Quail Creek State Park

One of Greater Zion’s most inviting landscapes, Quail Creek State Park is where clear, turquoise water is framed by red, white, and orange cliffs; it’s the kind of place that looks like a postcard. Couple that with 320 days of sun each year, and you’ve got the perfect recipe for water-focused adventure.

Between swimming, hiking, and a reservoir that once held the Utah state record for largemouth bass, it might be Greater Zion’s most underrated water day. 

What you will find: largemouth bass, bluegill, rainbow trout, crappie, and catfish below the surface, and roadrunners, quail, herons, and hawks above it.

Petroglyphs near the dam add a layer of human history, etched by the area’s earliest residents.

When to Visit

Things to Do

Get in the Water

Rent On-Site

You don’t have to haul in your own gear. Three operators work inside the park, and between them, you can cover nearly any kind of water day.

• DIG Paddlesports rents kayaks, stand-up paddleboards, and water carpets right on the beachfront. Hourly, half-day, and full-day rates are available, and certified instructors teach summer SUP yoga classes (including sunset sessions). Reserve ahead in peak season.
• Mad Moose Rentals operates powered watercraft inside the park, with jet ski and boat rentals available by the hour or day. 
• St. George Aqua Adventures runs a floating water park (Club Rec) just offshore, with slides, climbing features, trampolines, and obstacles built onto an anchored island. 

Cast a Line

Quail Creek is one of southern Utah’s most respected largemouth bass fisheries, and for a stretch of years, it held the Utah state record for the species. The reservoir’s 120-foot depth is the reason it fishes well year-round.

Quail Creek is a deep, stratified reservoir: the cold bottom sustains stocked rainbow trout, bullhead catfish, and crappie. The warmer upper layers hold largemouth bass and bluegill. During the summer, mornings and evenings are best when the water is calm, and shaded coves hold fish during the heat of the day.

A Utah fishing license is required. Licenses are available at the DWR Washington County Field Office on the shores of the reservoir, through local retailers in Hurricane and St. George, or online.

Hit the Trail

Quail Creek Trail is an easy 3.2-mile out-and-back route tracing the reservoir’s edge. Moderately trafficked and friendly for hikers, runners, and mountain bikers, the trail offers views that shift between red rock and open water. 

Quail Creek Overlook Trail is a 1.5-mile out-and-back trail with sweeping, elevated views of the Red Cliffs Desert Reserve to the north, Sand Hollow Reservoir to the south, and the cliffs of Zion National Park to the east. Short, scenic, and layered with history. 

There are multiple options for bikers. To see a more complete list of the trail options, visit Mountain Bike Project. 

Camp Along the Shore

The Quail Creek Campground sits right on the reservoir, with waterfront sites available and views of the cliffs from your camp chair. Some sites offer power and water hookups, along with a dump station. Remaining sites offer a more primitive setup, each with a paved driveway, fire pit, grill, and picnic table. Community hydrants provide potable water across the campground.

The campground accommodates tents, trailers, and RVs up to 35 feet. A comfort station, swim beach, and fish-cleaning station are a short walk away. Quiet hours run from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m.

Sites book up quickly in spring and fall. Reservations are strongly recommended and can be made through the Utah State Parks reservation system.

Know Before You Go

For real-time conditions, fishing reports, camping reservations, and boat ramp hours, click here.

Plan to Stay Awhile

Quail Creek Reservoir is the anchor, but the surrounding area turns a day trip into a multi-day stay.

Hurricane is five minutes away with coffee shops, grocery stores, and local restaurants. St. George is 15 miles south, packed with dining, lodging, and family-friendly attractions. Zion National Park is about 45 minutes east, and Sand Hollow State Park and Snow Canyon State Park both sit within a short drive. A Utah State Parks annual pass covers all four regional parks.