By Annie Knox | Reporter
Utah’s “Mighty Five” national parks aren’t the only destinations drawing in millions of visitors each year.
Its vast network of state parks is also proving popular, and state officials pledged to keep them in top shape as they announced new visitation totals that are up more than double from a decade ago.
In this weekend’s Dispatch we dive into the numbers on the most-loved state parks and bring you our top stories of the week, including the governor’s call for “major reform” of the powerful board that ushered in the Stratos data center plan and state lawmakers’ push for answers on high gas prices.
“As interest in the outdoors continues to increase, we will continue to provide parks full of great recreation opportunities, well-maintained facilities and park rangers ready to help you make lifelong memories.” — Utah State Parks Director Scott Strong on growing visitation.
Red rock shores are pictured at Sand Hollow State Park near Hurricane, Utah. Sand Hollow was the most visited state park during the 2025 to 2026 season. (Courtesy of Utah State Parks)
By Katie McKellar
During the COVID-19 pandemic, visitation to state parks soared. And they’re even more popular today. But state officials don’t want them to get overrun. They said they’re working to continue to provide “well-maintained facilities, friendly park rangers and beautiful lands to enjoy for this and future generations.”
Utah operates 46 state parks that span across the state, including reservoirs, red rocks in Southern Utah, and museums. The new numbers out this week reveal the 10 most visited, along with emerging hot spots.
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