These Mesmerizing Waterfalls Flow Only Every Few Years. See the Rare Marvel Now in Southwest Utah

Gunlock Reservoir has exceeded 105 percent of its capacity. As a result, water is spilling onto the red rock boulders below, creating an unusual natural phenomenon just in time for spring break

Sarah Kuta | Daily Correspondent

March 23, 2026

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A rare red rock waterfall is flowing once again in southwest Utah, leaving visitors in awe of its cinematic beauty.

Gunlock Reservoir, located in Gunlock State Park roughly 20 miles northwest of St. George, Utah, has exceeded 105 percent of its capacity, reports KSTU’s Chris Reed. Now, water is flowing onto the red rock boulders underneath, resulting in an unusual natural phenomenon.

“It’s something [people] just need to come see for themselves,” Carson Hadley, a college student visiting the region, tells KSTU. “The red rocks and the waterfalls, it’s something that you expect to see in a movie, not in real life.”

The waterfalls at Gunlock State Park don’t flow every year. According to the Salt Lake Tribune’s Mark Eddington, this year marks their fourth appearance in the past 15 years. The last time the falls made an appearance was in 2024.

“It’s … absolutely gorgeous,” Pamela Selemon, a visitor from Mesquite, Nevada, tells KTVX. “You can’t beat it. You can’t get that anywhere else.”

Since the water started trickling in late February, visitors have been flocking to the state park for a chance to see the falls. But viewing them requires completing a short hike over slippery rocks, and state officials urge caution.

“The waterfalls at Gunlock State Park are FLOWING,” according to a March 18 update on the state park’s website. “Recreating on the rocks near the waterfalls is dangerous. Rocks are slick, water is swift and covered hazards exist in the pools. We strongly encourage visitors to use caution and be observant in the area.”

In the past, visitors have put themselves in danger while exploring the falls. The water is just two to three feet deep in most places, and diving or jumping can result in injury or death.

“The falls are running ... which is absolutely a beautiful thing, but it’s bittersweet for us,” says Charley Guthrie, chief of Northwest Fire and Rescue, to KSL’s Arianne Brown. “We love it, but we get a lot of people, and we can get some injuries out here that can be kind of problematic. … You’ve got to make sure you’ve got proper footwear and you’ve got your head on a swivel, because it can get pretty rough back in there.”

This winter has been hot and dry for southwest Utah, as well as many parts of the western United States. However, recent storms and runoff following a summer wildfire have temporarily filled Gunlock Reservoir to the brim.

Still, officials with the Washington County Water Conservancy District, the agency responsible for managing the county’s water supply, are concerned about the summer ahead.

“It does give a false sense of how well we’re doing,” Corey Cram, associate general manager for the Washington County Water Conservancy District, tells KUTV’s Samantha Hoffman. “Quail Creek Reservoir and Sand Hollow Reservoir in particular are going to be about 70 percent of normal.”

Cram says the region is “not in a crisis” but that the agency is asking residents to be “really conscious” of their water use.

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Sarah Kuta is a writer and editor based in Longmont, Colorado. She covers history, science, travel, food and beverage, sustainability, economics and other topics.