Sand Hollow Triathlon

Sand Hollow State Park in Hurricane, Utah, built its reputation on the contrast between its 1,330-acre warm-water reservoir and the brilliant red Navajo sandstone formations that rise from its shoreline and frame every sightline on the bike course. The Sand Hollow Triathlon returns on May 31, 2026, with race start at 7:00 a.m. MST. The event offers four competition formats: an Olympic Triathlon (1.5-kilometer swim, 33.3-kilometer bike, 10-kilometer run), a Sprint Triathlon on shorter distances, a Sprint Duathlon for competitors who want to skip the swim, and an Olympic Aquabike combining the swim and bike legs without the run. Competitors of all experience levels are represented across these formats, which is part of why the event has developed the local-favorite status that distinguishes it from purely elite-focused triathlon circuits.

The swim begins in the reservoir’s calm, clear water, which reaches comfortable temperatures by late May at Sand Hollow’s southern Utah elevation of approximately 3,200 feet. The bike course follows Sand Hollow Road and adjacent routes through a terrain of red sandstone buttes and desert scrub that generates consistent attention in the race community for its scenic distinctiveness. Morning temperatures in late May run in the high 50s to low 60s at the race start, warming into the 70s and low 80s by the midday run finish window. Southern Utah’s low humidity and high UV index at this elevation make sun protection a practical necessity, not a suggestion, from the bike segment onward. Registration and current year details are available through the race organizer’s website.

Sand Hollow Beyond Race Day

Sand Hollow State Park operates its recreation infrastructure well beyond the triathlon calendar. The reservoir’s warm, clear water makes it one of the more popular water sports destinations in southern Utah, with powerboating, wake surfing, kayaking, paddleboarding, and swimming all accessible from the park’s launch areas and sandy beaches. ATV trails on the adjacent Sand Mountain Recreation Area’s dunes provide a non-water option for visitors extending the weekend beyond the race itself. The park’s beach areas and picnic grounds are open for spectators supporting competitors across all race distances.

If You’re Going with Kids
Zion National Park, 20 miles northeast of Hurricane via State Route 9, is the most straightforward family extension of any Sand Hollow visit. Zion’s lower canyon, accessible from the Zion Canyon Shuttle, offers the iconic Narrows trail walk for families with older children and the short, flat Riverside Walk for those with younger participants. The Angels Landing trail is restricted to permitted adult hikers; the canyon floor and Temple of Sinawava area are accessible to all ages. Early morning arrival at the park entrance is essential during the summer travel season to avoid vehicle congestion at the main gate.

The St. George Water Recreation Corridor

Lake Powell, 75 miles northeast of Hurricane on US-89, is the largest reservoir in the Colorado Plateau system and offers houseboat rentals, canyon kayaking, and remote camping experiences accessible from Wahweap Marina near Page, Arizona, for visitors building a multi-day southern Utah itinerary around the triathlon. St. George Regional Airport, 15 miles from Hurricane via I-15, serves the area with connections to Salt Lake City, Los Angeles, Denver, and Phoenix, making the region practical for out-of-state competitors who want to combine a race weekend with canyon country exploration.

Where to Stay

Hurricane and the nearby city of St. George, 20 miles west on I-15, provide the full range of lodging options from motels adjacent to the park entrance to vacation rentals in St. George’s residential neighborhoods. Look on Lake.com for properties in the Washington County and St. George corridor that position competitors within a 20-minute pre-race drive of the Sand Hollow State Park start area.