St. George, Utah, offers some of the best sunsets in the Southwest. I visit the area regularly and often find myself chasing the sunset, so I’ve rounded up my top places to go in the St. George area in this guide. Whether you’re looking for something close to town, want to go for a hike, or are up for a scenic drive, there’s something for everyone.
I’m a firm believer that any place can be a great place to watch the sunset, but heading out into nature is my preferred location, especially when I’m traveling. These sunset spots around St. George provide extra scenic views for an unforgettable evening (if the weather is right!). Make sure to head out at least an hour before the “official” sunset time to catch golden hour light, and stick around after to see the best colors.
Table of Contents: Where to Watch the Sunset in St. George, Utah
- Recreating Responsibly in St. George
- 5 Best Places to See the Sunset Near St. George:
Recreating Responsibly in St. George, Utah
Leave No Trace
Help leave the outdoors better than you found it by always practicing the 7 Leave No Trace principles. This means:
- Plan ahead & prepare. Hiking in the desert comes with unique considerations, so make sure you research hiking trails and pack appropriately. Always carry a map, ideally a topographic map. Make sure that you have the right vehicle for the roads you plan on driving around St. George.
- Travel & camp on durable surfaces. Stay on trails or other durable surfaces like slickrock and washes.
- Dispose of waste properly. Pack out all waste and trash, including food scraps.
- Leave what you find. Don’t carve into, take, or stack rocks.
- Minimize campfire impacts. Check for fire bans and practice campfire safety. This means creating your campfire in an existing fire ring; making sure the fire is attended and doesn’t get out of control; and making sure the fire is out completely (stir the ashes until they are cool to the touch).
- Respect wildlife. Never feed wildlife and make sure to maintain a safe distance.
- Be considerate of others. Wear headphones instead of blasting music over a bluetooth speaker. Remember uphill hikers have the right of way.
The member-driven Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics teaches people how to enjoy the outdoors responsibly. This copyrighted information has been reprinted with permission from the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics: www.LNT.org.
Visiting St. George With Dogs
Most of the locations in this guide are dog-friendly. Dogs are required to be leashed in Snow Canyon State Park, and on trails within Red Cliffs National Conservation Area. Trails on other BLM land and in Dixie National Forest require dogs to be “under control” at all times. This means either keeping your dog on a leash (the preferred method), or under strict vocal control.
If your dog doesn’t have strong recall they should always be kept on-leash. Always keep a leash handy while hiking with your dog off-leash in case you encounter other dogs on-leash or small children. While large predators aren’t really a concern around St. George, lizards and snakes are common during warmer months. Only you know whether your dog can hike off-leash responsibly.
Remember to always pack out pet waste. Please do not leave poop bags on the side of the trail. This is littering and encourages others to do the same. Carry pet waste with you back to the trailhead and dispose of it properly!
Don’t bust the crust!
A lot of the land around St. George is covered in biological soil crust, otherwise known as cryptobiotic soil. Cryptobiotic soil plays a critical role in the desert ecosystem and is extremely delicate. It can take years to decades to recover from damage, so it’s important to stay on developed trails, or travel over durable surfaces like dry washes or slickrock, to avoid disrupting the cryptobiotic soil!
Get My Southern Utah Road Trip Guide + Interactive Map:
If you’re looking for more things to do around St. George and Southern Utah, check out my Southern Utah Road Trip + Hiking Guide. The guide includes 140+ of the best hikes, activities, restaurants, campsites, hotels, and unique things to see. It comes with an interactive map and itinerary builder (plus sample itineraries from me!) to make it easy for you to plan the ultimate road trip through Southern Utah!
5 Best Sunset Spots Near St. George, Utah
1. Snow Canyon State Park
Snow Canyon State Park is easily one of the best places to go in St. George for hiking, outdoor adventure, and beautiful sunsets. The state park is located in the town of Ivins, which is a suburb just north of St. George.
Arguably the most popular place to watch the sunset in Snow Canyon State Park is at the Petrified Dunes. This also seems to be THE spot for local photographers to bring clients to because the two times that I’ve been I’ve encountered multiple photoshoots (wedding photos, family portraits, engagement shoots, baby pictures, and homecoming photos).
With that said, it’s totally understandable why it’s so popular. The Petrified Dunes are a unique geologic formation that provide scenic west-facing views of Snow Canyon, which makes them a perfect spot for sunset. It’s also a fairly easy walk out to the dunes where there’s plenty of space to spread out and explore the rocks.
If you’re looking for a trail in Snow Canyon State Park that isn’t quite as popular, check out the Lava Tubes via the Lava Flow Trail. My husband and I came here for sunset on a recent trip to St. George and thought it was a great easy trail with pretty sunset views (although we passed on actually exploring the Lava Tubes because it was a little spooky in the evening light!).
Hiking Tip: If you’re heading out on a sunset hike don’t forget to pack a headlamp in case it gets dark before you get back to your vehicle!
About Snow Canyon State Park:
- Cost: $10/vehicle for Utah residents; $15/vehicle for non-Utah residents
- Bathrooms Available?: There are pit toilets in Snow Canyon State Park, but not at the Petrified Dunes or Lava Tubes trailheads.
- Dog-Friendly?: Yes, dogs must be leashed in Snow Canyon State Park.
2. Pioneer Park
For a quick, easily accessible, and free location to watch the sunset in St. George, head to Pioneer Park. This isn’t your run of the mill city park with turf grass and playgrounds. Rather, the park is integrated into the natural landscape, allowing you to explore secret slot canyons, hidden arches, and other unique rock features. Make sure to check the weather and avoid exploring any slot canyons when rain is in the forecast.
If you climb up to the top of the red rocks at Pioneer Park you can get 360° views of the St. George area, including a clear view to the west, which is why this is such a great place to watch the sunset. While it’s definitely a popular spot, there are plenty of different areas to explore. While I was at Pioneer Park I saw people hiking, rock climbing, taking photos, and playing with RC cars (this seemed to be a very popular activity), so it’s a fun location for the entire family.
About Pioneer Park:
- Cost: FREE
- Location: Google Maps
- Bathrooms Available?: Yes
- Dog-Friendly?: Yes, dogs must be leashed.
3. Yant Flat
If you want a sunset spot near St. George that is a bit more off the beaten path, and you have a high-clearance vehicle, then I recommend heading out to Yant Flat. This is a fairly short hike to an otherworldly landscape with stunning views.
There are two ways to access Danish Ranch Rd., which is where you’ll find the Yant Flat trailhead. Most people recommend driving in from Leed, Utah, because the road is less rough. I agree, however there were really deep ruts when I visited in March, so I would still recommend having a high-clearance vehicle (4WD not needed). We drove in from Leeds and then drove out in St. George via Cottonwood Road, which was a longer and bumpier route, but provided a great west-facing view of the sunset.
The actual hike out to Yant Flat is easy to navigate and relatively flat (the trail out is roughly 1.3 miles each way). Once you’re out at Yant Flat you’re free to wander and explore the rocks, which gives you a chance to poke around to find your favorite view to watch the sunset from. Unfortunately when I visited it was VERY windy (typical in the spring in the desert), so I didn’t spend too much time exploring, but I definitely want to go back to explore the Candy Cliffs more.
Yant Flat would also be a great place to watch the sunrise because of the semi-east facing views. There are some designated, dispersed campsites on the drive in from Leeds if you want to stay nearby.
About Yant Flat:
- Cost: FREE
- Trailhead Location: Google Maps
- Bathrooms Available?: No
- Dog-Friendly?: Yes
- AllTrails Link
4. Zion National Park
If you’re up for a little drive, Zion National Park is less than an hour away from St. George and makes a great place to watch the sunset. One of my favorite places to watch the sunset from in Zion is the Canyon Overlook Bridge because it’s easily accessible (although parking can be a challenge). The Canyon Overlook Trail (located on the east side of the ZIon-Mount Carmel Canyon tunnel) is a short hike that is popular at both sunrise and sunset, and one of the best easy hikes in southern Utah.
After watching the sunset you can grab dinner in Springdale or Hurricane before making the drive back to St. George. I recommend checking out Camp Outpost or River Rock Roasting Company (they serve pizza and sandwiches in addition to coffee and pastries).
Check out my complete 3-day itinerary for Zion National Park, including information about the shuttle system.
About Zion National Park:
- Cost: $35/vehicle OR use an America the Beautiful pass
- Location: Google Maps
- Bathrooms Available?: Stop at the Visitors Center to use the bathroom.
- Dog-Friendly?: Most trails in Zion are NOT dog-friendly, except the Pa’rus Trail (paved).
5. Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park
Visiting Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park at sunset is really one the best things to do when visiting Kanab, Utah, but if you’re up for a drive it’s not an unreasonable trip from St. George. Once you’re at the dunes you’re free to explore them at your leisure, either by foot or OHV. You can also rent a sandboard to slide down the dunes.
While you can easily visit Coral Pink Sand Dunes from St. George anytime of day, the sunsets are truly unmatched. The sand dunes turn a vibrant shade of orange that often mirrors the sky, and everything feels still and quiet (unless you’re close to the OHVs). It’s definitely one of the best sunset spots in southern Utah, which is why I had to add it to the list even though it’s not in St. George.
About Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park:
- Cost: $15 per vehicle; $10 for Utah seniors 65 and older
- Location: Google Maps
- Bathrooms Available?: Yes
- Dog-Friendly?: Yes, dogs must be leashed.
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