Utah’s Snow Canyon State Park is an unexpected delight. It was not part of my original itinerary, but got added on when I found out it wasn’t going to be possible to do one of the hikes I wanted at Zion National Park. In the end, I think it worked out well, especially because over the course of one hike, I got to see so many cool geologic features. On this hike at Snow Canyon State Park, you’ll see mountain views, but you’ll also climb petrified sand dunes, see lava tubes, do some rock scrambling, and more.
And did I mention you can get all of this for just a 3.5 mile hike in Snow Canyon State Park?
Hikes at Snow Canyon State Park
There’s numerous trails at Snow Canyon State Park. Specifically, there’s 24 trails listed in the parks brochure. However, several of these trails intersect, meaning it’s easy to link together several of the best trails for one epic hike in Snow Canyon. That hike is what you’ll find outlined here.
The Best Hike in Snow Canyon State Park
This trail that I’m about to outline isn’t one specific trail. Rather, it’s a combination of a handful of trails that make a loop. And while this will be a loop, you have the option of which direction you want to hike it. I’ll give pros and cons to each option later, but since I went counterclockwise, this is the way I’m going to lay out this hike.
Start in the Upper Galoot Picnic and Parking Area. This starts you on the Petrified Dunes Trail. You’ll be walking for a very short distance before you need to make a decision: clockwise or counterclockwise. The choice is yours, but I’ll be doing this counterclockwise.
So, at the first intersection, go left to continue on the Petrified Dunes Trail. Very shortly, you’ll hit some amazing views. Stop and take a picture, but keep hiking. Just be warned, it’s going to get hard very fast. Before you know it you’ll be hiking on the petrified dunes which are amazing. They’re also super steep so you need to be careful. I’d argue that this was some of the steepest hiking I’ve ever done and my toes were constantly hitting the front of my shoe as I descended the dunes.
Normally for steep hikes, I’d recommend using a pair of hiking poles, but this is one trail where I’m not sure how much they would have helped since it’s solid rock. The good news though, is that this super steep section doesn’t last very long. Once you’re through this section, the rest of the hike is pretty easy.
Follow the metallic balls drilled into the rock. It can feel like a choose your own adventure trail, but on these rocks, just keep looking for those metallic balls. They’ll guide you through the dunes.
Now you have a choice to make. Do you want to add on the Hidden Pinyon Overlook? I say yes because the view is amazing, so keep walking straight until you can’t anymore. You’ll climb up some rocks for a sweeping view of the state park. When you’re done, retrace your steps back to the trail junction and continue to the left.
Now you’ll be following the Red Sands Trail for just a short bit. Don’t be fooled by the sand. This is a wash from the river. It was dry while I was here so you totally could walk it, but you can keep hiking until you hit the West Canyon Road. It’s a gravel road that’s open to maintenance vehicles and bikes. The West Canyon Road goes on for a little bit but you’re on gravel and it’s flat so it’s pretty easy. Take in the views around you.
Veer right onto the Lava Flow Trail. Now you’ll start slowly climbing uphill to make up for that steep downhill you did earlier. While it is uphill in the sand, it’s a much more gradual incline than the decline on the petrified dunes. And don’t worry, as you get closer to the top, the sand gets more packed in so it’s easier to hike.
You’ll hit the first lava tube on your left. Stop to see it, it’s pretty cool.
You have another option to hike to another overlook if you choose. It’s a rocky climb, but I didn’t find it too stressful (and I’m still nervous about any rock scrambling even though it’d been a year and a half since my disaster at Rocky Mountain’s Sky Pond). Again, it offers another great view of the entire park. Retrace your steps back to the main Lava Flow Trail.
Another choice. Do you want to see more lava tubes or do you just want to be done? If you want to see more lava tubes, you’ll keep walking straight and you’ll eventually hit two more lava tubes (confusingly referred to as lava tubes #2 and #1—technically we’re doing this trail backwards) Once you’ve seen them both, turn around to go back to the trail junction.
Now it’s time to get on the final trail: The Butterfly Trail. Don’t get me wrong, the views are great, but I think this is the least scenic section of the hike and by the end, I was ready to be done. Follow the Butterfly Trail back to the main parking lot.
And that’s a wrap on this hike at Snow Canyon State Park. You did it!
Trail Stats
As I hiked this trail, I logged 3.44 miles and 518 feet of elevation gain. It took me two hours exactly. You can absolutely hike it faster, but I kept stopping for photos. Had I not stopped for so many photos, I would have likely saved a solid 20 to 30 minutes on this Snow Canyon hike.
Clockwise or Counterclockwise?
The choice is truly yours and it’s going to come down to one decision. At some point, you’ll have to hike the very steep petrified dunes. Would you rather do that uphill or downhill?
I chose downhill (meaning I hiked counterclockwise) because it meant that the steepest part of the trail would happen at the beginning when I had the most energy. I wasn’t thrilled about the idea of hiking the steepest part of the trail at the end. But you may feel differently. Do what works best for you on this hike in Snow Canyon State Park.
As a note, if you follow the route on AllTrails, it will direct you clockwise.
General Tips for Your Hike
For 95% of this hike, you’ll be completely exposed so make sure to bring proper sun protection. Also, make sure you pack enough water for the trip. There is no water available at the trailhead or anywhere else along the trail.
While it is possible to link these trails together (and for the most part they are well marked), I recommend having some kind of map with you. There are a handful of points where it’s easy to veer in the wrong direction and get off your intended trail.
Getting to Snow Canyon State Park
Snow Canyon State Park is located just outside of St. George, Utah. From the downtown area of St. George, it’s a 15 to 20 minute drive to the entrance of Snow Canyon State Park.
Entrance Fees for Snow Canyon State Park
Entrance is $10 for Utah residents and $15 for everyone else. You can prebook your pass online but there is no need to. I just pulled up and paid for my entrance that day.
How Long Do You Need at Snow Canyon State Park
I spent about three and a half hours at Snow Canyon State Park. That gave me enough time to hike this trail (with so many stops for photos) and to visit Jenny’s Canyon, a fun and easy to reach slot canyon. I left feeling like I saw the highlights of Snow Canyon State Park without feeling rushed. So at minimum, I recommend giving yourself a half day.
That said, there are other trails you can hike at Snow Canyon, so if you’re an avid hiker, consider giving yourself just a little more time.
Where to Stay
Snow Canyon State Park sits right outside the town of St. George, Utah, which serves as a gateway to southern Utah. You’ll find numerous hotels and restaurants throughout the city. Further afield is the towns of Hurricane and La Verkin which also offer plenty of hotels, but have a closer proximity to Zion National Park.
My itinerary was a little weird. I spent two nights in Hurricane and then spent one night in St. George (where I then visited Snow Canyon State Park the next day).
Final Thoughts
Snow Canyon State Park was an unexpected delight and I’m so glad it got included in my itinerary. This hike specifically made the trip that much more interesting. If you want a variety on a shorter hike, make sure to check out this hike on your visit to Snow Canyon State Park.
Continue Your Adventure
Snow Canyon State Park: Snow Canyon State Park has loads of amazing geologic features and if you have a little extra time, it’s worth adding to your itinerary.
Utah: Apart from Snow Canyon State Park, Utah is full of amazing natural beauty, which includes its “Mighty Five”. There’s the iconic rocks at Arches National Park, the hoodoos at Bryce Canyon National Park, the vast views at Canyonlands National Park, the peaceful (but no less epic) Capitol Reef National Park, and of course the jaw dropping Zion National Park.
Itineraries: Loop in Snow Canyon State Park plus Zion and Bryce Canyon in a long weekend itinerary.