GUNLOCK, Utah — For those wondering about their spring break plans in southern Utah, the natural wonder of Gunlock Falls is a highlight for many. But this year, visitors may be out of luck.
The falls are dry now, and Gunlock State Park officials say they’re going to stay that way for the foreseeable future.
Video below shows water flowing through Gunlock Falls in 2024:
"We like to swim,” said Laury Smith, who often visits Gunlock from Highland up north. “It kind of has everything, but it was nice because it's really clean water and you don't have to deal with any of the bugs like Sand Hollow."
However, the popular natural water show in southern Utah appears to be off this year, thanks to one of the driest rain seasons on record. In a Facebook post, Gunlock State Park officials said the falls do not operate during periods of drought.
The Gunlock Reservoir creates the falls, and there's a bathtub ring around the reservoir right now.
A former park official told FOX 13 that it's actually rare for the reservoir to be high enough to make the falls happen. Last year was the first in recent memory that the falls happened two years in a row, and there was a nine-year break between 2009 and 2018.
Smith said she’s OK to be missing out. She has before.
"I actually have never been able to see the falls running yet, but my family members tell me it's one of the most spectacular things," she said. "I tend to come at the wrong time."
Although the waterfall is not active and likely won't be this year, Gunlock State Park remains open for visitors to explore.
