560 units scored Refreshed on a schedule Independent, no sponsored rankings
State ParkUT
Gunlock State Park
NPS / Utah Office of Tourism
59/ 100GOOD RANGE
parkverdict Experience ScoreIndependent, not sponsored
59 of 100. Our independent breadth-and-access index. How we score
Worth it?
Is Gunlock State Park worth it?
Gunlock is a small, warm-water reservoir park in the red-rock corner of southwestern Utah, and it earns its place as a genuine year-round escape rather than a destination in its own right.
The mild climate is the real selling point here. Swimming, paddling, and fishing on a calm reservoir surrounded by desert terrain makes for an easygoing day or overnight, but visitors expecting dramatic canyon hiking or a full activity roster will find the experience score of 59 reflects reality honestly. Pair it with nearby St. George and it punches above its weight.
Who it is for
Best for families or couples based in or passing through St. George who want a low-key beach day in a desert setting, or campers looking for warm-water access in winter. Serious hikers or those chasing big scenery should look elsewhere.
Worth seeing
Warm-water swimming and paddling on Gunlock Reservoir, usable well into the shoulder seasons thanks to the low desert elevation
Camping with reservoir frontage, a rarity in this corner of Utah without driving into more crowded parks
Auto touring the Old Spanish Trail corridor, a historically layered county road connecting the park to the broader region
Biking and hiking options that complement a half-day on the water without demanding a full commitment
Our tipEntrance fees vary seasonally, so check Utah State Parks directly before you go. Arrive early on summer weekends because the beach area fills fast and shade is limited.
How we scored it
Why Gunlock State Park scores 59
The Experience Score is one transparent formula, run the same way on every unit and computed only from public records: how much a unit documents and how easily you can reach it. It is a breadth-and-access index, not a rating of scenery or crowds. Each input below is weighted and capped so no single factor can dominate. Here is what fed Gunlock State Park's 59 of 100:
Activity breadth8 documented activities
Topic breadth0 topics
Official imagery3 public-domain images
Camping on sitedocumented
Entry costVaries
No number is hand-adjusted and no unit pays for placement. The full weights, the floor at 18 and a worked example are on how we score.
The honest limits
What the score cannot tell you
The Experience Score measures what a unit documents and how reachable it is. It does not try to measure what our data cannot see: scenery and beauty, how crowded a place gets, trail or road conditions, the weather the week you visit, or the quality of a particular ranger program. A small, focused site can score lower than a sprawling park and still be the better trip for you. Read the score as a like-for-like comparison of what each unit offers on paper, and read the verdict above for who it actually suits.
From the NPS: Utah State Parks: Boat, fish, and swim on the tranquil waters at Gunlock Reservoir or enjoy an afternoon picnic on the beach. Warm waters during summer and a mild winter climate make the park a year-round destination. The county road to the park is the Old Spanish Trail used by horsemen and raiders from Sante Fe, New Mexico to Los Angeles from the 1820 s until the gold fields became the destination after 1849 and a shorter route was taken. Nearby St. George offers big city amenities such as championship golf and outlets in the warm climate of southwestern Utah. Visitors to Gunlock can continue south on Old 91 to visit the Beaver Dam Wash National Conservation Area and the northernmost Joshua Trees in North America or return east to see the Santa Clara River Reserve or Snow Canyon State Park. Zion National Park is 90 minutes east. There are no reservable campsites, but there are 5 first-come, first-served sites in a campground with a vault toilet or camping on beaches.
On documented breadth and access, Gunlock State Park ranks 26th of 33 park and public-land units we score in Utah.
On offer
Documented activities
Auto TouringBikingCampingFishingHikingWater SportsPaddlingSwimming
