Fans of off-road adventures can find places to play in Utah

Southern Nevadans seeking scenery and adventure find plenty to lure them to Southern Utah. Closer for Las Vegas area residents than many parts of our own state, Utah's "Dixie" lies just a couple of hours' drive away. The Beehive State openly woos out-of-state visitors by enhancing its gorgeous landscapes with a fine system of parks and trail networks appealing to wide outdoor interests.

Increasing numbers of outdoor enthusiasts look for places where they can use off-highway and all-terrain vehicles, OHVs and ATVs, as well as all manner of four-wheel drive vehicles. In Utah, efforts of local, state and federal agencies in concert with private groups result in expanded opportunities for these kinds of outdoor uses.

In Southern Utah, at least two state parks feature off-roading with access to hundreds of miles of old roads and trails designated for ATV and OHV use, as well as for hiking, mountain biking and equestrian trail riding. Utah's Sand Hollow State Park and the adjacent Sand Mountain Recreation Area near Hurricane and Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park near Kanab feature rust-red sand dunes.

Lying north of St. George along the main access road to Zion National Park, Sand Hollow is the newest and one of the largest of Utah's 41 state parks. Reach it by following Interstate 15 north through St. George to the Highway 9 exit. Drive four miles to Sand Hollow Road, passing the turnoff to Quail Creek State Park. Turn right and drive south for three miles, then left to the park entrance.

Opened in 2003, Sand Hollow already ranks among the state's most popular parks. The sprawling desert park covers 20,000 acres, including 1,322-acre Sand Hollow Reservoir, a man-made lake created by diverting a portion of the Virgin River's flow. Hopes for the project include recharging area aquifers.

The lake resembles a miniature Lake Powell with its rugged shoreline of drowned red rock formations. Nearly invisible behind its series of dams, Sand Hollow Reservoir stays out of sight until you reach the park. The reservoir draws boaters, anglers, water skiers and swimmers.

Sand Hollow visitors pay a day-use fee of $10 per vehicle, which gives them access to developed picnic areas, boating launching ramps and staging areas for off-road use of the adjacent 15,500-acre sand dune complex. Those who want to stay overnight in the park pay additional fees. Primitive camping on the beach costs $13 per night, while use of a campsite in either of two 50-site campgrounds with hookups cost $25 per night. Those who visit Utah parks frequently should consider possible savings from the $75 annual pass.

Although Utah State Parks offer 2,000 campsites statewide, they frequently fill up, particularly in summer and much of the year on weekends and holidays. Most campgrounds have a handful of nonreserved campsites, but the majority are included in the state's reservation program. Reserve a campsite by calling Utah State Parks at (800) 322-3770 or using the Internet at reserveamerica.com. Have a credit card ready. Visitors to Sand Hollow might also consider camping at nearby Quail Creek State Park or at the Bureau of Land Management's Red Cliffs Campground just off I-15 near Quail Creek and the little town of Leeds.

Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park lies east of Zion National Park off US 89 between Mount Carmel Junction and Kanab. The only dunes area on the Colorado Plateau, these unusual sands lie at 6,000-feet elevation among pines and junipers. Visitors to the 3,730-acre park enjoy off-roading, sand play, hiking, photography and camping. For day use only, expect to pay a $6 fee. Overnight use of the 22-unit campground costs $16 per night per vehicle.

This popular park provides access to wonderful scenery included on several networks of trails. The popular Hog Canyon trail links Mount Carmel and Kanab via nearly 50 miles of backcountry. At least 200 miles of trail lie in the Kanab area administered by the BLM. When summer days prove too hot, ATV riders head for the mountains where many more miles lie in the cool woods of Dixie National Forest. For details, check with the Utah OHV Program at (801) 538-7433, or the BLM in Kanab at (435) 644-4600.

Margo Bartlett Pesek's column appears on Sundays.