Posts Tagged ‘gunlock utah’
Monday, June 14th, 2010
With this loop there are many places to stop and look around, or even take a hike, or you can simply enjoy the scenic drive. This drive offers different perspectives depending on which direction you follow the loop.
 Gunlock Reservoir Utah The Gunlock scenic drive is a 48-mile loop that circles northwest from St. George, past Gunlock State Park and the Veyo Volcano, through the northeastern edge of Snow Canyon State Park, then back to St. George. The loop is a paved road with a gradual increase and decrease in elevation, perfect for a scenic afternoon drive or an aerobic bike ride.
This is the loop that is part of the famous Ironman Triathlon. Ironman participants do the loop twice. For cyclists, clockwise is the easiest way to ride. Begin in St. George and head west on UT-8 (Sunset Boulevard). Five miles west along the road the beautiful little city of Santa Clara is home to the Santa Clara River Reserve, the Santa Clara City Arboretum, and several city parks and trails. From Santa Clara, UT-8 turns into Old US-91. The turn for Ivins City is just a few miles down the road. Ivins is home to the renowned Tuacahn Theater, nestled beneath the magnificent red rock cliffs near Snow Canyon State Park. In Ivins you’ll also find the Art Village of Kayenta where you can visit various artist studios, galleries and even catch a meal.
Old US-91 continues past Shivwits, a small village on the Shivwits Indian Reservation and home of the oldest band of Paiute Indians. Bear right onto CR-3184/N. Gunlock Road around the reservation. The road gently increases in elevation as it climbs past Gunlock State Park, where the sparkling blue waters of Gunlock Reservoir attract boaters, swimmers, and fisherman year-round. The park and the nearby town of Gunlock are named for “Gunlock Will” Hamblin, a renowned 19th-century Mormon pioneer and sharpshooter.
 View of a volcanic cinder cone near Snow Canyon State Park Continue northeast for about 5 miles on CR-3184/N. Gunlock Road, then turn right onto West Center Street/W. Gunlock Road to the small rural community of Veyo. Turn right (south) onto SR-18. A mile down the road you’ll pass the imposing black cinder pit, Veyo Volcano. Just past Veyo Volcano is the turn-off for Upper Sand Cove Reservoir, where largemouth bass and trout are plentiful. Continue south on scenic highway 18 through the northeastern section of spectacular Snow Canyon State Park and past the Ledges Golf Course. SR-18 turns into Bluff Road as you re-enter St. George.
Tags: backway, byway, gunlock, gunlock reservoir, gunlock utah, Ivins Utah, Santa Clara Utah, scenic drive, scenic loop, veyo utah Posted in Cities - Towns, Fish, Geography, Hiking, Lakes / Reservoirs, Scenic Drives, Snow Canyon, St. George Utah, State Parks, Tuacahn, Water Sports, activities, fishing
Friday, February 5th, 2010
Ever since the new freeway was opened through the Virgin River Gorge, travelers simply don’t travel very much to Las Vegas via old highway 91. This state road, that goes west through the quaint city of Santa Clara, comes to a fork near the base of Utah hill. Go left at the fork, and you would continue toward Las Vegas, turn right and you will go north to Gunlock State Park. The reservoir, tucked away about 15 miles northwest of St. George, is a hidden secret.
 Water Skiing on Gunlock State Park Gunlock State Park is a scenic 600-acre park is a great place for boating, swimming and for other water sport enthusiasts to enjoy some of the warmest water temperatures in Utah. The reservoir, built in 1970 and fed by the Santa Clara River, also provides excellent fishing for bass, crappie, and catfish. The banks of the reservoir are lined with pine and juniper trees, with a backdrop of red and pink Navajo sandstone cliffs to the west and ancient lava beds to the east. With heavy spring snow-melt and rains, you may find water flowing over the southwest corner of the reservoir and then cascading across the red rock formations below. This is quite a spectacular site and the best opportunities to see this are usually between March and April. It really depends on the weather conditions. Also found in this area are a wide array of ancient Native American writings. Click here to read more.
 The town of Gunlock - Just 1 mile north of the Gunlock State Park The park is named for “Gunlock Will” (William Haynes Hamblin), a Mormon pioneer and expert marksman who settled in the area in the mid-1800s. The road to the park was once known as the Old Spanish Trail and was traversed from New Mexico to California by adventurers in search of gold.
Southern Utah’s sunny, dry climate allows the park to remain open year-round, although spring and fall entertain the most visitors. There is a day-use fee ($5.00 in 2010) for this state park, which includes the boat launch and limited facilities, including a covered pavilion and vault toilets. Primitive camping is available ($10 per night in 2010).
Tags: Boating, Camping, cliff jumping, fishing, gunlock, gunlock state park, gunlock utah, kayaking, State Park, State Parks, utah state park, utah state parks, wake boarding, water skiing Posted in ATV/4x4, Adventure, Boating, Camping, Cities - Towns, Hiking, Lakes / Reservoirs, Scenic Drives
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