Things to Do in Southern Utah
A local's guide to Zion, St. George, Cedar City and the red rock country in between — organized by what you want to do, how far it is, and when to go.
The best things to do in Southern Utah are hiking in Zion National Park, exploring the lava tubes and slickrock of Snow Canyon State Park, boating and off-roading at Sand Hollow State Park, seeing a show at Tuacahn Amphitheatre, and day-tripping to Bryce Canyon, Cedar Breaks and Kanab. Families love the St. George Children's Museum and the Dinosaur Discovery Site. Spring and fall bring the most comfortable weather.
Southern Utah runs from the Mojave Desert edge around St. George, under 3,000 feet, up to the 10,000-foot rim of Cedar Breaks — so the same week can include a desert sunrise hike, a reservoir swim, and a cool alpine trail. This guide covers Washington, Iron and Kane counties: St. George, Hurricane, Ivins, Washington, Santa Clara, Springdale, Cedar City, Brian Head and Kanab. Every activity lists where it is and roughly how far it is from St. George.
Only visiting St. George? Our things to do in St. George guide goes deeper on in-town options, from nightlife to pickleball.
Quick Answer: Top Picks by Category
- Outdoor AdventuresZion, Snow Canyon, Sand Hollow
- Family-FriendlyChildren's Museum, dinosaur tracks
- Food & DrinkDowntown St. George, Springdale, Cedar City
- Culture & HistoryTuacahn, Shakespeare Festival
- Day TripsBryce, Cedar Breaks, Brian Head, Kanab
- Seasonal EventsFairs, festivals, marathon
- Best Time to VisitSpring and fall
Outdoor Adventures Near Zion & St. George
Most visitors come for the red rock, and most of it is within an hour of St. George. The trick is matching the trail to the season: low-desert hikes around St. George are best from October through May, while high-country trails at Bryce and Cedar Breaks are at their best in summer.
Hiking: trail difficulty, distance and drive time
| Trail | Where | Difficulty | Distance | Best season | From St. George |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jenny's Canyon | Snow Canyon State Park | Easy | 0.5 mi round trip | Oct–May | 15 min |
| Lava Tubes Trail | Snow Canyon State Park | Easy–Moderate | 1.5 mi round trip | Oct–May | 15 min |
| Riverside Walk | Zion National Park | Easy (paved) | 2.2 mi round trip | Year-round | 45 min + shuttle |
| Canyon Overlook Trail | Zion (east of the tunnel) | Easy–Moderate | 1 mi round trip | Year-round | About 1 hr |
| Angels Landing | Zion National Park | Strenuous · permit required | 5.4 mi round trip | Spring & fall | 45 min + shuttle |
| The Narrows (bottom-up) | Zion National Park | Moderate–Strenuous · wading | Out-and-back, turn around anytime | Summer–early fall, flow permitting | 45 min + shuttle |
| Navajo Loop + Queens Garden | Bryce Canyon National Park | Moderate | 3 mi loop | May–Oct | 2–2.5 hr |
| Alpine Pond Loop | Cedar Breaks National Monument | Easy–Moderate (10,000+ ft) | 2 mi loop | Summer–early fall | About 1 hr 15 min |
Drive times are approximate from central St. George. Angels Landing permits come from the recreation.gov lottery, and The Narrows closes when the Virgin River runs high — check the NPS before you go. More trails: St. George hiking guide, slot canyons, waterfall hikes.
Sand Hollow and Quail Creek state parks
Sand Hollow State Park, near Hurricane, pairs a warm-water reservoir for swimming, paddleboarding and boating with a huge dune area for ATVs and side-by-sides. Quail Creek, a few minutes north, is smaller and known for fishing. Both are about 20–25 minutes from St. George and are busiest on summer weekends. See our water sports guide for rentals.
Off-roading and jeep tours
Sand Mountain, Warner Valley and the Coral Pink Sand Dunes near Kanab are the region's big off-road draws. Rent a side-by-side from outfitters like Sand Hollow ATV Rentals, or let a guide drive with Red Rock Jeep Tours. Compare options in our ATV and off-road guide and jeep tours guide.
Mountain biking
Southern Utah is one of the country's best-known mountain biking regions. Gooseberry Mesa and the Hurricane Cliffs trails serve experienced riders, while the Bearclaw Poppy and JEM trails are friendlier starting points. In summer, riders head up to Brian Head for lift-served downhill. Trail picks are in our mountain biking guide.
Hot air balloon rides
Sunrise flights over the red rock are calmest in the cool morning air. Local operators such as Southern Utah Balloon Adventures fly when the winds allow. If you're here in October, the Sand Hollow Balloon Festival fills the sky over the reservoir. More in our hot air balloon guide.
Stargazing and dark sky parks
Zion, Bryce Canyon and Cedar Breaks are all certified International Dark Sky Parks. Bryce and Cedar Breaks, at high elevation and far from city lights, are the standouts; both run seasonal ranger astronomy programs. Closer to town, the western desert beyond Snow Canyon gets reasonably dark. See our stargazing guide.
Golf
Mild winters make St. George a year-round golf town, with courses set against red cliffs and black lava rock. The Ledges Golf Club is carved into the sandstone bluffs near Snow Canyon. Browse the rest in our golf guide.
Family-Friendly Activities
On hot afternoons, move the kids indoors; on cool mornings, take them to short trails like Jenny's Canyon or Zion's paved Riverside Walk. These are the local standbys.
St. George Children's Museum
Downtown St. George
Hands-on themed rooms — a go-to on summer afternoons.
Dinosaur Discovery Site at Johnson Farm
St. George
Early Jurassic dinosaur tracks and fossils preserved where they were found.
Thunder Junction All Abilities Park
St. George
Southern Utah's first fully inclusive playground, with a dinosaur theme and a small train.
Fiesta Fun Family Fun Center
St. George
Go-karts, mini golf, batting cages, bumper boats, laser tag and an arcade.
Cedar Fun Center
Cedar City
Laser tag and maze games — a good break on a Cedar City or Brian Head day.
Sand Hollow beach days
Hurricane
Shallow, sandy shoreline and warm water from late spring into fall.
More ideas: family activities, things to do with kids, free things to do.
Food, Drink & Local Favorites
This is a short list of places worth planning a stop around, not a paid directory. For the full picture, see our restaurant guide and dining guide.
Cliffside Restaurant
St. George
Perched on the bluff with a view across the city — go at sunset.
Painted Pony
Ancestor Square, downtown St. George
A downtown dinner that puts you steps from the historic district for an evening walk.
Wood Ash Rye
St. George
Wood-fired dishes and craft cocktails for a night out.
Whiptail Grill
Springdale
Southwestern food with a patio, a short hop from Zion's south entrance.
River Rock Roasting Co.
La Verkin
Coffee on the drive to Zion, overlooking the Virgin River gorge.
Centro Woodfired Pizzeria
Cedar City
Wood-fired pizza before a Shakespeare Festival show.
Crepe Station
Washington
Sweet and savory crepes for a slow breakfast.
Also: food trucks, farmers markets, burger guide, restaurants near Zion.
Culture, Arts & History
Tuacahn Amphitheatre
Ivins
Broadway-style musicals under the stars in a red rock canyon beside Snow Canyon.
Utah Shakespeare Festival
Cedar City
Tony Award-winning repertory theater, June through October.
St. George Art Museum
Downtown St. George
Free admission, rotating exhibitions.
Southern Utah Museum of Art
Cedar City (SUU campus)
Pair it with a Shakespeare Festival matinee.
Frontier Homestead State Park Museum
Cedar City
Pioneer and iron-industry history with a large wagon collection.
Zion Human History Museum
Zion National Park
The park's Indigenous and pioneer story — and a good film on the canyon.
Explore ghost towns like Silver Reef and Grafton in our ghost towns guide, or see arts & culture and theater.
Day Trips from St. George
Zion, Bryce Canyon, Cedar Breaks and the Grand Canyon's North Rim are all day trips from St. George. Distances and drive times below are from St. George and match our individual route guides.
| Destination | Distance | Drive | Why go |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zion National Park | 42 miles | 45 min | The headliner — Angels Landing, The Narrows and the Pa'rus Trail. Springdale sits at the south entrance. |
| Cedar City | 52 miles | 55 min | Utah Shakespeare Festival, Southern Utah University, and the gateway to Kolob Canyons, Cedar Breaks and Brian Head. |
| Brian Head | 74 miles | 1 hr 20 min | Southern Utah's ski resort in winter; scenic lift rides and downhill mountain biking in summer. |
| Cedar Breaks National Monument | 75 miles | 1 hr 15 min | A deep eroded amphitheater at over 10,000 feet — cool summer hiking and a certified dark sky park. |
| Kanab | 80 miles | 1 hr 20 min | Base camp for the Vermilion Cliffs, Coral Pink Sand Dunes and the east side of Zion. |
| Bryce Canyon National Park | 125 miles | 2–2.5 hr | The world's largest collection of hoodoos. Pair with Red Canyon on Scenic Byway 12. |
| Valley of Fire State Park (NV) | 80 miles | 1 hr 15 min | Fiery Aztec sandstone and petroglyphs — best from October through April. |
| Grand Canyon North Rim (AZ) | 150 miles | 3 hr | Seasonal and quiet. Check current NPS status before you go — services changed after the 2025 Dragon Bravo Fire. |
Full itineraries: day trips from St. George, national parks guide, all drive guides.
Seasonal Events & Festivals
These recurring events are worth planning a trip around. Dates change each year, so follow the links for the current schedule or check the Southern Utah events calendar and Cedar City events.
St. George Art Festival
Spring · downtown St. George
Artist booths, live music and food vendors at Town Square Park.
Washington County Fair
Legacy Park, Hurricane
Rodeo, livestock, carnival rides and concerts.
Utah Shakespeare Festival
June–October · Cedar City
A full summer and fall season of plays.
Hurricane Peach Days
Labor Day weekend · Hurricane
A small-town parade, rodeo and fresh peaches.
Dixie Days
September · St. George
Rodeo, parade and carnival.
St. George Marathon & half marathons
October
One of the West's best-known downhill marathons.
Sand Hollow Balloon Festival
October · Sand Hollow
Sunrise mass ascensions and an evening balloon glow.
Kayenta Art Festival
October or early November · Ivins
An outdoor art festival in Kayenta Art Village.
Red Rock Chocolate Festival
Winter · Hurricane
A sweet winter weekend.
Best Time of Year to Visit Southern Utah
Spring and fall are the best times to visit Southern Utah for most activities. Elevation matters as much as the calendar: when St. George is too hot, Brian Head and Cedar Breaks are pleasant, and when the high country is snowed in, the desert around St. George is at its best.
| Season | Weather | Best for | Local tip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring (Mar–May) | Warm, mostly dry days in St. George | Zion and Snow Canyon hiking, wildflowers, art festivals, golf | Peak visitor season — book lodging and Zion permits early. |
| Summer (Jun–Aug) | St. George regularly tops 100°F; high country stays much cooler | Sand Hollow and Quail Creek, The Narrows, Brian Head, Cedar Breaks, Shakespeare Festival | Hike at sunrise. Monsoon storms (July–Sept) bring flash-flood risk in slot canyons. |
| Fall (Sep–Nov) | Warm days, cool nights | Every trail, fall color above Cedar City, balloon festival, marathon | Many locals' favorite season. October weekends fill up fast. |
| Winter (Dec–Feb) | Mild in St. George; snow at Brian Head and Bryce | Desert hiking and golf in St. George, skiing at Brian Head, snowy hoodoos at Bryce | Cedar Breaks' scenic road closes for the season, and the Zion shuttle schedule is limited — check the NPS. |
Season guides: spring, summer, fall, winter, and the summer heat survival guide.