A visit to Sand Hollow State Park to kick off the “kayak paddling” season, share my passion for kayaking with a good bud while I’m still in Southern Utah, and to check out the RV camping areas available at this amazing state park.
Utah is a truly amazing state. It is home to no less than five National Parks, but the hidden secret (in my opinion) are the state Parks. Over the course of my RV travels, now approaching 14 years, I’ve visited several of Utah’s State Parks. I can confidently state that Sand Hollow State Park is one of Utah’s best!
An early Spring visit to Sand Hollow State Park with a good friend
April 3rd started out snowy in Parowan and Cedar City. The photos and video verify this. In fact, it was probably the greatest snowfall in the valley of the entire winter season! After a nearly snowless winter, it was surreal departing from Parowan with plans to kayak in Sand Hollow with Isaac.
Elevation is King!
There’s a physical reality to Southern Utah… elevation is everything! You see, Parowan and Cedar City are both situated on a mesa at about 6000 ft. elevation. Our drive to Sand Hollow was less than an hour, but we descended about 3000 ft. before reaching Sand Hollow. Upon our arrival, temperatures were in the high 50’s. The weather had cleared and it turned out to be a perfect day for paddling in the state park’s lake.
RV Camping in Sand Hollow
If you’re a regular visitor to my site, you know that Isaac and I did several excursions during winter and spring 2025. On this particular excursion, we did not overnight RV camp at Sand Hollow. My camper was “busy” spending the winter in Parowan at Painted Hills RV Resort. It turned out to be a great, centrally located campground from which to launch our explorations this winter and spring – most of which are detailed at RVAcrossAmerica.net.
Incidentally, RV Camping in Utah’s state parks has become increasingly costly in recent years. It follows an unfortunate trend I’ve noted in several other western states. Full hookup sites are $50/night and primitive sites are an incredibly high $35/night. I will have some pointed things to say about RV camping this spring in an upcoming post – what I’m seeing and trends that may lead to cost reductions at campgrounds. Fees, water conditions for Sand Hollow and much more can be found HERE.
RV Life and RV Travel can be great experiences but… Buying a RV Camper often is a troublesome experience
When it comes to purchasing a RV camper, there IS a better way – have a “guide by your side who also has your back.” As a full time RV’er myself who has experience in the RV industry (sales and service), I offer a Concierge RV Buying (and Selling) Service. Simply put, I will work with you to ensure you get the RIGHT camper at the BEST possible price. Details can be found HERE – or feel free to call/text me at 307 269 2546 (I’m in Mountain Time.)
The water and scenery at Sand Hollow State Park are amazing but…
When we visited in early April, the weather and water were perfect! By afternoon, air temperatures reached into the low 60’s and the water was about 60F. The water was quite clear and the surrounding red rock environment created an ambiance that is hard to match. BUT, be aware… later in Spring and into the Summer, the weather turns VERY hot here (air temperatures near or over 100F) and the water warms to near or over 80F. Currently as I write this in late June, the water temperature is about 77F.
The park advises visitors on their website that when water temperatures exceeds 65F, swimmers itch is likely to be experienced. Further, in recent years, I’ve observed that toxic algae (harmful algal blooms) have been detected later in the Summer months. For these reasons, in my opinion, its best to visit Sand Hollow State Park between October and May.
After a couple of hours paddling and enjoying the lake, we elected to move on but neither of us were ready to return to our daily lives. The spirit of adventure was upon us and it led us to another adventure!
We jumped in the truck, cared not about how much diesel we burned and headed east through the desert towards Kanab (if nothing else to check it out.) After Kanab, which was pretty much a bust, Isaac found couple of short hikes that were pretty interesting as we headed north on U.S. 89 towards Panguitch. More on these adventures in an upcoming post!
Paddling Recommendations (with RV Travelers in mind)
I prefer INFLATABLE kayaks. They’re lightweight (generally 18-35 pounds), and thanks to newer technology, they inflate to become quite rigid. They remain significantly more stable than their “hard shell” counterparts, and are FAR more comfortable to sit in.
Inflatable kayaks fold up easily and take up VERY little space when traveling. I have tested several models and here are my favorites:
Aquaglide Chelan 120 – VERY reliable, drop stitch bottom (pressures to 6psi), NO inner tubes. Definitely the BEST I’ve had thus far!
Aquaglide Chelan 140 – Similar to above except a couple of feet longer, can accommodate ONE or TWO paddlers.
Advanced Elements Sport – Lightweight, inexpensive, does have innertubes, so be careful to NOT over-inflate! Consider getting their Lumbar seat. It’s GREAT!
I love paddling during a summer’s afternoon (or morning, evening, or whenever!) But, I like to do it safely (get a lifejacket!), and for that matter a good paddle. Further, I like making inflation EASY! One highly rated option is this pump. Be sure to select one that can be custom set to the inflation pressure(s) required for each section of your kayak!
Returning to Cedar City – RV travel info
We eventually headed back to Cedar City and cutoff U.S. 89 well before Panguitch. The cutoff is a spectacular mountain pass known as Highway 14. This pass would be fine for most RV travelers. It is kept open most of the year. Across the pass, you’ll reach elevations that approach 9000 feet.
In a future post, I will share a bit more about the two ‘mini’ hikes we took in our massive loop back towards Cedar City.
As always, if my content warrants it, please leave a comment below (I read and respond to ALL.) Further, if you’d be kind enough to click on the YouTube icon above, load the video directly and then like/share and comment on the video. It most definitely helps to get the “algorithm” to share my content with more like minded folks.
It’s RV’ing season… NEED ACCESSORIES?
Click the image to see what I personally use and recommend
Lastly, if you’d like to be notified of upcoming posts as I release them, please do subscribe to my free newsletter below.
