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Are there splash pads near Arches or Zion?
Quick answer
Yes. Moab has a free splash pad at Old City Park near Arches. For Zion, head to Springdale or Hurricane — Hurricane City Park has a popular splash pad about 25 minutes from the park entrance. Both are perfect for cooling off after hot southern Utah hikes.
Southern Utah's heat makes splash pads especially welcome after a day of hiking. Moab's Old City Park has a free splash pad open Memorial Day through Labor Day, with shaded picnic tables and restrooms — ideal after Arches or Canyonlands. Rotary Park and the Moab Recreation and Aquatic Center also have water options. For Zion, the closest splash pad is at Hurricane City Park, about 25 minutes west of the park entrance. La Verkin and Washington City also have nice free pads. Springdale, the gateway to Zion, doesn't have its own pad but has tubing on the Virgin River. Pack swim shoes — Moab's red sand and Utah's gritty parking lots are tough on bare feet, and afternoon temperatures can hit 100°F+ in summer.