Gunlock State Park
Gunlock, Utah · Gunlock State Park
Verified · 4 independent sources
- WATER
- reservoir
- FALLS
- Waterfall on site
- ACCESS
- Designated swim area
- FEE
- $10
- SEASON
- Best in summer
About Gunlock State Park
Gunlock State Park is a 548-acre Utah state park about 13-15 miles northwest of St. George, centered on the 266-acre Gunlock Reservoir formed by a 1970 dam on the Santa Clara River. The park is officially promoted for swimming, boating, fishing, and picnicking, making the reservoir a legitimate lake to swim in, and in high-runoff years a seasonal spillway waterfall known as Gunlock Falls draws additional visitors in search of a swimming hole.
The park sits in the red-rock desert of Washington County in southwestern Utah, with the reservoir ringed by cottonwood shade trees and a sandy beach area. When flowing, the spillway waterfall spills over red sandstone in a series of chutes just outside the reservoir's main gate.
Swimming at Gunlock State Park
The state park itself advertises swimming directly in the reservoir's 'tranquil waters,' alongside boating and fishing, from a beach/picnic area suited to families and casual swimmers; the water is described as warm in summer with mild winters allowing year-round use. Separately, at the seasonal spillway (Gunlock Falls), visitors report pools at the base of the falls, but the state park and firsthand visitor accounts both warn this area has swift water and slick rock rather than being a designated swim spot.
How to get to this swimming hole
Located about 13-15 miles northwest of St. George, Utah, near the town of Gunlock; the parking area for the seasonal Gunlock Falls spillway is just before the entrance to the Gunlock Reservoir park gate.
Parking: A wide parking area exists at the falls/spillway pullout just before the reservoir entrance, with a QR code for a day-use fee; additional parking is available at the reservoir's developed beach and boat ramp area.
The hike in
The main reservoir swim/beach area is a drive-up spot with no hike needed. Separately, an optional short unnamed spillway path leads from the falls parking pullout (just outside the reservoir's main gate) to Gunlock Falls - about 100 yards one-way, rocky and steep near the top - but this pool is not the designated swim area and is flagged as hazardous rather than a swim destination.
No hike is required to reach Gunlock Reservoir's main swimming/beach area, which is accessible directly from the park's parking areas.
Plan your visit
Bringing kids
OK with supervision
The main reservoir beach/day-use area is promoted by the state park itself as a family swim spot (sandy beach, calm 'tranquil waters', warm in summer), so it suits kids with normal supervision. However, if visitors also walk to the separate seasonal Gunlock Falls spillway (just outside the reservoir gate), that area has swift water, slick rock, and steep drop-offs, and a first-hand account documents a 2023 drowning and a serious fall there - not appropriate for kids without very close supervision, and best skipped with young children.
Parking
Paid, $10 day-use fee (paid via QR code, Iron Ranger station, or Ventech kiosk; annual Utah State Parks pass accepted)
A wide pullout/parking area sits at the Gunlock Falls spillway just before the reservoir's main gate; separate parking is available at the developed beach and boat ramp area inside the park.
Restrooms
Yes
Pit toilets confirmed at the Gunlock Falls trailhead near the bridge (first-hand account). Restroom facilities are typical at the developed campground/beach day-use area as well, but the exact type/location there was not independently confirmed in this research pass.
Hours
Park open 7:00 AM-10:00 PM daily; boat ramp hours 7am-8pm (May-September) and 7am-7pm (October-April)
On the water
Restrictions: No documented no-wake zone or electric-only rule was found for Gunlock Reservoir. The park's own conditions page currently posts a 'floating debris in reservoir - launch at your own risk' notice for the boat ramp.
The state park explicitly promotes boating and fishing alongside swimming ('Boat, fish, and swim on the tranquil waters'), and there is a boat ramp on-site with posted seasonal hours (7am-8pm May-Sept; 7am-7pm Oct-Apr).
Rentals nearby
On-site rentals at Gunlock State Park: jet skis, boats (including a double-decker boat with waterslide), canoes, stand-up paddleboards, kayaks, UTV/Can-Am off-road vehicles, and inflatable water parks
Prices: Jet skis $149; canoes $25; stand-up paddleboards $25; boats (double-decker w/ waterslide) $699; UTV/Can-Am $99; inflatable water park $449 (individual) / $529 (group); kayak pricing not published. State park entrance fee is separate.
On-site at Gunlock State Park (company HQ listed at 3718 N Wolf Creek Dr, Eden, UT 84310, but this location operates directly at the reservoir)
Backstory
The park and town are named for William 'Gunlock Will' Hamblin, the area's first settler in 1857, known for repairing muzzleloader gunlocks. The reservoir dam was built in 1970 for irrigation and flood control, impounding the Santa Clara River. The historic Old Spanish Trail (used 1820s-1849) runs adjacent to the park.
Gunlock State Park: FAQ
Does Gunlock State Park charge a fee?
Day-use pass required (paid at a fee booth, Iron Ranger station, or Ventech kiosk); a first-hand account cites a $10 fee at the falls parking pullout; annual Utah State Parks passes are accepted.
Is Gunlock State Park kid friendly?
The main reservoir beach/day-use area is promoted by the state park itself as a family swim spot (sandy beach, calm 'tranquil waters', warm in summer), so it suits kids with normal supervision. However, if visitors also walk to the separate seasonal Gunlock Falls spillway (just outside the reservoir gate), that area has swift water, slick rock, and steep drop-offs, and a first-hand account documents a 2023 drowning and a serious fall there - not appropriate for kids without very close supervision, and best skipped with young children.
Do I need to hike to reach Gunlock State Park?
No significant hike is required. The swimming area is close to parking and access.
Where do I park for Gunlock State Park?
A wide pullout/parking area sits at the Gunlock Falls spillway just before the reservoir's main gate; separate parking is available at the developed beach and boat ramp area inside the park.
Can I bring a kayak or paddleboard to Gunlock State Park?
The state park explicitly promotes boating and fishing alongside swimming ('Boat, fish, and swim on the tranquil waters'), and there is a boat ramp on-site with posted seasonal hours (7am-8pm May-Sept; 7am-7pm Oct-Apr).
When is the best time to visit Gunlock State Park?
Summer for reservoir swimming and boating (warm water, year-round mild climate); spring runoff (not guaranteed every year, dependent on snowpack) for the Gunlock Falls spillway to be flowing.
What are the rules at Gunlock State Park?
Park hours are 7:00 AM-10:00 PM daily; boat ramp hours are 7am-8pm (May-September) and 7am-7pm (October-April); open fires of any kind are currently prohibited under Stage 2 fire restrictions; recreational water quality is subject to a Utah DEQ algae watch/advisory status.
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