About this spot
Gunlock Falls appears only when Gunlock Reservoir, 15 miles northwest of St. George, spills over its earthen dam — a rare event, typically after heavy spring runoff, that has happened only a handful of times in recent decades. When flowing, cascading sandstone pools and natural waterslides draw crowds who cliff jump and slide, with reported jump heights from a few feet up to roughly 70 feet. This is genuinely dangerous: a large submerged boulder near the base has caused serious injuries and at least one death, rocks are slick, and Utah State Parks has logged more than a dozen search-and-rescue calls in a single season. Park at the reservoir's south end and check current flow status before visiting — the falls are unpredictable and can vanish for years at a time.