximately 1 mile round trip
Elevation Gain: Approximately 150 feet
Difficulty: Easy
This short hike leads to elevated viewpoints overlooking the reservoir and surrounding desert terrain. Visitors can enjoy panoramic views and excellent photography opportunities, particularly during sunrise and sunset.
Hurricane Cliffs Connector Trails
Length: Various route options
Elevation Gain: Moderate
Difficulty: Easy to Moderate
Nearby trail systems connect visitors to additional hiking and mountain biking opportunities featuring elevated desert overlooks, sandstone formations, and expansive views of the surrounding region.
Visitor Centers
Quail Creek State Park does not have a visitor center or museum, but there is a ranger station at the park, and staff can provide information, maps and advice about boating and conditions. A seasonal concession and rentals are available, and a fish cleaning station, restrooms and showers serve day users and campers. For additional information about the area, contact Utah State Parks or visit information centers in St. George or Hurricane.
Camping and Lodging
The park has a campground near the reservoir with sites for tents and RVs, some with power and water, as well as showers, a dump station, picnic tables, fire pits and pavilion sites; reservations are made online through Utah State Parks, and a few sites are first-come, first-served. Firewood and ice are sold in the park. Hurricane, about 15 minutes away, has motels and hotels, and St. George, about 20 to 30 minutes away, has the area's widest choice of hotels, resorts and vacation rentals. La Verkin and Springdale, the gateway to Zion National Park, are within about an hour, and Cedar City is roughly an hour away.
History
Quail Creek reservoir was completed in 1985 to provide irrigation and culinary water to the St. George area. Most of the water in the reservoir does not come from Quail Creek, but is diverted from the Virgin River and transported through a buried pipeline. Two dams form the reservoir. The main dam is an earthfill embankment dam. The south dam is a roller-compacted concrete dam, constructed to replace the original earthfill dam that failed in the early hours of New Year's Day 1989.
Naming
The name came from the considerable population of quail that lived along its upper drainage in the 19th and early 20th century. They did not survive one particularly hard winter.
The name of Anthony Quayle who is sometimes supposed to be its namesake is a different spelling and does not have an historical connection to this particular drainage.
This article uses material from the Wikipedia article and official pages for stateparks.utah.gov, visitutah.com, utah.com, Quail Creek State Park, released under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share-Alike License 3.0. Additional information from Utah State Parks.
