Snow Canyon State Park was an unexpected delight and a great addition to my short trip to Utah. It was not on my original itinerary, but my plans had to change and I was left with about a half day and nothing to fill it with. Since I was staying in St. George, nearby Snow Canyon State Park made the list. I just planned to pop in quickly to get a taste of the area, but was so impressed during my short time here.
Maybe its because the scenery is so different from what I have back home (and everything else I had seen on the trip), but I am so glad I added a stop here.
About Snow Canyon State Park
Snow Canyon State Park is located in southwestern Utah, just outside of the city of St. George. While there’s evidence that this area has been inhabited since 500 BC (although some speculate that humans have used this canyon for nearly 10,000 years), the geologic history goes back so much further. From ancient sand dunes to flows of lava, there’s some really unique geological features here.
In 1959, this area was designated as a state park. It’s a great place for hikers, rock climbers, and bikers, but even Hollywood has ventured out here. Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, The Electric Horseman, and Jeremiah Johnson have all filmed at Snow Canyon State Park.
What to See at Snow Canyon State Park
Normally, in a post like this, I’d write about the scenic overlooks and the hikes you should do. I’ve already written about a great hike you can do at Snow Canyon State Park, that covers most of the things on this list. So instead, I wanted to talk about the different geologic features that you should look out for when you visit because honestly, that’s what you should be focusing on.
Lava Tubes
In my opinion, the lava tubes are some of the most unique features at Snow Canyon State Park. Over the last million years (and as recently as 27,000 years ago), nearby cinder cones erupted, causing lava to flow into this area. The lava flowed into canyons, redirected waterways, and created new canyons in the process. These new canyons are referred to as “lava tubes”, since the tube is what’s left once the lava cools and leaves. For adventurous people, you an actually climb down into these lava tubes.
An important note about exploring the lava tubes though. While there is cell service within Snow Canyon State Park, there is not service inside the lava tubes. It’s recommended to explore in groups for safety, so if you’re traveling solo, you’ll need to be content to check out these lava tubes from the surface. While it may not be as cool as getting up close and personal with the rocks, you can still get a good view from the surface.
Petrified Dunes
While there are amazing views of mountains at Snow Canyon State Park, not everything is a mountain. Some of what you’ll see are actually petrified sand dunes. Nearly 200 million years ago, winds brought sand to this area of Utah and sand dunes were formed. Over time, this sand turned to stone (that’s over 2500 feet thick in some places!). Now days, we don’t see the sand dunes (although you will still find plenty of sand on trail), but rather the solidified rocks.
What’s cool is that depending on which trail you choose to hike, you’ll have the option to climb these petrified dunes. For me, the craziest part was realizing that the rock that I was hiking on was at one point a sand dune. Honestly, I’m trying to figure if hiking on loose sand would have been easier because some of the dunes are incredibly steep.
Amazing Mountain Views
One area that doesn’t take much to describe is the mountain views that you’ll get through Snow Canyon State Park. Whether driving or hiking, make sure to look up around you. Sure, it may not be the majesty of Rocky Mountain National Park, but for those of us who come from a place without mountains (I’m from Wisconsin, I can relate), this is great. Plus, it doesn’t feel like the mountains and scenery that you may see at nearby Zion National Park, which is lovely. I’m all about trying to get variety.
Slot Canyons
On my second trip to Utah, I made it a point to visit more slot canyons. I hiked through a few at Valley of Fire State Park in Nevada, but I was excited to see another one at Snow Canyon State Park. Jenny’s Canyon is an easy to reach slot canyon.
There’s not a traditional parking lot, but there is an area to pull off. From this parking area, it’s a short five minute walk to Jenny’s Canyon. Then it’s a short walk inside with the walls of the canyon towering over you.
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 to 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 3 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, so if you’re an avid hiker, consider giving yourself just a little more time.
Where to Stay at Snow Canyon State Park
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).
When to Visit Snow Canyon State Park
While summers are usually peak travel time, heat can be a big concern. Most of the hiking at Snow Canyon State Park is completely exposed and there’s nowhere to fill up with water on the trail. Shoulder seasons (spring and fall) will likely provide a better option. In winter, temperatures (and crowds) are the lowest.
I visited Snow Canyon State Park in early March. The weather was great for hiking, which was especially true after cold temperatures at nearby Zion National Park and even colder temperatures (and fresh snow) and Bryce Canyon National Park.
My Visit to Snow Canyon State Park
I visited Snow Canyon State Park on a winter trip to Utah. I flew into Las Vegas and visited Valley of Fire State Park before moving on to Zion and Bryce Canyon National Parks. I still had one day left of my trip and while I debated returning to Zion, I ultimately decided to try something completely different.
So after a morning working remotely from my hotel room in St. George, I headed out to Snow Canyon State Park. I focused my time on one major loop that ran though the park and covered what I consider to be the highlights. In less than four hours, I saw everything I wanted to do at Snow Canyon State Park and started making my way back to Las Vegas.
Final Thoughts
I really enjoyed my visit to Snow Canyon State Park. Despite visiting two national parks and another state park on my short road trip, I felt that Snow Canyon State Park offered something unique. I enjoyed my hike and enjoyed seeing the unique geologic features—it’s a lot different than anything I’d see in Wisconsin. So if you have some extra time and are looking for something else to add to your Utah itinerary, check out Snow Canyon State Park.
Continue Your Adventure
Snow Canyon State Park: Loop all of these highlights together on one awesome hike.
Utah’s Mighty Five: Marvel at the rock formations at Arches National Park, see hoodoos up close at Bryce Canyon National Park. take in the vastness of Canyonlands National Park, enjoy the solitude (if you plan your trip properly) at Capitol Reef National Park, visit the jaw dropping scenery at Zion National Park.
Itineraries: Loop in Snow Canyon State Park plus Zion and Bryce Canyon in a long weekend itinerary.