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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 an excellent backdrop in films corresponding to The Electrical Horseman and Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Child!
There are 38 miles of mountaineering trails in Snow Canyon State Park, in addition to a three-mile paved biking path, horse trails, mountain climbing, volcano exploring, and majestic views from the Snow Canyon Drive!
In relation to exploring this distinctive panorama, there isn’t any higher solution to traverse it than on foot. Mountain climbing lets you rise up near admire the rock formation, lets you lookup by the canyons, and discover hidden spots.
On this information, we share the most effective Snow Canyon State Park trails and nature walks, for all ability 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 historic sand dunes. It’s additionally characterised by its former volcanic historical past, and you’ll 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, distinguished 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 in the event you love mountaineering – it’s probably the greatest issues to do in Snow Canyon State Park! If have younger youngsters like us, the hikes are very family-friendly!
They’re quick, straightforward, and stuffed with rocks to scramble over, which can preserve the youngsters engaged and joyful.
We merged a number of trails into one huge loop stroll in order that we might see the most effective of what the park has to supply. Many due to 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 in the event you do them individually. By combining them, the path was round 5 miles.
1. Hidden Pinyon Path
- Distance: 1 mile spherical journey
- Issue: Simple
- Time to finish: half-hour
- Trailhead:
We took the Hidden Pinyon Path from the Snow Canyon State Park Customer Middle to start our hike. It’s a straightforward stroll by just a few rocky slopes and sandy self-guided nature path.
You’ll be able to take the path on an extended loop by pink rock panorama to get onto the petrified sand dunes or simply take the quick direct route there.
We took the quick route pondering we’d run in need of time.
In hindsight, I feel we might have achieved the longer scenic route. It will solely add on an additional mile to the hike.
2. Butterfly, Lava Movement Overlook, West Canyon, and Petrified Dunes Path
- Distance: 2.9 miles loop
- Issue: Simple
- Time to finish: 1 hour half-hour
- Trailhead:
When you solely have time for one path, make it a mixture of the Butterfly, Lava Movement 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 are going to share details about every path individually beneath, incase you wish to do them as particular person trails, however here’s a map of the whole path combing these 4 trails.
Petrified Dunes Path
- Distance: 1.1 mile spherical journey
- Issue: Simple
- Time to finish: half-hour
- Trailhead: the trailhead could be discovered right here, however you will have 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 result of a novel climate erosion phenomenon.
When you’re interested by how they have been fashioned, it’s fairly a cool story. The dunes have 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 beloved seeing the ripples that the wind clearly as soon as created within the dunes, which grew to become frozen in time. The women might simply see how they have been as soon as sand dunes and have 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 quick path as much as pink rock mounds to be met by some of the spectacular views of the park. WOWZERS.
The women beloved taking part in on the rocks, sliding themselves by just a few tiny mailbox holes they discovered within the rocks.
You’ll be able to spend a while right here scrambling up and down the completely different rocks and taking part in. Our youngsters raced one another up and down them. It was my favourite a part of the full hike we did.
The path then continues to the Lava Movement 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 car 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’s one steep slope however typically it’s a straightforward and open path with stunning views of the canyon and surrounding mountains.
Lava Movement 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’s 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 an exquisite studying alternative for teenagers although as you hike by a jumbled lava subject, 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 in regards to the lava eruption and ensuing land formation.
Right here you will see the Snow Canyon State Park lava tubes, that are enjoyable to discover. They have been very completely different to the lava tubes we skilled close to Bend, Oregon which have been gigantic and straightforward to stroll by.
These ones we needed to crawl by tiny areas with flashlights to get an excellent take a look at. It was enjoyable, however I’d want the Bend ones as you possibly can higher visualize the large lava flows creating it. These ones simply felt like caves.
Nonetheless fascinating and the youngsters will find it irresistible.
Be aware 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 mountaineering.
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 whole path in the event you mix it with the others, but it surely’s value exploring it a little 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 possibly can refill your water bottles and return to go again.
Some folks bike this path, so preserve an eye fixed out for cyclists.
3. Whiptail Path
From the Lava Movement Path, we ended up on the car 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 absolutely paved and nice for bikes.
We walked simply over a mile on it again to the Customer Campground the place our automobile was parked, however in the event you 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 mountain climbing up the slot canyon partitions.
It’s closed from March – June to guard the endangered habitat. It could even be impassable after a rainstorm, so test 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 like a path. It appears to be like just like the seashore has been strategically positioned throughout the desert.
I even noticed folks 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 by a lava subject, dry stream mattress, and a canyon.
The wonderful thing about this hike is it’s shaded, due to the imposing partitions of the canyon.
It’s closed from March – October as a result of it being an endangered habitat.
7. Whiterocks Amphitheater Path
The White Rocks Path is a well-liked horseback driving path, but it surely’s nonetheless protected for pedestrians to stroll in the event you want to not experience on horse again.
From the Whiterocks trailhead crosses an open lava subject and
dry creekbed. You then take a brief spur path into the rocky cliffs
to see a pure amphitheater.
You’ll be able to lengthen this hike onto the Lava Movement Path on the junction on West Canyon Street.
8. Scout Cave Path to Snow Canyon State Park Petroglyphs
- Distance: 10.8 miles out-and-back path
- Issue: Onerous
- Time to finish: 5-7 hours
- Trailhead: the trailhead could be discovered on the Johnson canyon car 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 by pink rocks and sand that can carry you in a loop to 4 essential petroglyph websites, together with a slot canyon crammed with them.
There’s an elevation acquire of 483 meters, the very best elevation acquire of all the paths on this listing.
This can be a stunning hike with beautiful surroundings all through, and a photographer’s paradise.
The Scout Cave is a novel 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 below are some helpful ideas for visiting Snow Canyon State Park that will help you benefit from your journey and to remain protected.
- You should definitely carry loads of water and keep away from mountaineering within the excessive warmth. That is the desert and there’s little shade. There are normally water stations occasionally on the paths, so you should definitely refill your water bottle at each probability.
- Persist with the paths and designated climbing areas. Rock fall is widespread, and there’s a probability the rock might fall from beneath your ft in the event you step off the path. Use your widespread sense and don’t go climbing over free boulders.
- Look out for mountain bikers. Biking is permitted on West Canyon Street, the Whiptail Path, and all Paradise Canyon Trails. We walked alongside the Whiptail Path, which is paved and seemed enjoyable for mountain biking.
- Get there early. The park can get crowded come mid-morning, particularly on weekends and holidays.
- Put on snug footwear. Though most trails have little elevation, you’ll be doing numerous strolling and rock scrambling, so sturdy footwear are necessary.
- Be conscious of the wildlife. Snow Canyon State Park is residence to a wide range of wildlife and reptiles, together with snakes, lizards, and scorpions.
- Go away no hint. Take your garbage residence with you.
- Obtain Maps.me for offline maps. The paths are simply marked, however there isn’t any knowledge sign so in the event you lose your approach, there’s no solution to discover it. Maps.me is an offline GPS and has the paths marked – it’s actually helpful for mountaineering.
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 beneficial 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 and so they permit pets.
- Greatest Western Abbey Inn is situated 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 situated close to eating places and outlets. It additionally has a free shuttle, complimentary bike rental, free breakfast, pool and is pet pleasant.
- Inn on the Cliff is one other resort possibility that usually makes the Better of Lists! Attractive views, particularly from the pool.
How you can get to Snow Canyon State Park
Snow Canyon State Park is a scenic park situated simply exterior of St George in Southern Utah.
It’s slightly below two hours from Las Vegas, so you possibly can go to Snow Canyon State Park for a day journey from Las Vegas.
Nonetheless, 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 have been blown away by the spectacular Snow Canyon hikes we did.
“Crimson and yellow and pink and inexperienced!”
Savannah and I sang by the colours of the Rainbow declaring every colour as we noticed it within the kaleidoscope world of Snow Canyon State Park Utah surrounding us.
We have 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 have been clumps of black basalt indicating the movement of lava that got here by 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 an excellent blue sky rounded it off.
We have been strolling in a rainbow!!
Video: Mountain climbing in Snow Canyon State Park, St George, Utah
St George Excursions
Searching for fascinating excursions to do across the St George space? You’ll be able to be a part of one of many guided excursions beneath with skilled leaders.
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I hope this information helps you intend your personal journey to Snow Canyon. When you nonetheless have questions, go away a remark beneath!