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Snow Canyon State Park is comprised of volcanic cinder cone, sand dunes, deep pink and white sandstone cliffs, and twisted layers of rock.
Hollywood has acknowledged it as a superb backdrop in films akin to The Electrical Horseman and Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Child!
There are 38 miles of mountain climbing trails in Snow Canyon State Park, in addition to a three-mile paved biking path, horse trails, mountaineering, volcano exploring, and majestic views from the Snow Canyon Drive!
In terms of exploring this distinctive panorama, there isn’t a higher strategy to traverse it than on foot. Mountain climbing means that you can rise up near admire the rock formation, means that you can search for via the canyons, and discover hidden spots.
On this information, we share the very best Snow Canyon State Park trails and nature walks, for all talent ranges of hikers.
About Snow Canyon State Park
Snow Canyon State Park is a 7,400 acre expanse of beautiful pure wonderland simply exterior the city of St George in Utah.
Its outlined by a hanging canyon carved from pink and white Navajo sandstone, and remnants of historical sand dunes. It’s additionally characterised by its former volcanic historical past, and you may nonetheless see stays of black lava flows and cones throughout the park.
It’s a gathering level for the Mojave Desert, the Nice Basin Desert, and the Colorado Plateau, and was established as a state park in 1958 as Dixie State Park, however was renamed after Lorenzo and Erastus Snow, outstanding pioneering Utah leaders – not for the fluffy white stuff that hardly ever falls right here.
Though the white peaked mountains within the distance actually give off the phantasm of snow.
Snow Canyon State Park Trails
Excellent news if you happen to love mountain climbing – it’s among the finest issues to do in Snow Canyon State Park! If have younger children like us, the hikes are very family-friendly!
They’re brief, straightforward, and filled with rocks to scramble over, which can preserve the children engaged and completely happy.
We merged a number of trails into one large loop stroll in order that we might see the very best of what the park has to supply. Many because of the useful park ranger who plotted it out for us.
We began on the campground customer heart throughout the State Park, and beneath is the order of the hike we adopted. The mileage for every trails is if you happen to do them individually. By combining them, the path was round 5 miles.
1. Hidden Pinyon Path
- Distance: 1 mile spherical journey
- Issue: Straightforward
- Time to finish: half-hour
- Trailhead:
We took the Hidden Pinyon Path from the Snow Canyon State Park Customer Heart to start our hike. It’s a straightforward stroll via a number of rocky slopes and sandy self-guided nature path.
You possibly can take the path on an extended loop via pink rock panorama to get onto the petrified sand dunes or simply take the brief direct route there.
We took the brief route considering we’d run wanting time.
In hindsight, I believe we might have completed the longer scenic route. It will solely add on an additional mile to the hike.
2. Butterfly, Lava Move Overlook, West Canyon, and Petrified Dunes Path
- Distance: 2.9 miles loop
- Issue: Straightforward
- Time to finish: 1 hour half-hour
- Trailhead:
Should you solely have time for one path, make it a mixture of the Butterfly, Lava Move Overlook, West Canyon, and Petrified Dunes Path, which is a 2.9 mile (4.8 km) loop path which takes about 1 hour half-hour to hike.
It’s very straightforward and household pleasant. We’ll share details about every path individually beneath, incase you need to do them as particular person trails, however here’s a map of the complete path combing these 4 trails.
Petrified Dunes Path
- Distance: 1.1 mile spherical journey
- Issue: Straightforward
- Time to finish: half-hour
- Trailhead: the trailhead might be discovered right here, however you will want to stroll the Butterfly Path to connect with it (see beneath)
The Petrified Sand Dunes path leads you to a bunch of sand dunes which have hardened into stone as a consequence of a singular climate erosion phenomenon.
Should you’re inquisitive about how they had been fashioned, it’s fairly a cool story. The dunes had been as soon as free sand, like regular sand dunes, however over time this sand grew to become soaked by mineral-rich water, which when it dries finally ends up cementing the grains collectively, or petrifying it.
The result’s actually cool. We cherished seeing the ripples that the wind clearly as soon as created within the dunes, which grew to become frozen in time. The ladies might simply see how they had been as soon as sand dunes and had been fascinated by the ability of nature.
The official trailhead is on the west aspect of the highway by the Butterfly Path, however we entered from The Hidden Pinyon path. From this path, flip left and take the very brief path as much as pink rock mounds to be met by one of the vital spectacular views of the park. WOWZERS.
The ladies cherished enjoying on the rocks, sliding themselves via a number of tiny mailbox holes they discovered within the rocks.
You possibly can spend a while right here scrambling up and down the totally different rocks and enjoying. Our youngsters raced one another up and down them. It was my favourite a part of the overall hike we did.
The path then continues to the Lava Move Overlook Path throughout huge Navajo sandstone outcrops and sand dunes frozen in time.
The Butterfly Path
The Petrified Dunes Path connects to the Butterfly Path, which is close to the parking zone.
It’s a 2-mile spherical journey hike that winds alongside the west aspect of the Petrified Sand dunes and results in the lava tubes which is the place we continued on from.
There may be one steep slope however usually it’s a straightforward and open path with stunning views of the canyon and surrounding mountains.
Lava Move Path
Greater than 27,000 years in the past, lava erupted from a close-by now extinct volcano. Use your creativeness and see the trail the lava rock adopted down this canyon. There may be black basalt marking its path.
Surrounding this space are the magnificent views of the White Rocks Mountains to the north and the pink cliffs of Padre Canyon to the west.
I didn’t discover this path as hanging because the others, though I did just like the distinction of the black lava with surrounding rainbow panorama.
It’s a beautiful studying alternative for youths although as you hike via a jumbled lava area, the stays of a volcano eruption that occurred 27,000 years in the past.
There are interpretative panels alongside the way in which to assist clarify extra concerning the lava eruption and ensuing land formation.
Right here you can find the Snow Canyon State Park lava tubes, that are enjoyable to discover. They had been very totally different to the lava tubes we skilled close to Bend, Oregon which had been gigantic and simple to stroll via.
These ones we needed to crawl via tiny areas with flashlights to get a great take a look at. It was enjoyable, however I’d desire the Bend ones as you could possibly higher visualize the large lava flows creating it. These ones simply felt like caves.
Nonetheless fascinating and the children will like it.
Observe that there’s a public restroom on the path head, however that is the one rest room on the path so you should definitely go earlier than you begin mountain climbing.
West Canyon
The West Canyon path extends from the Lava Tubes down a hard-packed gravel service highway and is an out and again path.
You don’t must stroll the complete path if you happen to mix it with the others, however it’s value exploring it a bit bit to admire the pink and white Navajo sandstone canyons on both aspect.
Each half-mile you’ll discover water pumping stations, so you may refill your water bottles and return to go again.
Some individuals bike this path, so preserve a watch out for cyclists.
3. Whiptail Path
From the Lava Move Path, we ended up on the parking zone and walked down the highway till we reached the beginning of the Whiptail Path.
The Whiptail Path is a 6-mile spherical journey path that’s totally paved and nice for bikes.
We walked simply over a mile on it again to the Customer Campground the place our automotive was parked, however if you happen to hike the entire path you get a lot of nice views.
It’s finest to hike in a clockwise rotation for higher views. Some aspect trails supply rock scrambling adventures, however the path is taken into account straightforward and has little elevation.
4. Jenny’s Canyon Path
Jenny’s Canyon Path is a brief nature stroll right into a slot canyon and as much as an overlook. It’s a family-friendly path, with little elevation, although it does have some uneven surfaces all through.
Some elements of the canyon permit mountaineering up the slot canyon partitions.
It’s closed from March – June to guard the endangered habitat. It might even be impassable after a rainstorm, so examine to see if the path is open earlier than visiting.
5. Sand Dunes Path
Sand Dunes Path is a brief path that doesn’t even appear to be a path. It seems just like the seashore has been strategically positioned throughout the desert.
I even noticed individuals sitting on seashore chairs admiring the mountain views.
6. Johnson’s Canyon Path
Johnson’s Canyon path takes you to a big, 200 foot stone arch, Johnson’s Arch. It passes via a lava area, dry stream mattress, and a canyon.
The beauty of this hike is it’s shaded, because of the imposing partitions of the canyon.
It’s closed from March – October as a consequence of it being an endangered habitat.
7. Whiterocks Amphitheater Path
The White Rocks Path is a well-liked horseback using path, however it’s nonetheless protected for pedestrians to stroll if you happen to desire to not trip on horse again.
From the Whiterocks trailhead crosses an open lava area and
dry creekbed. Then you definitely take a brief spur path into the rocky cliffs
to see a pure amphitheater.
You possibly can prolong this hike onto the Lava Move Path on the junction on West Canyon Highway.
8. Scout Cave Path to Snow Canyon State Park Petroglyphs
- Distance: 10.8 miles out-and-back path
- Issue: Arduous
- Time to finish: 5-7 hours
- Trailhead: the trailhead might be discovered on the Johnson canyon parking zone proper earlier than the southe entrance to Snow Canyon.
The Scout Cave to Snow Canyon State Park Petroglyphs hike is a average to difficult path via pink rocks and sand that may convey you in a loop to 4 foremost petroglyph websites, together with a slot canyon stuffed with them.
There may be an elevation acquire of 483 meters, the very best elevation acquire of all the paths on this listing.
It is a stunning hike with attractive surroundings all through, and a photographer’s paradise.
The Scout Cave is a singular cave that has an enormous window overlooking Ivins and Jarvis Peak. It may be discovered close to the Johnson Arch trailhead.
Suggestions for Visiting Snow Canyon State Park
Earlier than you go, listed here are some helpful ideas for visiting Snow Canyon State Park that will help you benefit from your journey and to remain protected.
- Make sure you carry loads of water and keep away from mountain climbing within the excessive warmth. That is the desert and there’s little shade. There are often water stations occasionally on the paths, so you should definitely refill your water bottle at each likelihood.
- Keep on with the paths and designated climbing areas. Rock fall is frequent, and there’s a likelihood the rock might fall from beneath your ft if you happen to step off the path. Use your frequent sense and don’t go climbing over free boulders.
- Look out for mountain bikers. Biking is permitted on West Canyon Highway, the Whiptail Path, and all Paradise Canyon Trails. We walked alongside the Whiptail Path, which is paved and appeared enjoyable for mountain biking.
- Get there early. The park can get crowded come mid-morning, particularly on weekends and holidays.
- Put on comfy footwear. Though most trails have little elevation, you’ll be doing quite a lot of strolling and rock scrambling, so sturdy footwear are essential.
- Be conscious of the wildlife. Snow Canyon State Park is house to quite a lot of wildlife and reptiles, together with snakes, lizards, and scorpions.
- Depart no hint. Take your garbage house with you.
- Obtain Maps.me for offline maps. The paths are simply marked, however there isn’t a knowledge sign so if you happen to lose your method, there’s no strategy to discover it. Maps.me is an offline GPS and has the paths marked – it’s actually helpful for mountain climbing.
Tenting at Snow Canyon State Park
There are 31 campsites in Snow Canyon State Park, and 14 RV campgrounds, all simply accessible off the Snow Canyon parkway.
Every comes with water and electrical hook up, consuming water, and sewage disposal station.
For Snow Canyon campground reservations go right here. For campgrounds in St George, the gateway to Snow Canyon, go right here.
The place to remain in St George
We stayed on the KOA St George Hurricane, which we weren’t too impressed with, though it was near Sand Hole State Park (the place we did our superior ATV journey) and Crimson Cliffs Nationwide Recreation Space (extra pink mountains to get pleasure from!)
Resorts in St George Utah that come really helpful are:
- LOGE St George Utah opens Could 2025 and gives free WIFI, parking, a pool with a view, and a scorching breakfast. It’s nice for households they usually permit pets.
- Finest Western Abbey Inn is positioned in the midst of St. George giving you quick access to eating places and shops. Free breakfast, pool and scorching tub.
- Wingate by Wyndham can be positioned close to eating places and retailers. It additionally has a free shuttle, complimentary bike rental, free breakfast, pool and is pet pleasant.
- Inn on the Cliff is one other resort choice that always makes the Better of Lists! Beautiful views, particularly from the pool.
How you can get to Snow Canyon State Park
Snow Canyon State Park is a scenic park positioned simply exterior of St George in Southern Utah.
It’s just below two hours from Las Vegas, so you could possibly go to Snow Canyon State Park for a day journey from Las Vegas.
Nevertheless, we advocate spending longer within the area as there are such a lot of cool issues to do in St. George Utah.
Remaining Ideas
We had been blown away by the spectacular Snow Canyon hikes we did.
“Crimson and yellow and pink and inexperienced!”
Savannah and I sang via the colours of the Rainbow declaring every coloration as we noticed it within the kaleidoscope world of Snow Canyon State Park Utah surrounding us.
We had been strolling previous varied shades of yellow and inexperienced cactus and desert crops.
The orange and pink sand beneath our ft padded our stroll and beside our path had been clumps of black basalt indicating the circulation of lava that got here via right here 27,000 years go.
Excessive above the Navajo sandstone cliffs surrounded us in pinks, burnt orange, reds, yellows and whites. And of, course up above a superb blue sky rounded it off.
We had been strolling in a rainbow!!
Video: Mountain climbing in Snow Canyon State Park, St George, Utah
St George Excursions
On the lookout for attention-grabbing excursions to do across the St George space? You possibly can be part of one of many guided excursions beneath with skilled leaders.
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I hope this information helps you propose your personal journey to Snow Canyon. Should you nonetheless have questions, depart a remark beneath!
