Sand Hollow State Park stays open, boat ramp conditions look good

Sand Hollow State Park stayed open in the May 19 conditions update, and the part that mattered most for trip planning was simple: the main boat ramp was open and launching conditions were good. For boaters trying to line up a peak-season run, that turned Sand Hollow back into a workable water day instead of a question mark.

The campground situation was just as useful. The park said campsites were open year-round, reservations were highly recommended, and extra vehicles had to be paid for at the park entrance. There was also no after-hours reentry once the front gate closed, which changes how late arrivals and early departures have to be handled. Sand Hollow listed summer hours at 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., so anyone planning a full day on the lake or an overnight on the edge of the reservoir needed to think about the gate before sunset, not after.

Fire rules were open but not loose. Fires were permitted in all campgrounds, but primitive beach camping was limited to propane fires and propane barbecues. Campsites allowed up to eight people, and primitive camping was limited, with reservations preferred. Fees were posted at $25 for Utah residents’ day use, $35 per vehicle for non-residents, and $30 per night for primitive camping with one vehicle.

The park also kept the live cameras front and center, with feeds for the entrance gate, lake view and OHV tunnel. That is the kind of practical tool that actually helps on a busy Friday, because it lets you see whether the gate area is stacking up, whether the lake looks worth the drive and whether the off-road side is moving. Sand Hollow Reservoir is Washington County’s drinking-water source, so the park also stressed that fuel and chemicals must stay out of the water. The page said there was no spearfishing on the reservoir.

Sand Hollow opened to the public in 2003 and has become one of Utah’s most popular multiuse parks, with water, camping and OHV access all in one place. The Sand Mountain side still offers about 20,000 acres of riding accessed through the tunnel south of the staging area, and the reservoir is listed at 1,322 acres. With the ramp open, the cameras live and the gate rules clear, Sand Hollow was in the sweet spot for anyone trying to squeeze one more desert weekend out of the season.