Visiting Snow Canyon State Park
Located in the southwestern part of Utah, Snow Canyon State Park is a geological wonder that features red and white Navajo sandstone cliffs and canyons.
There’s something for everyone at this Utah State Park: hiking, biking, camping, rock climbing, and photographing the unique landscape!
The park offers breathtaking views of spectacular sandstone cliffs and canyon walls, as well as buttes and mesas.
Snow Canyon State Park is also home to the extinct Santa Clara Volcano, lava tubes, lava flows, and sand dunes that are fun to explore and photograph!
Use our Utah Packing Lists to make sure you have the right clothing and gear for visiting in the summer (UV protection clothing, sunscreen, lotion)! Grab your free printable packing checklist by clicking the image below!
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Visiting Snow Canyon State Park
Snow Canyon State Park is located in southwestern Utah, near St. George. It’s about 130 miles from Las Vegas and 312 miles from Salt Lake City.
It is open year-round from 6:00 am to 10:00 pm. There are no holiday closures.
The park offers miles of hiking and biking trails, technical rock climbing, and horseback riding. It has a nice campground that is open year-round.
Due to Snow Canyon’s desert environment, spring, fall, and winter are the ideal times to visit with moderate temperatures. It doesn’t usually snow here, but when it does, it’s a fun treat to see the contrast of the colorful rocks with the white snow!
Summer temperatures can reach over 100 degrees F! You can beat the heat by planning your outdoor activities in the cooler mornings or evenings.
It’s important to stay hydrated and use sun protection any time year when visiting Snow Canyon State Park!
You can only bring your pet to the campground, West Canyon Road, and Whiptail Trail.
Things To Do at Snow Canyon State Park
Snow Canyon State Park offers a variety of recreational activities you can do year-round!
Hiking at Snow Canyon State Park
Snow Canyon is a hiker’s paradise! There are a variety of trails through sand dunes, petrified dunes, lava tubes, and up to panoramic views of red and white rocks.
Here are some of the most popular Snow Canyon hikes:
- Lava Flow Overlook Trail
- Petrified Dunes Trail
- Hidden Pinyon Trail
- Johnson Canyon Trail
- Butterfly Trail
Snow Canyon Sand Dunes
You can take the whole family to the park’s sand dunes located a very short distance from two parking lots.
- East parking lot: only a few cars can park here, drinking fountain, no bathroom
- North parking lot: larger parking area, water, bathroom, picnic area
The dunes is an open area about 13.5 acres in size so plenty of room to play and explore! Pack buckets and shovels for the kids to build sand castles!
Rock Climbing at Snow Canyon
There are a variety of established rock climbing routes at Snow Canyon. We recommend talking to the Rangers – they will have the most current information and the best resources to help you find the best climbing adventures for your interest and skill level.
Canyoneering at Snow Canyon
You can explore slot canyons and down-climb through them with canyoneering, which combines hiking and rappelling. Snow Canyon has two canyoneering routes, both of which require an access permit.
You’ll need a permit from the State Park’s website to explore the Island in the Sky or Arch Canyon canyoneering trails. Or hire a guide in St. George to enjoy an amazing climbing experience!
Biking at Snow Canyon
One of the best ways to enjoy the scenic views here is biking at Snow Canyon State Park! Be sure to stay on designated trails, follow posted speed limits, and be polite to others using the trails – bicycles must yield to hikers and horseback riders.
You can rent bikes at many local outfitters in St. George.
Horseback Riding at Snow Canyon
The following trails are open for horseback riding in Snow Canyon:
- Beck Hill Trail
- Chuckwalla Trail
- Gila Trail
- Lava Flow (only between West Canyon Road and the White Rocks Trail)
- Rusty Cliffs
- Scout Cave Trail
- Red Sands (west of West Canyon Road Trail)
- Toe Trail
- West Canyon Road
- Equestrian Trail (starts at Johnson’s canyon lot and runs parallel to whiptail until the dunes lot, then parallels West Canyon Road)
Local companies offer guided horseback riding so you can experience Snow Canyon’s views in a fun and unique way!
Camping at Snow Canyon
With cinder cones towering above and petroglyphs etched into the rocks, camping at Snow Canyon will make you feel like you are camping in the Flintstones’ backyard.
There are 26 campsites in Snow Canyon. Each site has a picnic table, a fire ring, and access to bathrooms.
You’ll also find 14 RV sites with water and electrical hookups and 17 multi-use sites. Pets are allowed in the campground. Advance camping reservations are recommended.
More Things To Do Near Snow Canyon
- Zion National Park Activities
- Things to Do Near Zion National Park
- Grafton Ghost Town
- Places to Stay Near Zion National Park
- Glamping Near Zion National Park
Utah Bucket List
To help make your trip planning easier, we’ve compiled this comprehensive list of must-do activities that belong on every Utah Bucket List: things to see, do and taste all around the state! Grab the free download by clicking the graphic below!
