Visiting St George and Southern Utah

Scenic Southern Utah basks in temperate winter temperatures while northern communities enjoy Utah’s greatest snow on earth. St George and surrounding communities swell as retirees flock to the Southern Utah for the winter climate and beautiful scenery. Southern Utah is known world wide as the location of Zion National Park, Bryce Canyon National Park, Arches National Park and Canyonlands National Park, among additional state parks and wilderness areas. Stunning views delight visitors along journeys through Southern Utah from St George and Cedar City to Bryce Canyon City and Moab. Allow plenty of time for your travel plans portions of Interstate 15 and I-70 can slow when it snows.

The temperate climate of Saint George means a bonus for winter birding fans visiting Southern Utah. The Red Cliffs Audubon Society presents the 2012 St George Winter Bird Festival January 26th through the 28th. The ninth year for the event features field trips and presentations in Southwestern Utah’s beautiful red rock county. Join lectures at the Best Western Abbey Inn Thursday and Saturday evenings and Friday at the Eccles Art Center at Dixie State.

Athletes get ready for an exciting new course at the 2012 St George Half Marathon and 5K January 21st. Join the 5K start at the Dixie Center at 8:50 before the 9am half marathon starts. The course takes runners along paved roads along the banks of the Virgin River. Events also include Tuff Kids Races starting at noon. Bring family and friends for an eventful weekend at January’s St George Half Marathon, 5K and Expo.

The south entrance to Zion National Park is 40-miles east of St George. The delightful community of Springdale, just outside the park, makes a visit to Zion convenient year round. Called the gateway to Zion National Park, Springdale is an enthusiastic community committed to the park, its surroundings and accommodating visitors to the area. Springdale is a small town with helpful stops like the Zion Canyon Arts and Humanities Council’s Z-Arts!, Canyon Community Center and Zion Canyon Visitor’s Bureau.

Cedar City, less than 60 miles north of Springdale, is just off Interstate 15. Home of Southern Utah University, Cedar City is an energetic, yet small, college town. Home of the Utah Shakespeare Festival, Cedar City, hosts “Love Letters” February 4th and 5th at Randall L Jones Theatre on the SUU Campus. Shakespeare fans, looks for the official festival start in June.

With Cedar Breaks National Monument and Brian Head Winter Resort nearby, spectacular winter recreation is convenient for Cedar City residents and visitors. Enjoy the thrill of winter scenery, traveling through Cedar Breaks National Monument on snowmobile, snowshoes or cross country ski’s. Enjoy a day of skiing at Brian Head, 30 minutes from Cedar City, in the beautiful Dixie National Forest - and if you’re lucky you can stick around for the monthly bonfire and S’mores gathering at the Town Fire Station.

St George and Southern Utah Hotel Map