St. George Express and Salt Lake Express make visiting St. George convenient and memorable. However, trips are not fun unless you know what is in store. There are four things you need to consider before planning your trip to St. George. These things include museums/history, activities, parks, and food.
The Museums & History of St. George
St. George has loads of history and museums to display the amazing artifacts from history. Just outside of St.George is The Jacob Hamlin house. Inside there are preserved artifacts from the 1800s. These artifacts depict what life was like from Jacob Hamlin who played a huge role in serving the American Indians and settling St. George. Another key player in the history of St. George is Brigham Young.
In St. George you can find the Brigham Young Winter home. Tours of the home show what life was like for him and his growing family in the 1870s as well as his participation in the community.
Another gem found in the heart of St.George is the Daughters of Utah Pioneers Museum which is packed with pictures and artifacts from the pioneers. They offer tours and have a fun scavenger hunt to participate in.
Rosenbruch Wildlife Museum is another fun place to visit. There you can find wildlife from every continent. You are free to walk around on your own or pick up an electronic wand and be taught by individual narration about the creatures that roam and have roamed our continents.
The Activities
If you are looking for an outside adventure, St. George does not disappoint. The winters in St.George are pretty mild but if you go to certain resorts the mountains are full of skiers and snowboarders.
The summers on the other hand are hot. But there is nothing better than spending a hot summer afternoon near the water. St. George is home to three perfect water locations. Whether you choose to go fishing, swimming, kayaking, paddle boarding or boating you will enjoy yourself at Sand Hollow State Park, Gunlock State Park, and Quail Creek State Park.
If you like shooting come practice your aim at “The shooting experience”. Horseback riding or ATVing is a unique way to view some of the canyons and trails in St. George. All of these activities are loads of fun but nothing beats hiking through the canyons of the state and national parks.
The Parks
St.George is known for its red rocks and national and state parks. You can visit one park or go see a few. Each park has unique wildlife, vegetation and rock formations.
Chuckwalla Trail
At the head of the Chuckwalla Trail you can find people rock climbing or repelling down the rocks. As you head down the path you can see several caves in the rocks, as well as a variety of trees, flowers and wildlife.
At the end of the trail there is a mini arch. That looks over a beautiful view of the red rock land below.
Snow Canyon State Park
Snow Canyon is a State Park that offers 12 unique trails just off of one road. Throughout the park there are several parking places, picnic areas and bathrooms. In the middle of the park, surrounded by red rock are one of a kind camping sites. It is also home to a diversity of plants and wildlife that are only found in this state park.
You can check out the Snow Canyon State Park Trail Map here.
In the middle of all this red rock however, is some white rock mountains. Due to its color one of the first trails at the top of Snow Canyon is called White rocks trail. It is a 4 mile trail that passes through red, white and black rock. A Quarter mile into the hike there is a fork in the path. If you take a right at this point you will come to the White rocks Amphitheater. This trail is a total of 1 mile that leads your to an amphitheater of natural sandstone and back.
Further down the road is the Lava Flow trail. This trail 2.5 miles of uneven surfaces due to the jumbled lava rock. There are also two lava tubes that are big enough to climb into.
Petrified Dunes is another fun hike. It is 1.2 miles long. There are some steep, uneven surfaces but a pretty moderate hike. This hike walks along Navajo sandstone outcrops and sand dunes that are petrified and frozen in time.
Snow Canyon is family friendly park. The shorter length hikes make it possible to enjoy more than one hike and see a variety of different views.
Zion National Park
Zion National Park is open everyday of the year, however some facilities and services may be closed during certain parts of the year. A free shuttle is in operation March through late November. The shuttle starts at the Visitors Center and goes to the end of the park. There are 8-9 stops depending on the time of year and weather. Due to the weather and rock slides some trails may be closed as well. It is smart to have an idea of what trails you want to hike before you arrive to make the most of your time.
Here is the Zion National Park Shuttle and Trail Map.
Angels Landing
One of the most famous hikes in Zion is called Angels Landing. Although the view from this hike is breath taking, this hike is not for everyone. This hike is 5.4 miles with and elevation change of 1488 ft which means long drop offs. Since 2004, 10 people have died falling from the cliffs on this route. The path is often snowy and icy. It is not for young children of people with fear of heights.
The Upper Emerald Pools
The Upper Emerald Pools is another popular hike. It is a mile long hike across a sandy and rocky path. The hike ends at the Upper Emerald Pools at the base of a cliff. In the winter the pool is covered in snow and ice but is still beautiful. In the summer when the snow has melted the pool is an emerald green color with vegetation surrounding the pool.
The Temple of Sinawava
Temple of Sinawava is the last stop that the shuttles go to. It has a beautiful view along with bathrooms and water. This stop takes you to the trail head of Riverside Walk and The Narrows. The Riverside Walk is just what its name says. It is 2.2 miles of paved trail along side the river. It is wheelchair accessible and very easy but can get pretty cold in between the canyons. At the end of this trail is the start of The Narrows trail. This hike is one of a kind but pretty strenuous. It is an additional 7.2 miles and most of that is through water. However, there are boots and dry suits available at the visitor center for this hike.
The Food
Food is always an important part of a vacation. No matter what you are in the mood for, they have it in St.George. Some of the local favorites are as follows. The Painted Pony is a well loved fine dining restaurant that serves American Contemporary food. The Hawaiian Poke Bowl is another option. It has 5 stars on trip adviser and its seafood, Polynesian food and Hawaiian food does not disappoint. Red Fort Cuisine of India is another favorite. It is a traditional Indian food restaurant. Another cheaper, yet popular option is Irmita’s Casita which is a Mexican restaurant. They offer all types of options from authentic to Tex-Mex.
Whether you want to relax and enjoy the scenery with some good food or experience an action filled adventure, St. George is the place to visit. So when you plan your trip to St. George, remember that the Salt Lake Express and the St. George Express are here to help.
