Fall in St. George Utah is perfect. The mornings and evenings are a bit chilly but the days are filled with glorious sunshine, the kind that is warm on your shoulders as you hike through and over the Southern Utah peaks. Oh, and the crowds from summer have all gone home, so it’s very likely that you’ll be at one with nature, hearing your own voice echo through the slot canyons.

From kayaking in Gunlock State Park and paddle boarding in Sand Hollow State Park to traversing the red rocks in Snow Canyon State Park and hiking through raspberry ramble on the “outside of Zion, but just as pretty as Zion” Water Canyon trail, outdoor adventures are a plenty in and around St. George, Utah and they don’t loose any of their wonder as the leaves start to turn golden- in fact quite the opposite. Peak leaf peeking is the highest during October, so start planning your trip stat!

An easy 90-minute drive from Las Vegas or an hour flight from LAX and you’ve arrived in the greater St. George area, where within minutes of your arrival you’ll need to empty out the red sand from your boots.

Beyond the outdoor adventures, the people are the sweetest and will tell you all the local secrets like the best BBQ that’s in a gas station or off the beaten path hikes to waterfalls. You’ll share s’mores with travelers and locals alike- gathered around fire pits in one of the 4 nearby state parks and you’ll count endless constellations because the light pollution easily disappears after driving over a few hills and mountains.

If it sounds idyllic, it’s because it is. It’s one of those super easy planning trips- where you don’t have to do too much each day but you’ll still have hundreds of stories to tell when you return.

Fall Travel Tips for St. George Utah

Where to Stay:

We love staying in a condo when we visit St. George. If you love kayaking and SUP, you might want to stay near Sand Hollow State Park at Sand Hollow Resort- where you’re about 15-minutes from downtown St. George but right across from the state park for an early jump on outdoor adventures. They have condos that are 2-6 bedrooms, so bring the whole gang!

If you want to be a bit closer to town and near Snow Canyon State Park, you could stay on the west side of town in Red Mountain Resort, which is also close to Tuacahn Center for the Arts, if you want to add in an outdoor theatre or concert.

What to do: (The best part about this vacation? Most of the activities are free or very low cost)

• Kayak in Gunlock State Park
• SUP and cliff jump at Sand Hollow State Park
• Explore slot canyons and sand dunes at Snow Canyon State Park
• Hike to the south end of Zion at Water Canyon Trail
• Go off roading in Red Desert Preserve (need a 4WD vehicle)
• Eat Poke, Mexican, Sushi, BBQ, and lots of cinnamon rolls (the size of your head!)
• Have S’mores and watch the shooting stars
• Go leaf peeking up to Canyon Overlook in Zion National Park
• See a show at Tuacahn Center for the Arts

*Wanna see it all in action? Check out our InstaStories for videos and photos of each stop!

Sponsored by Travel Mindset and Visit St. George.

All opinions are our own- and since we’ve been to St. George almost 10 times now – including planning bachelor parties (not our own!), winter trips, summer escapes and instameets, we are obsessed with this area and whole-heartedly suggest you plan a visit asap.