Zion National Park, located less than an hour northeast of St. George is a mecca for outdoor adventure. This 229 square mile park features a wide variety of landscapes including rock faces, horse trails, grasslands, forest and more. Some of the most popular activities here include rock climbing, hiking, mountain biking, primitive camping and canyoneering. There are also miles of paved trail for road biking, ranger led activities during both day and evening and bird watching tours. Camping and a lodge are available, which make it possible for you to enjoy several consecutive days at the park.

To really get your adrenaline flowing, there are several companies in St. George that offer powered parachuting and sky diving in the area near Zion National Park.

St. George is known as the golf capital of Utah and there is no surprise why.  Golfers come from all over the country to play on the twelve distinctly beautiful golf courses set in the breathtaking red rock landscapes with big, blue skies above. Some courses even feature views of Zion National park, less than a mile northeast of St. George. Some of the golf courses include Coral Canyon, Dixie Red Hills Golf Course, Sky Mountain Golf Course and The Ledges, which was recognized by Golf Digest as one of the top new golf courses in the country. Most of these golf courses offer top of the line lodging.

Just 25 minutes east of St. George in Hurricane, Utah on the banks of the Sand Hollow Reservoir, is the Sand Hollow State Park. This 20,000 acre state park features Sand Mountain which is 15,000 acres of perfectly sculpted red sand dunes. This park is a mecca for off-road vehicle enthusiasts. The entrance fee is $10 per vehicle, which includes water craft launching. While boating is enjoyed by many at Sand Hollow State Park, there are restrictions on what hours the boats can be on the water due to Quagga mussel infestation and control of that problem.

Snow Canyon State Park and Dixie National Forest are located just north of St. George and offer natural beauty, wildlife and rock formations as well as many opportunities for outdoor activities. Popular activities in these parks include fishing, biking, hiking, horseback riding, ATVs, snow mobiling, skiing and snow shoeing. Snow Canyon has some interesting geology to check out as well. It features Red Navajo sandstone formations capped by an overlay of black lava rock. This park is great for nature studies and outdoor photography. The entrance fee to Snow Canyon State Park is $6 per vehicle and hours are 6am to 10 pm, 365 days a year.

There are several companies that arrange a variety of tours for outdoor enthusiasts visiting St. George. Some popular tours include the 8 day Utah Backroads and Beyond Tour, Biking Weekend Warrior Tour and the Zion Canyon Hike and Bike. Each tour allows visitors to enjoy the beautiful landscapes, be active and learn about the history of the St. George and Zion areas through factual stories and fascinating folklore.

Because the St. George townsfolk love and appreciate their mild climate and beautiful scenery, they have dedicated 25 miles of trails to be used by the public for a variety of activities. Many of the parks that contain segments of the trail system provide restrooms, shelters, drinking water, picnic facilities and information kiosks. There are currently 17 different trails that make up the St. George trail system with plans to add more in the future. For mountain bikers and casual biking enthusiasts, visitors can bring their own bicycles or rent bikes from one of the many different bike shops in St. George.

The diversity in terrain and moderate climate make St. George a great place to enjoy outdoor activities. The fact that these activities take place among breathtaking red rock formations and huge, blue skies only makes the adventure more memorable.