If you’re in southwestern Utah, Snow Canyon State Park should be on your must do list. With dramatically fewer crowds than its National Park counterparts and beautiful red Navajo sandstone formations, it’s a perfect place for peaceful hiking. Here’s everything you need to know to plan your trip.
Located just outside of St. George, Utah, Snow Canyon State Park was named for the Snow brothers, Mormon Pioneers who discovered it in the 1850s while searching for lost cattle. There is one main road that goes through the canyon and you can enter the park from either the north or south. I’d recommend entering on one side of the park and driving the whole way through during your visit to depart on the other side. This will give you a chance to fully experience the beauty of the canyon. There is a gate at either end where you can pay the daily admission fee.
There are numerous parking areas throughout the park at trailheads, so navigating the park is very easy. Right near the middle of the park is a campground and park office. The park rangers we met there were very kind and informative. There was also a water refill station inside the park office where we refilled all of our water bottles. The campground has a large grassy area with a small play area for kids and several picnic benches under shade, so this is a great spot for a mid-day stop.
We started our day by parking at the Upper Galoot Picnic Area. From there we hiked the Petrified Dunes Trail. On this trip, we were traveling with my parents and my nephew, so we needed a hike that was good for everyone from 9 years old to 73 and this was the perfect find. My parents could stay on the mostly level trail and the three boys could climb up and down the dunes. The dunes are nicely sloped in some areas, so we were all able to climb to the top of one of the dunes. The view from there was really amazing! You could see throughout the valley with all of the sandstone formations rising up from the canyon floor.
With July temperatures in the triple digits, we opted for a water and snack break at the Upper Galoot picnic area after our hike. There were several tables there that were in the shade, so it was a perfect spot. There was also a water pump with drinkable water, so we could refill our bottles before moving on.
When we were well hydrated, we set off again on foot, this time on the Whiptail Trail. This wide multiuse paved path provided level ground as it wound through the canyon valley between the sandstone structures. You could take this trail the whole way to the southern entrance of the park. We took it down to the Hidden Pinyon trail and over to the campground, where we were able to get Junior Ranger books for the boys to complete. There was another nice picnic area here with plenty of shade, so it was the perfect spot for lunch.
After the boys had completed their Junior Ranger books and we all had lunch, we continued on to the southern part of the park. We stopped at the Sand Dunes parking area briefly to see the bright red sand. With afternoon temperatures climbing, we opted not to climb on the dunes, but the ranger recommended this hike for the early morning or late evening. We continued on to Jenny’s Canyon, which is a short drive south of the Dunes.
From the parking area, it’s only about a quarter-mile walk to get to Jenny’s Canyon. The walk is easy, but it’s over thick sand, so plan to take your time. The path is very clearly marked as you wind your way through the sand to get to the canyon’s entrance. Immediately, you notice how quiet and cool it is inside the canyon. The walls surround you and reach up as far as you can see. The boys loved climbing into some of the chambers created by water over time. You can easily walk to the end of the canyon and we were thrilled that we were the only ones there, so we had plenty of time to enjoy it.
We had a great day at Snow Canyon State Park. The diversity of geological features made the hikes very interesting and there were a wide variety of hikes to choose from. There were well defined paths, but also plenty of space for the kids to create their own paths and roam through nature. We also loved the peacefulness of hiking without crowds.
Those looking for more challenging hikes would enjoy the Cinder Cone Trail at the far north end of the park and the Red Sands hike. There are also many longer hikes like the Gila or Padre Canyon that would be great on a cooler day. Snow Canyon State Park would also be a great place to bike as well since there is literally no traffic and there are wide paved paths throughout. If you are in southwestern Utah, Snow Canyon State Park should definitely be on your list!
Have you ever been to Snow Canyon State Park? Let us know in the comments.
Things to Know Before You Go
- Bring water and plan to refill while you’re there.
- Go early in the day in the summer or late in the evening to avoid extreme heat.
