Sand Hollow State Park Forced To Temporarily Turn Away Visitors
Apr 25, 2020, 6:13 PM | Updated: 7:02 pm
Sand Hollow State Park was forced to turn away visitors at one point on Saturday. (Carl Downing)
(Carl Downing)
HURRICANE, Utah – Rangers at Sand Hollow State Park said they were forced to turn away visitors Saturday due to overcrowding.
The large crowds came after Governor Gary Herbert lifted restrictions at state parks on April 17.
Officials said Sand Hollow State Park reached capacity early Saturday afternoon, forcing park rangers to temporarily close the park’s gates to new visitors.
A Facebook video posted Saturday showed a line of traffic, estimated to be two miles long, outside the park’s entrance. Visitors said people were parking along the roadway and hoping fences to enter the park.
Posted by Carl Downing on Saturday, April 25, 2020
The park had since dropped below capacity, allowing new visitors to enter the park Saturday evening.
State parks in all Utah counties except for Summit and Grand counties have reopened to all Utah visitors.
Dead Horse Point, Echo, Historic Union Pacific Trail and Rockpoint state parks are the only parks open to county residents only as of Saturday.
Officials said Utahns who visit the parks should practice responsible recreation by maintaining a six-foot distance from others, staying away from the parks if they’re sick or showing any COVID-19 symptoms and helping keep parks clean.
