Why La Verkin Overlook is Worth Visiting While in Southern Utah

Among all the iconic attractions in southern Utah like Zion National Park, Bryce Canyon, Capitol Reef, and much more, it’s easy to miss some of the lesser known but still amazing places to see around here. La Verkin Overlook is one of those underrated spots that’s worth visiting when you want to get away from the crowds.

What to Know About La Verkin Overlook

La Verkin Overlook is a beautiful spot in the town of La Verkin, Utah. It features a short hiking trail with stunning scenery as well as free dispersed camping with a view.

Where is La Verkin, Utah?

The town of La Verkin, Utah is located in the Hurricane Valley, which makes a great basecamp for visiting Zion National Park and other attractions in southern Utah. La Verkin sits right between the towns of St. George and Springdale, about a 25 minute drive from each of them.

How to Get to La Verkin Overlook

You can either drive or hike to La Verkin Overlook. The drive is about 15 mins from the center of town, along UT-9 to La Verkin Overlook Road. The trailhead to hike to La Verkin Overlook is right on the edge of town, just east of the main drag of State Street.

When to Visit La Verkin, Utah

Like much of southern Utah, the most pleasant temperatures for visiting La Verkin will be in spring or fall. Winter can also be a beautiful time to visit the desert (I’m a huge fan of Zion in winter!) and is typically much less crowded.

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If you can handle the heat, visiting La Verkin in the summer is doable, and you can enjoy the water at Confluence Park and Sand Hollow Reservoir nearby.

Why Visit La Verkin Overlook

With all the sights to see in southern Utah, La Verkin Overlook can get, well, overlooked. But its convenient location and beautiful views make it worth a quick visit or a longer stay.

Hiking La Verkin Overlook Trail

This trail runs from a residential neighborhood in La Verkin up along a ridgeline to La Verkin Overlook. It’s only around 2 miles roundtrip, but it’s relatively steep with about 650 feet of elevation gain along the way, so be prepared for a workout.

Though it’s certainly not as well known as other hikes in southern Utah, that means it is less crowded than the more popular trails, and it offers a great perspective of the Hurricane Valley. From La Verkin Overlook, you’ll get gorgeous views down the cliffs to the Virgin River and an awesome birds-eye view of the town of La Verkin, Utah. It’s especially beautiful at sunrise or sunset.

Dispersed Camping on La Verkin Overlook Road

While you’ll find tons of amazing places to stay in southern Utah, if you’re looking to camp while you’re in the area but can’t snag a spot at one of the campgrounds in Zion, La Verkin Overlook is a good place to make your basecamp.

You can dispersed camp for free on certain sections of La Verkin Overlook Road (just be sure to check the signs to make sure you’re not on private property). It can get quite crowded here, and there isn’t a ton of privacy, but it’s only about a half an hour drive to Zion National Park.

What Else to Do in La Verkin, Utah

La Verkin, Utah is a small town, but it offers several cool things to do, and you could definitely spend some quality time here during your visit to southern Utah.

STAY AT THE DWELLINGS

My favorite place to stay in La Verkin is The Dwellings. This is an eco-friendly, tiny home rental property with 13 dwellings, and I know it well because it is right around the corner from where I live! I also once took a little staycation to The Dwellings to experience it fully.

Read all about my staycation at The Dwellings here!

Each dwelling offers plenty of privacy since they are separate tiny homes. You’ll have a small kitchen to prepare meals and a private patio to relax on. Plus, the property is within walking distance of coffee and dining options and has its own direct access to the Confluence Park Trail.

EXPLORE AND HIKE CONFLUENCE PARK

Confluence Park is a 344-acre park that sits at the base of basaltic lava cliffs. The Confluence Park Trail runs right along the Virgin River past rock formations and historical buildings. You’ll find lots of areas to play and swim along the river, and at the end of the trail is a fantastic area with a sandy beach, a great swimming hole, and a rope swing!

ZION CANYON HOTSPRINGS

In June 2025 the new Zion Canyon Hotspring Resort will be opening. Zion Canyon Hot Springs is a desert oasis with sections for families and adults. Enjoy mineral pools, a freshwater pool, and unique WorldSprings pools inspired by global hot springs. Relaxation awaits! CLICK TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS INCREDIBLE NEW RESORT

TAKE A BREAK AT RIVER ROCK ROASTING COMPANY

River Rock Roasting Company is definitely THE place to get your coffee in La Verkin. Grab a cup or a latte and sit on the patio for breathtaking views of the basalt gorge and the Virgin River. And be sure to get one of their famous cinnamon rolls, too – seriously the best cinnamon roll you will ever eat!

Three Falls trail via Gould's Wash

This 2.1-mile out-and-back trail near Hurricane, Utah, is a fun little adventure with some moderate challenges. It’s a popular spot for hiking and running, but if you hit it at the right time, you can still find some quiet moments. The best time to go is between September and May.

The trail winds through Gould’s Wash, taking you past interesting rock formations and cliffs. The falls are only running when it rains so if you are planning to see waterfalls you will be dissapointed. Be ready for some steep sections and rock scrambling! Sturdy shoes and hiking poles will definitely come in handy. Try to start early to beat the heat in the summer.

Visit Sand Hollow State Park

Find an oasis in the desert at Sand Hollow State Park, only 20 minutes outside La Verkin. With calm blue water and a stunning red rock backdrop, the reservoir at Sand Hollow is the perfect place to spend a warm summer day swimming, kayaking, paddleboarding, or just playing in the sand. And if you have an adventurous streak, you can even go cliff jumping!

Learn more about visiting Sand Hollow State Park here – and check out my full rundown of southern Utah state parks, too!

Head to Hurricane

The town of Hurricane is located right next to La Verkin, and I have a soft spot for it since I was born and raised (and raised my own kids) here! Among the things to do in Hurricane, you’ll find a few more hiking trails here, and you might be surprised to discover some of the best pizza on the planet at Dixie Pizza Wagon.

Find out more about why I love the Hurricane Valley so much here and why it’s absolutely worth a visit!