National park
State park · Southern Utah
Snow Canyon State Park
Red and white Navajo Sandstone, black lava flows and sand dunes, just minutes from St. George. Great hiking and biking almost year-round.
Photo: joannapoe · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Snow Canyon, inside the Red Cliffs Desert Reserve, packs a lot of geology into a small space. Red and white sandstone cliffs rise above the canyon floor, black lava flows spill across the bottom from ancient cinder cones, and sand dunes collect in the hollows. The name comes from early Utah settlers Lorenzo and Erastus Snow, not the weather.
Short trails reach lava tubes you can climb into, petrified dunes and the Jenny’s Canyon slot. A paved path runs the length of the canyon for walkers and cyclists. The overlook on SR-18 above the north end is the best view in the park.
Don't miss
- Lava tubesClimb down into caves formed by flowing lava on a short trail.
- Petrified DunesAncient sand dunes frozen into swirling sandstone.
- Jenny’s CanyonA short, kid-friendly walk to a narrow slot.
- Whiptail TrailA paved path for walking and biking the length of the canyon.
- Snow Canyon OverlookA sweeping view from SR-18 above the park.
Hikes in Snow Canyon
Good to know
- Hike early in summer; the black lava rock holds heat.
- The campground is popular in winter and spring. Reserve ahead.
- Combine with Zion, Sand Hollow and the restaurants and trails of St. George.