In years past, our family has made the long drive out to California, and Lowell & I were always intrigued when we passed through St. George, Utah. The stunning red rocks caught our attention, contrasting with the green golf courses nestled against the desert hills.
It was definitely on our “bucket list.”
We recently had an invitation to spend a few days with some golfing friends, Steve & Janet from Ogden, Utah, at their son’s vacation home just northeast of St. George in Washington, Utah.
We jumped at the chance and started planning the 1,055-mile drive.
One of our first stops on the way to St. George was Glenwood Springs, Colorado. We’ve never visited the hot springs in late March, but we checked into our favorite hotel, The Lodge, located right behind the pool, and by midafternoon, we were poolside enjoying the sunshine, warm temperatures, and the famous mineral-infused waters all afternoon.
A view of the Hot Springs pools from the bridge and a night shot of the famous and historical Hotel Colorado.
I highly recommend Glenwood Springs and its therapeutic hot springs, as it’s a great way to break up the long drive through the mountains and into Utah! It’s pedestrian-friendly with a large walking bridge over I-70 to its downtown area, where there are plenty of restaurant choices.
The next day, we were on our way to our destination, enjoying rugged mountain scenery along the way and stopping at several viewpoints after leaving I-70 and heading south on Highway 15. Things were about to change drastically when our phones emitted an unfamiliar warning, and within minutes, we hit very strong winds. It was white-knuckle driving for Lowell the rest of the way.
The long stretch of road on Highway 15 spans over 60 miles with no service and offers dramatic scenery featuring canyons and red rock mesas as far as the eye can see.
We spent five nights in St. George, and our friends had every minute planned, including tee times at two stunning golf courses. Our first golf outing was at Sand Hollow Golf Course, and the red rock views did not disappoint! The back nine featured some of the most scenic holes with elevated tees alongside rugged cliffs and rock formations.
Lowell found one of the gigantic red sand traps and managed to escape!
Next, we drove over to Zion National Park and were amazed at its beauty, with the Virgin River weaving in and out of its many canyons. We soon noticed more folks, outfitted from head to toe in waterproof wading gear, and discovered what the popular excursion in Zion was. They were all headed for what they call the Narrows upstream on the Virgin River, which is the narrowest section of Zion Canyon. We hiked about a mile along the paved path before we stopped at the river, where hundreds of hikers were entering the Narrows.
Here, the waders are seen entering and exiting the Narrows. Another easy hike was the Emerald Pools trail, which offered views of scenic waterfalls over the red rocks. The waterfalls were not cascading the day we visited due to the time of year and the little rain, but they were still fun to see.
Our second golf outing was at Coral Canyon Golf Course, which wasn’t as spectacular as Sand Hollow, but a fun course that has undergone several updates and improvements. I loved the extra roll we got at both of these courses.
Our trip was memorable because of Steve & Janet’s hospitality and their knowledge of the area! Besides golfing together, we rented e-bikes and explored nearby Snow Canyon State Park. The red and white sandstone mountains contrasted against the black lava make for a lovely bike ride, especially while enjoying the pedal assist!
There are many great restaurants in and around St. George, and we especially enjoyed an evening dining outside at the renowned Cliffside Restaurant, with expansive views of the city below. On another evening, we went to downtown St. George and ate at a trendy place called Hive 435 Taphouse. We got there late and ordered a few small plates of specialty brochette—the figs & pistachio were yummy!
Our hosts surprised us with an offer to take a joyride on their son’s Polaris RZR. We were hesitant but strapped in and screamed as we raced through an enormous off-road vehicle area nearby. We bounced and climbed over miles of wide-open, hilly terrain featuring sand dunes and rocky trails, and were rewarded with tremendous views of unique rock formations, canyons, and the surrounding Pine Valley Mountains.
On our last day in St. George, we went over to a newer golf resort, Black Desert, and enjoyed lunch on their patio. This is a stay-and-play premier resort designed by Tom Weiskopf, unusual and gorgeous, with holes sculpted through black lava and red rocks. It also features a 19th-hole elevated par-3, where we could watch the action while eating lunch.
The St. George area is packed with outdoor activities and the temperate weather to match. We definitely would like to go back and try out a few more of its many golf courses, bike and hiking trails, and restaurants!
