Don’t believe it when people say that Quail Creek State Park in southern Utah is strictly a water park. While fishing, boating, and other water activities are popular, the park is ideally situated for peaceful camping, mountain biking, hiking, petroglyph hunting, and stunning sunset views. Read on for all the details!
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First-Time Camping at Quail Creek State Park
Our friends raved about their stay at Quail Creek, but we weren’t convinced. We’d driven by in the past and weren’t overly impressed by the open campsites above the lake.
Our go-to campground in southern Utah has always been Snow Canyon State Park, but we decided to give Quail Creek a try for a night.
Three nights later—only leaving because of other commitments—we finally moved on.
Did You Know?
The Quail Creek Reservoir was built in 1984 to provide irrigation and drinking water for the St. George area. The reservoir is fed primarily by the Virgin River via a buried pipeline, with only a small portion of its water coming from Quail Creek.
Reaching depths of up to 120 feet (37 m), the reservoir is cold enough to support stocked rainbow trout, bullhead catfish, and crappie. Largemouth bass and bluegill thrive in the warmer upper layers. The state park officially opened in 1986.
In an unexpected event, the south dam broke, sending water cascading downstream. Fortunately, no lives were lost. The dam was reconstructed using roller-compacted concrete, ensuring its stability for the future.
Setting Up Camp
We arrived in the late afternoon, surprised to find the park relatively quiet despite the clear blue skies and mild mid-February temperatures (around 17°C). Our assigned site (#15) overlooked the lake, just a short stroll from the washrooms and close to the showers in the new campground loop.
Feasting on “dizzy chicken”—you know, the rotisserie chickens that spin endlessly at grocery stores—we enjoyed the view of anglers trolling on the water.
As night fell, we took a quick walk around the campground. Stepping onto the dock, we watched the brightest planets appear and stars begin to twinkle. Quail Creek is a fantastic dark sky park.
Exploring Nearby Red Cliffs Recreation Area
Had we realized how close Red Cliffs Recreation Area was—just 3.4 miles (5.5 km) away—we would have unloaded our bikes and ridden over. A weekend favorite for both locals and travelers, the small parking area fills up quickly, but we managed to snag a spot.
Along the short path up the creek, we spotted a cave and scrambled up the small hill to its entrance. Despite the unfortunate graffiti on the walls, white pictographs still stood out on the cave roof.
A local woman from Cedar City shared a story about a man who played a flute and drummed near the cave during a previous visit. As luck would have it, we encountered him ourselves.
Gary, as we later learned, sat on a reddish sandstone boulder, sprinkling birdseed in a circle. “It’s an offering for the animals,” he explained. He then lit incense, crushed seeds, and tossed them into the wind “for the gods.”
Though he didn’t appear to be of Native American descent, he may have had ancestral ties. He played his flute, filling the cave with melodic sounds, while others joined in with a drum and rattle. It was a perfect, unexpected moment of cultural connection.
After listening for a while, we continued to the nearby waterfall. Some visitors opt to scramble up the Moki steps—hand and footholds carved into the rock—but we had more to explore.
Searching for the Past: Dinosaur Tracks & Ancestral Puebloan Sites
Heading back toward the Red Cliffs campground, we hiked an unsigned trail leading to dinosaur tracks discovered in 1998.
Dilophosaurus? Megapnosaurus? We couldn’t tell the difference, but millions of years ago, dinosaurs roamed this land, leaving behind fossilized footprints as evidence of their ancient presence.
From there, we continued along the ridge to an overlook—hey, you can see a sliver of Quail Creek State Park from here! Beyond the cable fence, we spotted an enticing scramble along a wide cliffside route leading to a rib trail that descended into the wash below. Naturally, we followed it.
A well-traveled path led us to a dry waterfall with a murky pool at its base. A wintering couple from South Dakota assured us that the end of the canyon was just a short scramble away. Sure enough, a rubble-filled slot canyon awaited at the end.
Following a side creek and slickrock runoff, we reached a saddle and descended to the Anasazi Trail. The Ancestral Puebloan people (formerly called the Anasazi) farmed small fields along the creek floodplains, gathering seeds, fruits, and nuts while hunting game.
On the Hunt for Petroglyphs
Whenever we travel through the American Southwest, we always check for nearby ruins or rock art. Quail Creek State Park has petroglyphs right inside the park—above the bathroom at the boat launch!
Unfortunately, many have been vandalized. For a better experience, take a walk on the other side of the reservoir.
Driving from camp, we headed to the end of the reservoir and turned left past the water treatment plant. Following signs for Zion Base Camp, we parked at a small trailhead with a wooden staircase.
We followed an old road, occasionally detouring onto mountain bike trails, before reaching Quail Creek Overlook. From there, we continued to the second dam, overlooking the Virgin River. The road crossed the dam and zigzagged down the opposite side.
At the bottom, we turned left toward a pump house, where we found metal poles marking a large series of faded petroglyphs.
After pausing for lunch and soaking in the history, we scrambled up a narrow path to the Virgin River overlook before heading down to the truck again.
By 5 p.m., we were settled in again, watching the golden, pink, and chestnut hues of the peak across the lake glow in the sunset. But this time, we saw it through a new lens—one shaped by the stories, discoveries, and adventures of the day.
When You Visit Quail Creek State Park
Quail Creek State Park is located 14 miles (22.5 km) north of St. George, Utah.
We didn’t need a reservation during our visit, but bookings can be made through Reserve America. The park has 44 campsites, including 26 new sites with power, water, a dump station, and a new shower building.
- Primitive sites: $28/night
- Sites with power & water: $40/night
For more information, visit the Quail Creek State Park website.
Like Red Cliffs, the petroglyph drive is a short 3-mile (5 km) drive or bike ride from Quail Creek State Park.
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