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If Southern Utah seceded, St. George would be its capital. It's the biggest city down south, buffered from the north by a statewide swath of treacherous(ly beautiful) red rock, and it would likely find some allies in its desert climates, Las Vegas and Arizona.
But let's hope that never happens, because Utah's a whole lot more interesting with St. George in it. It's more perfect as a union, you could say. Northerners, especially those whose feet are always cold, like to take their winters where temperatures are a full 15° F warmer than in the Wasatch Front.
Fair weather
| Averages | Jan | Feb | Mar |
|---|---|---|---|
| high | 54°F | 60°F | 68°F |
| low | 31°F | 34°F | 37°F |
| precipitation | 1.1" | 1.0" | 0.9" |
This is a land that knows no off season. January's in the mid 50s, so bring a jacket and start hiking, biking, basking, skiing, golfing and smelling the juniper.
Activities galore
Zion National Park is open year-round. See it like a local in the winter or early spring — you'll stay cheaper, tour in smaller crowds and the weather is perfect for hiking.
Snow Canyon State Park is one of the best winter recreational spots in the Western U.S. A little snow makes the scenery pop but it's still almost warm. Stunning views, excellent facilities and a wide variety of trails.
Other hiking and biking trails radiate in every direction from St. George. The new cool kid in town, Gooseberry Mesa bike area, is just a short drive away.
Camping is an option June to June (the long way) in the lowlands around St. George. Lots of modern campgrounds in state & national parks (Zion, Snow Canyon, Sand Hollow, Quail Creek) and there's great private camping and RV options, too.
Dinosaur Discovery Site at Johnson Farm shows off one of the world's best ancient trackways. (Maybe aliens will study humans' freeways in 65 million years...) A fun spot for families with other dino exhibits and activities.
Rosenbruch Wildlife Museum showcases 300 species in an indoor setting designed to simulate the creatures' natural habitat. If you stage your photos right, you'll blow your friends' minds.
St. George Children's Museum is a great way to reward your kids for following you around to all the boring scenery. Hands-on activities and an innovative music room.
Gunlock State Park is a hidden treasure virtually unknown to tourists. It's like a secret level on Super Mario World. A gorgeous little reservoir tucked into red rock country, it's got great camping and fishing year round, though the boat ramps are closed in winter. No established trails but it's fun to hike freeform. (The water's so low right now you can even hike right up to a largemouth bass.) Upcoming events
St. George Half Marathon/5K | January 17
This is Southern Utah's oldest, most popular half, attracting 2500 runners every year. Run paved roads along the Virgin River, through the rusty rocks. Registration (half: $55; 5k: $28) gets you chip-timing, post-race snacks, a shirt and a bragging rights.
St. George Winter Bird Festival | January 22-24
You know how you call someone who goes south for the winter a "snowbird"? That's because of birds. Because birds like the warm, too. Get it? You get it.
Due to the population of birds that go south to stay out of the snow, St. George has lots of migrating species. Here you'll find workshops, presentations and field trips to look at the birds. Who knows, after this, you may even want to become a professional birder. Yeah, that's a thing.
Parade of Homes | February 13-22
St. George has a nice blend of wealthy homebuilders and beautiful, available real estate. A big draw for the HGTV crowd.
Tri-State ATV Jamboree | March 11-14
ATVs (all-terrain vehicles) are even more fun than they look, and this nobby-tired convention is a blast. It starts in Hurricane (pronounced "HURR-a-kn") and explores surrounding trails. The $110 registration pays for meals, a shirt, activities, prize drawings, guides and trail fees. Anyone with an ATV is welcome but those with camo pants are given priority.
Did you know?
Speaking of secession, Utah's "Dixie" was actually settled in response to the Civil War. Mormon prophet Brigham Young sent 300 families south to found a cotton mission in 1861 when he feared the war would threaten the nation's supply.
These families of farmers, builders, businessmen and teachers learned their calling when their names were read in the church's general conference. The cotton farming wasn't competitive but the settlement stuck around because St. George is awesome (as illustrated above).
It was named after Mormon apostle George A. Smith, but the founder of the settlement, Erastus Snow (another apostle and original cowboy), left his out-of-season surname on Snow Canyon, Snow College and Snowflake, AZ. He also named Hurricane when a twister tore the roof off a buggy of surveyors.
