With an unusual amount of rainfall the past few weeks, the Gunlock Reservoir was completely full and with another storm upon us, we decided to drive to the reservoir and check out the beautiful waterfalls that are made when water flows over the south end of the dam.
It is about a 1 hour drive from my home in Hurricane, Utah. From the St. George area, you take old highway 91 to Gunlock Road. Once on Gunlock road, it's about 6.4 miles to get to the parking area. You can't see the reservoir from the parking area, which is south of the reservoir, but you can see the waterfalls. (Remember, there will only be waterfalls after the reservoir is full and overflowing which doesn't happen very often).
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| Here's a look at the parking area on the west side of Gunlock Road. |
From the parking area, find a break in the wood fence and make your way down the slightly steep dirt trail which leads to the falls.
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| This is where the trail starts down from the parking area past the wooden fence. |
The hike is only around a quarter of a mile and if you enjoy outdoor activities, it isn't difficult at all. But be aware that if you're visiting to see the waterfalls, most likely the ground is wet and much of the hike is through dirt, which becomes muddy, and over slickrock which can be a little slippery. Still, if you enjoy exploring and don't have any major physical limitations, it is an easy, enjoyable hike.
There are a few use trails but for the most part, you just chose your own path to see the amazing waterfalls. You can also walk to the top of the falls where you can see the reservoir and the water that is pouring over the south end.
We were luck enough to time the hike perfectly when the rain had just started letting up and right before it started coming down hard again. Here's a look at the hike with pictures:
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